City Islanders face two-game weekend
August 4, 2004 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
The Harrisburg City Islanders begin their final surge towards the postseason with two games this weekend: on Friday, August 6, the New Hampshire Phantoms visit Skyline Sports Complex for the first time (7:35 start), and the Islanders hit the road to face the Western Mass Pioneers on Sunday, August 8, for a 6:00 p.m. engagement at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, MA.
Like the Islanders, both New Hampshire and Western Mass are battling for playoff berths. This past Saturday, Harrisburg defeated New Hampshire 3-2 on the road, but the Phantoms (9-7-1, 28 points) still hold first place in the Pro Soccer League's Northern Division.
Western Mass enters the week in last place in the North at 7-9-1 (22 points), but is only six points behind New Hampshire and four points behind second-place Westchester (8-7-2, 26 points). On July 25, the Pioneers defeated the Islanders 1-0 at Skyline Sports Complex on an overtime penalty kick by Everson Maciel. A total of 11 cards were issued to players in that game, including the ejections of Harrisburg's Moffat Oduor and Matt Tanzini and Western Mass' Jeff Deren.
Following this weekend, Harrisburg returns home for their final two regular season games on Wednesday, August 11, against the Westchester Flames (7:05 p.m.), and on Saturday, August 14, versus the Charlotte Eagles (7:35 p.m.)
To earn a first-round playoff match up with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the Islanders must lock out the Long Island Rough Riders (7-9-1, 22 points) and finish .500 or better. Long Island must win its remaining three games to have a chance at the postseason; a loss will eliminate them from contention. The Rough Riders are on the road against Wilmington this Friday and Charlotte on Saturday.
The Islanders can clinch a .500 record with two wins OR a win and a tie in their final four games.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 4, 2004
- Rough Riders Week Ahead - Long Island Rough Riders
- One game, one season - Westchester Flames
- City Islanders face two-game weekend - Penn FC
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