Union Loans McLaughlin, Pfeffer and Catic for Islanders USL Opener
March 28, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Harrisburg City Islanders announced today that the club has three players on Loan from the Philadelphia Union, the team's official MLS affiliate, for the 2015 USL season opener. Forward Jimmy McLaughlin, Dzenan Catic, and midfielder Zach Pfeffer will join the City Islanders for their USL season-opening match, TODAY, March 28 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
McLaughlin returns to Harrisburg on loan from the Philadelphia Union. During the 2014 USL season Jimmy appeared in 23 matches, tallying 1,367 minutes on the pitch. McLaughlin also netted six goal and dished-out 3 assists for the Islanders helping to lead the team to the USL Championship Final while on loan. During his three seasons spent with the Isles, McLaughlin has recorded 25 points off of 11 goals and 3 assists.
McLaughlin is a graduate of the Philadelphia Union Academy. Jimmy signed with Philadelphia Union on December 12, 2011 as the Union's second Homegrown Player signing. He made his MLS debut on October 24, 2012 against Sporting Kansas City.
Prior to his professional career, McLaughlin played one season at Colgate University in New York. He was the only freshman to play and start in all 22 matches for the raiders and tallied a total of five points off of one goal and three assists. His prolific freshman season earned him the 2011 Patriot League Rookie of the Year.
Catic, 22, played two years at Davenport, located in Caledonia Township, Mich. He gained notoriety for his outstanding 2014 season where he was named the NAIA National Player of the Year after capturing a National Championship. In addition to also scoring 24 goals and dishing-out three assists in his first season at Davenport, for an eye-popping 63 goals in two seasons. Catic was born in Jablanica, Bosnia and moved to Michigan with his family when he was 8 years old. The forward was selected by the Philadelphia Union with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.
Pfeffer became the first player to join the 2010 expansion team from the MLS Homegrown Player initiative, a program started in 2006 designed to provide increased opportunities for local players. Each MLS team may sign players from their respective youth development programs without subjecting those players to the MLS SuperDraft. Born January 6, 1995, Pfeffer is the fourth youngest player ever to sign an MLS contract, behind Freddy Adu, Fuad Ibrahim, and recently signed New England Revolution Homegrown Player Diego Fagundez.
Prior to signing with the Union, Pfeffer was a member of Philadelphia's U-17 squad that competed in the MLS U-17 SUM Cup in Houston, Texas. While training with the first team, the youngster entered as a substitute in a friendly against Chivas Guadalajara on September 1.
Officially signed in March of 2010, the original partnership with Harrisburg provided the Union with an option to loan players to the Islanders for increased playing time, as well as scout up and coming talent, such as Union starting right back Sheanon Williams, who suited up for the City Islanders in 2010. Philadelphia Union and the Harrisburg City Islanders announced on March 6, 2013 that the clubs expanded their original partnership, allowing players to stay, practice and play vital games with their USL counterparts for an extended period of time. The Union no longer field a Reserve League team, instead incorporating reserve players into the City Islanders to help the team compete for a USL championship.
The Islanders kickoff their season on the road on Saturday, March 28th against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium.
Watch the match live :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsetLcAOWkU
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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