USL Penn FC

Harrisburg City Islanders Announce 2015 Roster at Preseason Press Conference

Published on March 27, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release


Harrisburg - Hosted and presented by Capital Blue Cross, the Isles' laid out their plans for the 2015 season. First up to the podium was Owner, Eric Pettis. Pettis began by speaking about the rapid growth of USL. USL has rapidly expanded to 24 teams for the 2015 season with the establishment of professional soccer in new markets along with the addition of seven MLS owned and operated clubs. USL will be split into 12-team Eastern and Western Conferences in 2015, with teams facing each of their conference opponents at least twice during the 28-game regular season schedule. The additional six games (beyond the standard home and away against the other 11 intra-conference foes) will be matchups against geographic rivals resulting in several cross-conference contests. Pettis strongly believes in the strength and expansion of the league.

"We are at 24 teams now. [Soccer] is the hottest sports market in the United States and shows no sign of slowing down." proclaimed Pettis.

The 2015 season will also bring changes to USL single-elimination playoff format with the top six finishers in each conference moving on to the four-week postseason. Teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 6 in each conference, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes and the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed.

Pettis also spoke about the strength of the continued relationship of the Harrisburg City Islanders with the Philadelphia Union. Expanding beyond the close on-field ties of the two teams, Pettis was steadfast in his support for the relationship as the two teams work closely together as teams and businesses.

Pettis confidence is clear, "We go in year out and year in and we win. We win as a team." he said.

Before he handed over the microphone, he made one final note on the work towards the creation of a new stadium. He expressed his desire for the team to remain on City Island in a new home, while stressing the need for the City of Harrisburg and State of Pennsylvania to join in these efforts .

"Overachievers!" said Pettis "That's who we are and what we strive to accomplish every time we step out onto the pitch."

Bill Becher took over the mic after Pettis and lauded his team for the hard work they had put in the season prior. The City Islanders finished a 2014 campaign where they were finalists in the 2014 USL Championship, losing to Sacramento Republic FC. He praised the returning core of the team on their hard work in getting to the 2014 USL Championship Match and set high expectations for the year ahead.

"This year we not only want to make it back to the Championship, but this time, to win it." stated Becher.

He also took time announce each player individually. Coach Becher nodded to the core of returners including Nick Noble, Neil Shaffer, Garrett Pettis, Danny DiPrima, Yann Ekra, and Jose Barill. He recognized that while this would likely be the youngest team in USL this year it would also be one of the most exciting. Already two of the rookies in Cardel Benbow of Jamaica and Dante Leverock have caps for their respective National Teams.

As per agreement, the Islanders will receive at least four Philadelphia Union loanees for the 2015 season. Names of those players will be announced shortly.

# NAME POSITION AGE HT HOMETOWN

1 Nick Noble GK 30 6-4 Charleston, WV

4 Coady Andrews D 26 6-2 Shawnee, KS

5 Shane Johnson D 25 6-3 Ashburn, VA

6 Ken Tribbett M 22 6-2 Centennial, CO

7 Yann Ekra F 24 5-1 Ivory Coast

8 Jose Barril M 22 6-0 Madrid, Spain

9 Garret Pettis F 25 6-0 Elizabethtown, PA

10 Enric Valles M 25 6-3 Puig-reig, Spain

11 Jason Plumhoff M 23 6-0 Ellicott City, MD

12 Brett Jankouskas F 23 6-2 Palmyra, PA

13 Ciaran Nugent GK 23 6-1 Dedham, MA

14 Danny DiPrima M 23 5-9 Dillsburg, PA

19 Cardel Benbow M 19 5-4 Jamaica

20 Neil Shaffer D 26 5-11 Aliquippa, PA

21 Erick Neres da Cruz M 26 5-11 Sao Paulo, Brazil

27 Kyle Renfro GK 24 6-1 Forest, VA

63 Dante Leverock D 22 6-4 Bermuda

The Isles are preparing for yet another action-packed season. The Islanders kick off their season on the road on March 28th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium. The Isles' home opener is slated for April 18th against FC Montreal. For tickets and group packages for the upcoming Islanders season please visit our website at cityislanders.com or call us at 717-441-GOAL (4625). For more information you can contact media@cityislanders.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 27, 2015


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