Islanders Weekly
Published on May 3, 2004 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
The City Islanders came away from a grueling weekend trip to North Carolina with one point, and enter the week at 1-1-1 (four points), holding second place in the Atlantic Division behind Pittsburgh (3-1-0, nine points).
On Friday, April 30, Jacob Coggins accounted for the only goal of the game in the 87th minute as the Islanders fell 1-0 to the Charlotte Eagles. Harrisburg lost two starters, Steve Fisher and David Schofield, to leg injuries in the first half of the contest, which was also a U.S. Open Cup qualifier. Dave Kern took the loss in goal with one save.
Harrisburg recovered with a heroic effort on Saturday in rainy Wilmington, scraping out a 1-1 tie. Matt Shealer put the Islanders up 1-0 in the 78th minute on an assist from Steve Custer, but Wilmington's George Corrie responded just seven minutes later with the tying goal. The clubs remained deadlocked after two 15-minute overtime periods. Chris Doyle, acquired on loan for the game from the A-League's Charleston Battery, posted four saves in net for Harrisburg.
COMING UP FOR THE ISLANDERS...
Having completed a season-opening three-game road swing, the Islanders will now play four of their next five games at the Skyline Sports Complex, beginning this Saturday with their historic home opener against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Kickoff is 7:35 p.m. A limited number of Islanders T-Shirts, courtesy of Stroehmann's, will be distributed to fans.
As noted above, the Riverhounds currently lead the PSL's Atlantic Division with nine points (3-1-0 record). The Islanders will complete their brief season series with Pittsburgh over the next two weeks, with this Saturday's match and a contest in Pittsburgh on Saturday, May 15.
The game is Harrisburg's first of two home U.S. Open Cup qualifiers (the other is May 22 against Wilmington).
ODDS AND ENDS...
- Islanders captain Derek Potteiger will be facing his former team this Saturday. Potteiger was selected in the Territorial Round of the 2002 A-League draft by Pittsburgh and played the 2002 and 2003 seasons with the Riverhounds, earning Player of the Year honors as a rookie.
- Matt Tanzini, a fan favorite while with the MISL's Harrisburg Heat from 2001-2003, made his Islanders debut with two starts at left midfield this past weekend. The animated Tanzini has already assumed the team lead with seven shots (four Friday, three Saturday).
- Veteran Ian Carter, newly-signed Moffat Oduor, and rookie Matt Crist also made their first appearances for Harrisburg. The 36-year-old Carter turned in 74 quality minutes in a defensive midfield role on Saturday in Wilmington. Oduor, signed last Thursday, entered both games as a sub, totaling 62 minutes. Crist, a 24-year-old product of Messiah College, came off the bench to replace Tanzini for the final 40 minutes against the Hammerheads.
- The Islanders' starting backline of Keith Costigan, Kyle Swords, Craig Tyrrell, and Pete Shellenberger played every minute of the weekend's games in holding two of the PSL's most potent offenses to one goal apiece.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 3, 2004
- Islanders Weekly - Penn FC
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