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City Islanders Introduce Roster, Unveil Jersey

April 7, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release


(Harrisburg, Pa., April 7, 2005) – The Harrisburg City Islanders introduced the bulk of their 2005 roster and unveiled this season's home uniforms in a Thursday morning press conference at the Capital BlueCross Headquarters Building in Harrisburg.

The roster presented on Thursday featured 17 players, including seven whose signings were officially announced at the press conference: goalkeeper Bryan Hill; defenders Tommy Rutter and Adam Schultz; midfielder Art Bartholomew; and forwards Bernie Showers, Jimmy Stone, and Matt Tanzini (who had previously agreed to terms with the club).

Those seven join 10 players from 2004 who were already on the roster: goalkeeper Dave Kern; defenders J.T. Dorsey, John Lapore, and Craig Tyrrell; midfielders Matt Crist, Steve Fisher, Mo Oduor, Derek Potteiger, and David Schofield; and forward Steve Custer.

The players were introduced wearing the club's 2005 home uniforms, once again supplied by JAKO USA, Inc. In addition to the JAKO emblem, the logos of the club's four "Presenting Sponsors"—SNICKERS; Capital BlueCross; the Dauphin County Executive Commission on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco (DCDAT); and the Brenner Family of Dealerships—are all featured on the jerseys.

"We thank Capital BlueCross for hosting this event today," said Pettis. "This was an ideal occasion for us to introduce our fans to the players they'll be cheering for this year, and to extend our thanks to our outstanding family of corporate partners."

"Something that is very special to a company like Capital BlueCross is when an organization it sponsors—one it believes in—proves to be very successful," said Capital BlueCross President & CEO Anita Smith, who was presented with a team jersey by City Islanders President Eric Pettis. "The Harrisburg City Islanders were not only successful on the field last year, making the playoffs in their first season, but the players really enhanced the lives of so many by serving as role models for fitness and good health, and also by working with the youth soccer programs throughout our community. Team President Eric Pettis and his staff successfully brought soccer back to Central Pennsylvania and its many soccer fans. Capital BlueCross is once again pleased to sponsor this talented team of young athletes."

With the team's season opener just over a week away (April 16 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.), the identity of the 2005 City Islanders began to materialize at Thursday's event. A young group with an average age of 25 is expected to share the two key hallmarks of the 2004 squad: versatility and work ethic.

"We're younger than we were at the start of last year, but the talent level of this team is highly encouraging," said City Islanders Head Coach Bill Becher. "What we lack in experience we expect to make up for in talent, athleticism, and energy. We've got guys who can play a variety of positions effectively, which gives us valuable depth. And they all understand the team's commitment to hard work and community involvement."

And Becher says he is probably not done refining the roster. "We intend to evaluate and continue talks with a few more players," he said. "We're always looking for ways to get better."

Kern, 24, will be joined in goal by the 27-year-old Hill, a native of Livermoore, Calif. Kern went 5-2-2 with a 1.38 goals against average and two shutouts as a rookie a year ago. Hill, an Oregon State grad, most recently played in the Premier Development League for the Central Coast Roadrunners in 2002.

Harrisburg can feel secure about the central defense with the 6-1, 185-pound Dorsey and the 6-0, 175-pound Lapore serving as backline anchors. Dorsey, 29, played 1,329 minutes for the team in 2004, while Lapore (a product of Cedar Cliff High School and Kutztown University) posted 1,107 minutes as a rookie. Also returning is the veteran Tyrrell (764 minutes), and the 23-year-old Schultz, whose playing time should increase significantly from the 97 minutes he posted in two games last year. Joining that group will be the 5-9, 165-pound Rutter, a native of England who earned a championship ring with the Utah Blitzz in 2004, playing 816 minutes for the club. Rutter was also a part of Wilmington's 2003 championship team.

The midfield returns fairly intact. In the middle, a pair of workhorses are the probable starters: Potteiger (the team's captain and a 2004 First Team All-League selection) and the 6-1, 185-pound Oduor. The wings will be manned by the speedy Fisher (four goals, 12 points) and the playmaker Schofield (three goals, 11 points), both of whom posted outstanding rookie seasons in 2004. Also in the mix are Crist, a native of York and graduate of Messiah College who played 163 minutes as a rookie a year ago, and Bartholomew, a University of Pennsylvania product who spent 2004 with the PDL's Reading Rage. Bartholomew's lone goal in 2004 gave Reading a 1-0 double-overtime win against Harrisburg on June 19.

Tanzini, the City Islanders' leading scorer in 2004, returns to lead this year's attack. In seven games after becoming a full-time front man a year ago, "Taz" recorded five goals and 11 points. He averaged an impressive 1.5 points per 90 minutes of play. Custer looks to expand upon a rookie year that saw him log 584 minutes of action. And two youngsters—Showers and Stone—figure to contribute. Showers, 21, is a native of Fredericksburg and graduate of St. Francis University. The 22-year-old Stone is a product of Vanderbilt University.

For complete profiles on the players introduced on Thursday, consult the following pages or visit www.cityislanders.com.

Harrisburg plays its final two preseason games this weekend, on Saturday, April 9, against Lehigh University and on Sunday, April 10, versus the PDL's Reading Rage. Both games kick off at 3:00 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. Admission is free.

Harrisburg's 2005 regular season begins on the road against the expansion Cincinnati Kings on Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. The City Islanders' home opener at Skyline Sports Complex will be on Saturday, April 23, at 7:05 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Season, group, and single-game tickets are on sale now. Ticket prices remain the same as a season ago, with General Admission, Reserved, and Club Paradise packages available from $100 - $250 for adults and starting at just $50 for youth. Tickets are available by calling 717-441-GOAL or by visiting www.cityislanders.com.



USL First Division Stories from April 7, 2005


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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