Islanders Fall In Home Finale
August 30, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
HARRISBURG, PA- The Harrisburg City Islanders (9-10-7) played host to the Rochester Rhinos (9-10-8) Saturday night at the regular season finale at Skyline Sports Complex in front of 2,257 fans. The match was even early, but the Rhinos went on a second half flurry to claim a crucial three points with a 4-1 victory.
Rochester wasted no time to open scoring as Jonny Mendoza ran the ball down the sideline and played a cross to JC Banks. The ball hung in front of the net and was eventually scored on a Harrisburg own goal. Morgan Langley answered in the 23rd minute to pull the Islanders even going into halftime. Three cards resulted from very physical play from both sides-one on each Onua Obasi and Jonny Mendoza for Rochester and one on Harrisburg's Robbie Derschang.
A 23rd minute goal from Langley sent the Islanders into halftime level with Rochester at one goal apiece. Yann Ekra played a spectacular ball over the Rochester defense to find Langley, who tapped it between keeper John McCarthy's legs for the score. Derschang caused havoc to no avail, sending a great opportunity just over the crossbar.
The second half, however, was a different story. Rochester took control of scoring, striking three times to take the match and some cushion in the playoff race. Tony Walls, who scored in the Islanders' visit to Rochester, assisted Alec Sundley in finding the net for the Rhinos second goal, which would prove to be the game winner. Rochester didn't finish there as leading scorer Banks stole the ball from the Islanders' back line and beat keeper Brian Sylvester to the far post. Babacar Diallo recorded the last goal for the visitors, cleaning up a mess in front of the goal after a corner kick.
It proved to be a rough night for Islanders' keeper Brian Sylvestre as he took Nick Noble's place after a red card last week kept him on the sidelines. Sylvestre allowed three of the scores before David Flynn came on for relief in the 79th minute. Sylvestre was shaken up on multiple occasions, forcing head coach Bill Becher to make a change late in the match. The Islanders racked up three second half cautions-Coady Andrews, Langley and Rapael Cox each were shown a yellow card.
Harrisburg's best opportunity in the second half came when Jimmy McLaughlin hit the crossbar on a lob that would have beaten McCarthy had it been on frame. McLaughlin's return came at a crucial time as dynamic forward Clesio Bauque will be returning to Portuguese club SL Benfica, who loaned him to Harrisburg.
With the result, Rochester advanced to fifth place on the USL table, one point ahead of seventh place Harrisburg. The City Islanders need one victory to clinch a playoff berth. The Islanders will play matches on consecutive days; first on Friday, September 5th against the Charleston Battery and then Saturday, September 6th against the Charlotte Eagles.
Season tickets for the 2015 Harrisburg City Islanders season are on sale now! Visit CityIslanders.com or call (717)441-GOAL (4625) for details and to purchase.
• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...
United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 30, 2014
- Battery Blank Riverhounds, Roll into Playoffs - Charleston Battery
- Wilmington, Sacramento End in Scoreless Draw - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Islanders Fall In Home Finale - Penn FC
- City Aims to Bounce Back at Home in Centennial USL PRO Match on Sunday - Orlando City SC
- Eagles Travel to Montreal for Monday Matinee - Charlotte Eagles
- DDL FC Travels to Orlando for a Great Test Before Returning Home - Dayton Dutch Lions
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.
