Coming back to the Islanders for the 2011 USL season is what many would consider the backbone of the team. Captain Dustin Bixler returns to anchor the center of defense complimented by ball-winner Jason Pelletier and creative force Brian Ombiji in midfield. David Schofield returns to apply pressure from the wings and fullback Anthony Calvano will look to maintain a sharp edge on a defense that gave away a few too many goals last season. Utility-man Geoff Bloes returns as well, as does last year’s newcomer in defense, Jeritt Thayer. Thayer proved a strong addition to the backline for Harrisburg and threatened offensively with a solid aerial game. Veteran attacker Jason Hotchkin is also back and will surely provide firepower for a team that simply needs to score more goals. This collection of veterans maintains the spirit and discipline of the club from season to season – even with lots of new faces, there should be plenty that look familiar to Islanders’ fans.

Off-Season Acquisitions

The professionally proven off-season acquisitions for the team are former Islanders’ goalkeeper Chase Harrison and former Crystal Palace Baltimore defenders Stephen Basso and Andrew Marshall. Harrison returns to City Island after spells with Charleston, DC United, and Columbus and ended the debate before it began about the team’s starter in net. Basso and Marshall should provide valuable experience to a young team and reinforce the defensive unit that Coach Bill Becher will run out. These three represent solid additions to the returners in Harrisburg’s backline and will look to make the defense the strength of the team. Former US U-20 forward and 2009 Colorado draft pick Jordan Seabrook also has two years as a professional under his belt, and will look to compete for time in the forward rotation.

Unproven acquisitions are much harder to characterize. The highest profile player coming in is likely Maryland forward Jason Herrick, who was unable to latch on with the Chicago Fire after this year’s draft. Herrick will likely play a significant role in the attack and will be expected to provide good hold-up play and passing from the front of the formation as well as punch in more than a few goals.

Local and regional products Drew Yates and Andrew Welker will look to fill in where they are needed, but likely look to get time in the Harrisburg midfield. Welker actually played for the Philadelphia Union reserves this past Sunday in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bull Reserves – he reportedly lined up as a center back. Yates is another Maryland product drafted by Chicago and comes off one season with FC Tampa Bay. Trials around MLS proved unfruitful, as did an adventure to Europe’s lower divisions. If Yates and Herrick have any chemistry left from their days in College Park, that familiarity would be a huge asset to the team. Other newcomers are backup goalkeeper Phil Tuttle, forward Jose Angulo, and midfielders Nelson Becerra (St. John’s) and Morgan Langley (Swarthmore).

A few more signings can be expected as the early season progresses, but the Islanders have said goodbye to many of the trialists with which they started camp. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the signing of former Messiah stand-out Geoff Pezon as a potential late coming reinforcement for the forward pool, as I still have my concerns about their ability as a unit to provide consistent goal-scoring.

As with last season, it would not be strange to see the Philadelphia Union lend a player or two to the Islanders for home games, as Harrisburg wants for additional attacking ability and Philadelphia seeks minutes for its developing players. Speedsters Levi Houapeu and Chris Agorsor would be the most mutually beneficial loan players in my mind, bringing the Islanders another dimension to their relatively young attack and helping the Union find time in a young and deep forward pool. The MLS reserve league may impact this tendency to loan players during stints of the season, but expect to see loanees throughout April, May, and June, as the only two reserve matches between now and July 4 are dates on May 16 hosting DC and on May 29 away to Toronto.

Outlook

USL PRO is the latest incarnation of lower division professional soccer in America and one that will hopefully foster a greater emphasis on regional competition. The turmoil and uncertainty of the realigned league cause the withdraw of recent rivals Real Maryland, but many familiar clubs are back for the 2011 season, including the recently revived Wilmington Hammerheads. Newcomers to the league include FC New York, the Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City (formerly the Austin Aztexs of the USSF D-2 league), and the Dayton Dutch Lions, as well as a host of Caribbean teams not appearing on the Islander’s regular season schedule. Charleston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Rochester return for what is likely to be a very strong league with two teams (Rochester, Orlando City) moving down from a higher level of competition last season.

Look for the Islanders to be competitive and stingy. Proven keeper Chase Harrison should provide excellent support and leadership to a veteran backline with strong off-season reinforcements. Averting danger should not be the Islanders problem so much as finding a consistent group of goal scorers. The promise of young talent is there and if the Islanders’ attack can gel, they will prove a difficult team to beat. We will hope that the Islanders fail to notice the improved quality of their competition and keep bagging goals as they did in preseason college exhibitions versus Saint Francis (2-0), Villanova (1-1), Robert Morris (3-0), Temple (4-0), Towson (7-0), and Penn State (6-0).

The Islanders open their season at home to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 16 at 7:00 PM. For more coverage of the Islanders and pre-season game reports, check out http://www.pennlive.com/cityislanders/.

The Harrisburg City Islanders will be holding an open tryout on November 28 at Lower Dauphin Middle School in Hummelstown, PA.

To be considered you must first submit an application and a $50 registration fee. The application fee will be processed only if your application is accepted.

Applicants will be notified by email whether they have been accepted to participate in the tryout.

To apply, you must reside in the United States. College players should bear in mind that the signing of a professional contract could result in the loss of college eligibility.

To apply, you can download an application or you can apply online.

