Harrisburg City Islanders Newsletter
Published on July 22, 2009 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Saturday's Forecast: Soccer, Sun, and Fun!
This Saturday, July 25th, is shaping up to be another fun filled night on City Island. In addition to typical game day festivities, the Islanders professional match will be preceded by the Surf and Turf 3v3 Tournament for boys and girls ages 9-12. The unique tournament will take place all day on the Island, and it will consist of games played on both sand and grass fields!
Then, Saturday evening, at 7:05, the Islanders will square off against the Wilmington Hammerheads (8-4-2, 26 points) for the second time this season. In their previous 2009 regular season match up, the Islanders suffered a 3-2 loss at Wilmington's Legion Sports Complex.
A win for the Islanders on Saturday is crucial since Wilmington is just one win away from tying the Islanders 29 points. Wilmington is on the Road this Wednesday, the 22nd, against the Richmond Kickers. Harrisburg and Richmond are currently tied for first place in the USL-2.
All fans attending Saturday's game will receive a free poster compliments of S&T Spouting and Insulation. The Harrisburg Senators also have a game on Saturday so be sure to allow time for parking. You won't want to miss a minute of this exciting match! We'll see you on the Island!
Tino Nuñez of MLS Joins Islander Roster!
The Harrisburg City Islanders are please to announce that forward Tino Nuñez will be on loan to the Islanders squad from Real Salt Lake for the remainder of the City Islanders 2009 season!
An impressive 24-year old forward, Nuñez has played three games for Real Salt Lake this season. Islanders GM Kierstin Rowe says, "The Islanders are having an outstanding season, and we believe that we have the chance to win another championship. We hope that the loan of Tino will be the final push towards our ultimate goal."
Nuñez' loan from the Major League Soccer squad was made just prior to the USL-2 roster freeze. Nuñez was drafted in 2008 by Real Salt Lake in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft (17th overall). As an MLS rookie Nuñez made nine first-team appearances, including two starts, and scored one goal.
Nuñez also boasts an impressive college career at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At UC Santa Barbara Tino accounted for eight goals and 11 assists in 63 games (34 starts), where he won an NCAA Men's College Cup in 2006 and helped the Gauchos reach the '04 title match.
Nuñez will be wearing number 16 for the Islanders; you may see him in action this weekend!
Beach Party Ends with Islanders Victory
The gates to City Island's Skyline Sports Complex opened early for last Saturday's victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds-4 hours early to be exact. The cause was the Islanders' first annual Beach Party to celebrate summer time, professional soccer, and family fun! The Beach Party featured an inflatable moon bounce, and other blow-up equipment sponsored by Walters Services, performances by several area bands, player appearances and, of course, lots of fun.
Saturday proved to be a great night on the Island, with the Beach Party, 2,413 fans in attendance, and another home victory for the Islanders professional squad! The Islanders were victorious for the third time this season against Keystone State rivals, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The 1-0 victory keeps Harrisburg at the top of the USL-2 standings with a record of 9-4-2 (29 points) they are tied with the Richmond Kickers who also have 29 points and a record of 8-2-5.
The only goal of last Saturday's match came in the 64th minute, when City Islander veteran Mo Oduor split two Pittsburgh defenders to find Tiyi Shipalane in Pittsburgh's defensive third. Shipalane attacked the space down the right sideline and slid the ball across the goal box to Chad Severs who tucked it away with a one-time shot for his eighth goal of the season.
Spotlight: City Islanders Academy
The Harrisburg City Islanders are clearly devoted to bringing top-notch Professional Soccer to the mid-state. However, we are also committed to cultivating youth talent in the area so that Central Pennsylvania will continue to produce both youth and professional talent. The City Islanders Academy program reflects this commitment to develop local talent by providing the best training, competition and values to boys and girls in Central, PA.
All nine City Islanders Academy squads benefit from the same commitment to excellence that characterizes our professional teams. Academy squads exist for boys in age groups 13-20 and girls in age groups 13-15. City Islanders Academy teams participate in the Super Y League, an elite nationwide league which operates under the umbrella of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), is affiliated with US Soccer and partnered with US Club Soccer.
All Islanders Academy Super Y League teams participate in weekly matches all over the Mid-Atlantic region during the summer months when most club teams are on hiatus. Academy teams are coached by some of the most noted coaches in the area and often receive training from Islander professional players.
To learn more about the City Islanders Academy or to inquire about tryouts and training opportunities contact Dustin Bixler at dustin@cityislanders.com.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 22, 2009
- Kickers Suffer Loss in Wilmington - Richmond Kickers
- Crystal Palace Players to 'Tailgate' Before Chelsea Match - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Harrisburg City Islanders Newsletter - Penn FC
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.
