City Islanders Topple Cincy Before Record Crowd
Published on June 4, 2005 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, Pa) â The Harrisburg City Islanders topped off one of the more memorable days in club history with a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Kings at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night.
A team record, standing room only crowd of 3,127 witnessed the second consecutive win for the City Islanders (3-3-1, 10 points), who earlier in the day announced an exhibition match against 16-year-old sensation Freddy Adu and D.C. United on Tuesday, August 16, at Skyline (visit www.cityislanders.com or call 717-441-GOAL for more).
A quick-starting City Islanders team bagged the game's first goal before some of the crowd had even settled in. In the second minute, midfielder David Schofield dropped a superb 35-yard ball over the Cincinnati defense towards a racing Chad Severs. Severs, the rookie forward from Penn State, slipped behind the backline before chipping charging Kings goalie Brian Schaeper (one save) from near the top of the penalty area for a 1-0 lead.
With the quickest goal in team history behind them, Harrisburg set about controlling the middle third of the field and clamping down with a solid defensive showing. But the Kings, who fell 1-0 at home to Wilmington on Friday and made the long trip to Harrisburg on Saturday with several injuries, soon settled in and matched the City Islanders' work rate. Even so, Harrisburg created a handful of quality chances through the first 45 minutes, including a potential second goal from Severs, who slipped on a breakaway in the 30th minute.
Having weathered the first-half storm, Cincinnati (3-4-2, 11 points) put up a vigorous second-half performance, especially in the defensive end, where they prevented Harrisburg from finding the finishing touch. Until, that is, the 73rd minute â when Matt Tanzini was tripped up by Schaeper on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty kick. Rookie striker Bernie Showers converted his second p.k. in as many games, beating Schaeper low inside the left post to make it 2-0. Showers, a Northern Lebanon High School product, had put Tanzini through on the breakaway with a quick free kick from midfield that caught the Kings off guard.
Still battling, the Kings managed to get a goal back just four minutes later when defender Sam Fiore put home a rebound to make it 2-1. But the City Islanders' defense, led by winning keeper Dave Kern, held as the clock wound down.
Notes: Over 700 area youth attended the game for free as part of a "Smoke Free Pledge" program offered by the Dauphin County Executive Commission on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco (DCDAT)...Harrisburg next travels to Long Island to face the Rough Riders next Saturday, June 11. Kickoff at Mitchel Athletic Complex will be 7:30 p.m.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 4, 2005
- City Islanders Topple Cincy Before Record Crowd - Penn FC
- Eagles Blank Riverhounds 2-0 - Charlotte Eagles
- Cincinnati Kings fall to Harrisburg City Islanders - Cincinnati Kings
- City Islanders to face Freddy Adu and D.C. United reserves - Penn FC
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