City Islanders Unveil 2007 Roster, Jerseys
April 11, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA, April 11, 2007) - The Harrisburg City Islanders introduced the majority of their roster and unveiled their 2007 uniforms in a press conference on Wednesday morning at the Capital BlueCross Headquarters Building in Harrisburg. Capital BlueCross, a presenting sponsor of the City Islanders, hosted the event for the fourth straight year.
Players sported the club's 2007 home uniforms, supplied by JAKO USA, Inc., the club's Official Uniform Supplier since its inception. This year's edition features the Capital BlueCross logo prominently across the chest. Aside from the JAKO mark, the corporate images of two other Presenting Sponsors are featured on the jerseys: SNICKERS brand and the Dauphin County Executive Commission on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco (DCDAT). In addition, the City Islanders unveiled the much anticipated "Pink Jersey" that the team will sport during their May 5 home game. The jerseys will be auctioned following the match with the proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a charitable organization whose goals are to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
"The City Islanders once again thank Capital BlueCross for hosting what has become a great annual event for us," said City Islanders President Eric D. Pettis. "We are proud to officially kick off what should be another exciting summer with this opportunity to introduce our players, unveil our jerseys, and express our appreciation for our family of corporate partners."
"Capital BlueCross is proud to help kick-off a new season for our hometown team," said Anita M. Smith, president & CEO of Capital BlueCross. "The City Islanders are leaders on the field and champions in our communities. We are particularly pleased to be partnering with the Islanders in sponsoring the Mind, Body, Soccer program, which helps to motivate young people in our area to learn more about good health, fitness and nutrition. It is terrific when local heroes like our Islanders help inspire our kids to think about the importance of healthy choices."
Capital BlueCross is also the presenting sponsor of the Mind, Body, Soccer program, an initiative where up to 5,000 local youth can earn a free ticket to a City Islanders home game by completing tasks or assignments based in the categories of Reading, Healthy Living, Fitness and Nutrition. Additionally, Capital BlueCross is a sponsor of the City Islanders Academy program, which is dedicated to improving youth soccer in central Pennsylvania. The program benefits more than 3,000 area youth soccer players by offering them professional training, high-level competition and exposure to other players with similar skill sets.
Harrisburg's roster as of Wednesday's event featured 21 players, 11 of whom return from the 2006 squad that finished 8-9-3 and missed qualifying for the USL-2 post season for the first time in the team's brief history. The returning players are: goalkeepers Sam Bishop and Dave Kern; defender Dustin Bixler, and midfielders Adam Clay, Steve Fisher, Carlos Morales, Chris Morman, Mo Oduor, and David Schofield; and forwards David McClellan, and Matt Tanzini.
The new members of the team are Nate Baker (American), Anthony Calvano (Penn State, Pittsburgh - USL2), Freddie Chambers (Philadelphia Univ.), Brian Devlin (Penn State, Reading - PDL), Jani Galik (IMG, New England Revolution - MLS), Mike Lookingland (Bucknell, Baltimore Blast - MISL), Matt Nelson (Lynn, Virginia Beach Mariners - USL1), Ryan Pierce (Binghamton, Cape Cod - PDL), Brian Ombiji (Lindsey Wilson), and Tim Velten (Louisville). Many of the agreed upon contracts are pending USL and USSF approval.
"This is a new team. If we didn't make changes, then we would be saying that we're OK with last season's results and we're not," said City Islanders Head Coach Bill Becher, the 2005 USL-2 Coach of the Year. "We kept players that have the desire and work rate to produce positive results. We have every reason to be confident heading into the season, but we also recognize that the league will be much more competitive this year than it's been since we joined. We look forward to the challenge."
The City Islanders travel this afternoon to Washington, D.C. for a preseason match against the D.C. United Reserves and complete their preseason schedule with a mini-tournament at Hersheypark Stadium on Saturday April 14. The tournament will include Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2), Penn State University, and Towson University. The matches begin at 2:00pm and Parking and Admission are Free.
The City Islanders begin their fourth season of play in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday April 21, 2007 at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island.
Season, group, and single game tickets are on sale now. Tickets are available by calling 717-441-GOAL or online at www.cityislanders.com.
The Islanders are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2006 campaign which resulted in an 8-9-3 record. The City Islanders play in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division competing against squads in Baltimore (new), Bermuda (new), Charlotte (NC), Cincinnati, Cleveland (new), New Hampshire, Richmond (VA.), Western Mass, and Wilmington (NC).
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