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USL Penn FC

City Islanders, Head Coach Bill Becher Unveil 2016 USL Roster

March 23, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release


Harrisburg, PA - Today Capital BlueCross presented the City Islanders Football Club's roster reveal at FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg. Head Coach and General Manager, Bill Becher introduced his roster and provided his outlook for the highly anticipated 2016 season, alongside Gary St. Hilaire, Capital BlueCross President and CEO; Eric Pettis, City Islanders CEO; City Islanders players and front office staff.

When addressing the crowd, City Islanders' CEO Eric Pettis reiterated the risk the long-time USL franchise had to take in order to stay relevant in the growing league. Most recently, the team has announced their relocation to FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg (10 matches) and Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster (5 matches), providing the club with two new home venues.

"Increasing the investment of the franchise in order to support the growth of our footprint beyond Harrisburg as Central Pennsylvania's Professional Football Club is the direction the organization is headed," said Eric Pettis.

After Pettis's remarks, City Islanders' Head Coach and newly appointed General Manager, Bill Becher took to the podium to introduce each player individually.

As Becher stated early on, Islanders supporters will see many familiar faces and fresh faces alongside a core of extremely skilled MLS experienced-veterans this season.

Becher began by acknowledging the defensive core that features returners from last year's squad including four-year veteran goalkeeper, Nick Noble, who surpassed his 100th cap last season while playing in more games than any other goalkeeper in the USL.

He continued by mentioning returning defensive players like Dante Leverock, who is currently representing the Bermudian National Team in the Caribbean Cup Qualifying Tournament; as well as Shane Johnson, a returner and former Richmond Kickers loanee who is expected to sure up the defensive line along with newcomers like Darwin Ebanks and former New York Red Bulls II defender, Jamie Thomas.

Becher noted that despite allowing 53 goals against last season, the Islanders also scored 48 goals behind a prolific offense that ranked fifth in the league in scoring. Returners from the explosive offense include Jamaican National Team players, Cardel Benbow and Craig Foster; Jose Barril a product of the Real Madrid Academy; as well as Central Pennsylvania local standouts Brett Jankouskas (Palmyra), Garret Pettis (Lower Dauphin), Danny DiPrima (Northern) who will all be back to build on last year's success.

Finally, he finished by addressing some of the biggest signings of the 2016 offseason, Aaron Wheeler and Bobby Warshaw.

"Experience is key to having success in this league," added Becher before introducing two MLS veterans who will be joining the 2016 squad.

Both Aaron Wheeler and Bobby Warshaw have seen time in the MLS and abroad and both have previous ties to local soccer. Wheeler played in Harrisburg as a former loanee from the Philadelphia Union and Warshaw was named Gatorade Player of the Year while at Mechanicsburg Area High School before continuing his career at Stanford University and eventually being drafted to FC Dallas in 2011.

"Their leadership on and off the field will undoubtedly affect the direction of the team this year." concluded Becher.

City Islanders Football Club 2016 Roster: 

# Name Position Hometown Previous Club

1 Noble, Nick GK Charleston, WV Chicago Fire

4 Naciri, Youssef Midfield Casablanca, Morocco Christian Brothers University

5 Johnson, Shane Defense Ashburn, VA Richmond Kickers

6 Warshaw, Bobby Midfield Mechanicsburg, PA Hønefoss

7 Hughes, Joshua Midfield Peachtree City, GA Atlanta Silverbacks

8 Barril, Jose Midfield Madrid, Spain Real Madrid

9 Pettis, Garret Forward Elizabethtown, PA Lipscomb University

10 Wilson, Paul Midfield Jamaica Portmore United FC

11 Bolduc, Matthew Forward Hancock NH University of Massachusetts

12 Jankouskas, Brett Forward Sacramento, CA Lander University

13 Ebanks, Darvin Defense Peach Tree, Georgia Georgia Revolution

14 DiPrima, Danny Midfield Dillsburg, PA NC State Wolfpack

17 Thomas, James Forward Silver Spring, MD New York Red Bulls II

18 Wheeler, Aaron Forward Baltimore, Maryland Wilmington Hammerheads

19 Benbow, Cardel Midfield Kingston, Jamaica Waterhous FC

20 Hill, Chris Defense Lakewood, NJ Villanova University

22 Foster, Craig Forward Jamaica Reno FC

63 Leverock, Dante Defense Hamilton, Bermuda St. Mary's University

With the growth of the USL in 2016 comes reform to the previous USL playoff format which previously only allowed the top six finishers in each conference to move on to the four-week postseason. This season, with the addition of six new clubs, the top eight teams in each conference will advance to the 2016 USL Playoffs, which will see a single-elimination bracket crown two conference champions. The two conference champions will then advance to the 2016 USL Championship match to vie for the title.

The Islanders kickoff the 2016 USL season on the road against the Richmond Kickers Saturday, March 26 at 5:00 p.m. City will play its first four games of the season on the road. During the road stretch the Islanders will face rivals Pittsburgh at Highmark Stadium in the first match of the 2016 Keystone Derby at Highmark Stadium, as well as Charlotte and Orlando City B before returning to Harrisburg for their home opener.

All regular season USL matches will be streamed live via YouTube. Follow the City Islanders on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live updates throughout each match.

The Islanders will play their highly anticipated 2016 home opener at FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg on Friday, April 22 against Louisville FC at 7 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a limited edition insulated koozie provided by Capital BlueCross.

For a limited time fans may purchase DISCOUNTED Socceritaville tickets and new ticket packages until March 31 which include:

Fifteen (15) match "Socceritaville" package NOW $399 for Adults and $359 for Youth

Ten (10) match "Socceritaville" package NOW $299 for Adults and $275 for Youth at FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg

Five (5) match "Socceritaville" package NOW $145 for Adults and $135 for Youth at Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster

Five (5) match "Flex" package NOW $65 for Adults and $40 for Youth for both FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg & Clipper Magazine Stadium General admission tickets for the 2016 regular season will be $14 for Adults and $8 for Youth in ADVANCE of gameday. Tickets will be $15 for Adults and $9 for Youth on gameday. Kids ages 4 & under free.

Fans will be charged a parking fee of $4 at City Island, Harrisburg. Parking at all Lancaster matches will be free of charge.

Fans can purchase tickets at www.cityislanders.com or by calling Anthony Catalani II, Director of Tickets and Fan Development at 717-441-4625 (GOAL).

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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