Thursday, April 24, 2008

After missing the playoffs for the first time in their three-year history in 2006, the City Islanders got over the hump last year with the club’s first championship, edging the Kickers in penalties 8-7 after a 1-1 draw in Richmond.

The season began with a five-game unbeaten run (3-0-2) and another span of 5-0-1 just after the midway point helped solidify the club’s position in the chase for a playoff spot, which heated up as the season wore on. The City Islanders were in the running for the regular season title in dying days of the campaign, but Harrisburg would finish three points back of Richmond and one behind Cleveland.

Cleveland’s status as a one-loss club was not a road block for Harrisburg, who upset the expansion side on their home turf 1-0 in the Semifinals to set up their showdown with Richmond, who had handed them one of their four losses on the year.

The 2008 Season

As is usual for most championship teams in pro sports, the roster is a difficult thing to maintain. The club lost two All-League selections in defender Michael Lookingland and goalkeeper Matt Nelson to Crystal Palace Baltimore as well as Carlos Morales. Also leaving the team was Tim Velten (Charleston).

The club did keep a majority of its experienced players, however, with 2007 All-League selections Mo Oduor and Brian Ombiji coming back with 2005 All-Leaguer David Schofield. They are joined by Ryan Pierce, Stephen Fisher, Brian Devlin, Adam Clay, Anthony Calvano, Dustin Bixler and Nathan Baker who all played at least 15 games last season.

While the team may have lost their standout goalkeeper from last year, the club has brought in a pair of MLS prospects to mind the goal with Red Bull New York loanee Danny Cepero and former Houston Dynamo prospect Brian Pope competing for the job. The rest of the newcomers are highlighted by the addition of former New Hampshire Phantom star striker Almir Barbosa, a 2006 All-League selection who has posted 16 goals in the past two seasons and the signing of former PDL standouts Ryan Heins (Ocean City) and Milton Blanco (Fresno). The newcomers are rounded out by former Vancouver Whitecap Nigel Marples.

The First Five

The defending champions open the season with four of their first five games against 2007 playoff teams. They face their semifinal opposition Cleveland in the first two at home April 26 and on the road May 2. They then travel to state rival Pittsburgh the following night. The next two are against Charlotte, hosting the Eagles May 10 and visiting the North Carolina a week later on May 16.