Match Preview: Islanders Travel to Charlotte for Second Match of the Season
Published on March 30, 2016 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Harrisburg, PA - After a 3-1 loss to Richmond in their opening match, the City Islanders will be looking to get their first points of the season when they travel to Charlotte this Saturday, April 2 to take on the Charlotte Independence for the first time this season in 2016.
City will not be the only one looking to get their first points of the season, as Charlotte suffered a 1-0 loss to Louisville City FC to open their season last week. This will be the only time City will travel to Charlotte this season.
Last year the Independence, like the Islanders, fell just short of the postseason with 40 points, only finishing one point above City in the final season USL standings.
The Islanders earned points in both match-ups of the season series last year. The first game, like this year, took place early in the season at Charlotte.
Charlotte opened the scoring off with a hard shot from Ryan Finley in the 19th minute. Returning defender, Dante Leverock, was able to grab an equalizer in the 57th minute off a header from the corner to end the game in a 1-1 draw.
City controlled the game in the second meeting on City Island. Nick Noble kept the Independence at bay to record his second straight shutout en route to a 2-0 win with goals from Ken Tribbett and Cardel Benbow. Benbow, who is returning for his second season, buried a laser shot in the 11th minute to start off the scoring. Tribbett was able to add a header in the 35th minute to put the result out of reach.
Charlotte's head coach, Mike Jefferies, returns eight players from their inaugural 2015 season with a few additions, including a former Islanders. Kyle Renfrow made his Islanders debut in the third round of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup against Rochester. This will Renfrow's second stint with a team in Charlotte.
This will be the second of four road games for the Islanders to start the season. Offensive returner, Jose Barril, was the only Islander to notch a goal in the 2016 season opener in Richmond, while the defense showed its weakness by letting in three goals.
The next game between the two clubs will not come until they meet at FNB Field on Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m.
The Islanders will play their highly anticipated 2016 home opener at FNB Field, City Island, Harrisburg on Friday, April 22 against Louisville FC at 7 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a limited edition insulated koozie provided by Capital BlueCross. Save your seat today!
Watch the match and all USL regular season matches live on USL Match Center. Follow the City Islanders on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live updates throughout each match.
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