City Isles Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Published on August 5, 2006 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA, August 5, 2006) - With a 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Kings in front of a sellout crowd of 2,483 at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night, the Harrisburg City Islanders were eliminated from USL Second Division playoff contention for the first time in their brief existence. Harrisburg, now 7-9-3 (24 points), will close out its regular season next Friday, August 11, at Skyline against the New Hampshire Phantoms (7:05 p.m. kickoff).
Cincinnati defender Sam Fiore accounted for the game's lone goal in just the third minute, heading a Trey Alexander free kick service from the left wing past losing keeper Dave Kern (3 saves).
Though the Kings grabbed the edge early, the City Islanders were hardly ready to surrender their playoff hopes without a fight. Through the first 20 minutes, Harrisburg earned six corner kicks, three of which led to legitimate scoring chances. In the fifth minute, Derek Potteiger pounded a shot high from the top of the penalty area, and almost scored on a virtually identical play two minutes later, but his drive was saved by Cincy keeper Jordan James (who made 8 saves for his league-leading eighth shutout). In the 17th minute, Chad Severs had his initial shot turned aside by James, and Chris Morman whistled his rebound attempt inches high and wide.
Cincinnati nearly took a 2-0 lead in the 31st minute on another Fiore header, but Morman was there to nod the ball off the goal line. The Kings had an even better chance, though, in the 45th minute, when they were awarded a penalty kick after Harrisburg defender Tommy Rutter held Nowaf Jaman to prevent a clean shot at goal. Alexander's p.k. rang off the right post and Kern sprawled to save the rebound effort of Mike McGinlay, and Harrisburg carried that momentum into halftime.
But despite pushing forward in numbers and pressuring all over the field, the City Islanders simply couldn't solve the Kings' defense or James. Harrisburg's best second-half chance came in the 74th minute, when Matt Tanzini's right-footed pop was held by James at the near post.
The City Islanders could come no closer as their 2006 playoff hopes faded away; the Kings, who improve to 9-6-3 (30 points), inched closer to their first-ever playoff berth.
Notes: City Islanders rookie Justin Sadler (Cumberland Valley High School) left in the 15th minute with an apparent ankle injury...Harrisburg midfielder Adam Clay sat out a second consecutive game for accumulated caution points. He served a one-game suspension in Charlotte last Saturday after being red-carded on Friday in Wilmington...The City Islanders lost the season series with Cincinnati 3-1-0.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 5, 2006
- Riverhounds FC Beat Wilmington - Playoff Hopes are still alive - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- League-Leading Kickers Top Charlotte 2-1 - Charlotte Eagles
- City Isles Eliminated From Playoff Contention - Penn FC
- Kickers clinch regular season title - Richmond Kickers
- Cincinnati Kings Move Closer to First Playoff Spot - Cincinnati Kings
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