Harrisburg City Islanders Open Tryout – November 28, 2010
Lower Dauphin Middle School
251 Quarry Road
Hummelstown, PA 17036

PSP: Some of our readers may be aware that your father, Dick Ruthven, was a major league pitcher in the 70s and 80s with the Cubs, Phillies, and Braves, and won a world title with the Phillies in 1980. Have you always aspired to be a professional athlete? Was your sport always soccer?

Tyler: I always wanted to be an athlete and it’s really all I was focused on growing up through high school and college. I played little league growing up but one day when I was 10 I just decided soccer was what I was going to do. My brother and cousins all played Division 1 baseball and a couple got drafted so I was always surrounded by baseball. Even now my uncle is a broadcaster for the Florida Marlins. Since the day I picked soccer I have never once second guessed myself.

PSP: We see that you majored in Sports and Entertainment Management at South Carolina. Planning ahead for a career in sports after your playing days?

Tyler: I would love that, obviously my first objective is to play as long as possible but I couldn’t imagine my life without sport in some capacity.

PSP: Though you played your college soccer at San Francisco and South Carolina, you played in the Premier Development League with Chicago Fire Premier. The Fire had a pretty stacked PDL roster the season you were there and have traditionally had a strong club with alumni like Chris Rolfe, Jonathan Spector, Brad Guzan, and Ricardo Clark. Can you compare that experience for us with other teams you have played for? Are they doing something special there that everyone else needs to pick up on?

Tyler: I grew a lot playing for Chicago. I was actually one of the few guys that didn’t get drafted off our roster; it was a humbling experience to play with those guys but I loved it. We definitely played at a high level, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to be a part of the playoff run to the final as I had a nagging hamstring that I went back to rehab at USC. I was fortunate enough to train with the first team for a few days and thoroughly enjoyed my experience.

PSP: Tyler, you turned professional this summer and signed on with the Harrisburg City Islanders in July. What was the on-field transition like for you from college soccer to professional soccer? What was the transition like off the field?

Tyler: I actually signed June 1. It was such a long process from the disappointment of the combine/draft to finally playing meaningful games again. I actually reported to Puerto Rico and was given an opportunity to play for them but decided to turn it down to go back and finish the semester. There was a point when the semester ended in May that I thought I may never play again, I thought that when I left Puerto Rico I may have closed the only door I had. Luckily, Steve Widowson, one of the Harrisburg assistants, saw me play when Puerto Rico picked me up and convinced the club to sign me. On the field I feel like I adjusted fairly quickly, the pace was a bit faster but I never felt like the game was getting away from me.

PSP: Back in March, the Harrisburg City Islanders signed on as an affiliate of the MLS expansion side, Philadelphia Union. We’ve seen some interesting things come out of that relationship from the friendly on City Island, to the signings of JT Noone and Sheanon Williams, and the training and loan relationships that have worked both ways. What was the relationship like behind the scenes? What kinds of involvement did the two clubs have that wasn’t highly publicized?

Tyler: The affiliation is really what drew me to Harrisburg. Sheanon and I became pretty good friends through the season as we both kind of found ourselves in similar situations. I never really saw any of the work behind the scenes but after the friendly with the Union John Hackworth expressed some interest to my agent about me training with the club after the USL2 season although unfortunately that never materialized.

PSP: Despite some great showings this year and a victory over the eventual league champion, Charleston Battery, the City Islanders did not make it to the USL 2 playoffs. What are you taking away from your first year as a professional? Have you had a chance to reflect back on the season yet?

Tyler: My first season as a pro was probably the most frustrating experience of my life. When I signed we were at the bottom, and I got there and we got hot and started to make a run at things. It was frustrating because soon as we made progress we unraveled again down the stretch and cost ourselves a chance at the playoffs. For me personally it was a challenge because I had to deal with some nagging injury issues when I first arrived and then I had to adjust to playing left back which I had never really played before. I am a natural centerback and think my future as a pro will probably only be at center back.

PSP: You recently finished a trial with FC Tampa Bay who play in the second division in American soccer, and we understand that Tampa Bay has invited you to train with them in the run up to next season. Is that your likely destination next year? Any chance of seeing you again on City Island? Any chance of seeing you in a Philadelphia Union kit?

Tyler: I had a three day trial with Tampa when we were done and unfortunately due to weather and other issues I was only able to train for one day with the team. As frustrating as it was, I was able to at least be invited to preseason next year. Playing in Philadelphia for the Union would be an absolute dream for me; I would do anything for a chance at that. There hasn’t been any interest from the Union apart from the initial talk of me training at this time.

PSP: Some athletes are very superstitious about their gameday habits, what music they listen to pre-match, or what food they eat. Any interesting quirks to your gameday routine?

Tyler: I am not superstitious at all. Music changes for me, I used to like a lot of heavier stuff to get me going but as I got older I’ve started to listen to more things to calm me down pregame. As for food, I usually try and eat a carbohydrate heavy meal about 4 hours prior to kickoff.

PSP: When you aren’t on the soccer field, are you a sports fan? Do you get caught up in fantasy football this time of year or are you following the pennant race? Who’s your favorite team?

Tyler: Well I am back training at [South Carolina] in the offseason and so I am an avid Carolina fan. Obviously I would like to see the Braves pull off at least the wildcard, but also I have ties to Philly. I follow the premier league pretty closely.

PSP: Any interesting experiences living in Pennsylvania? Did you get much of a chance to explore Philadelphia?

Tyler: I only made it to Philly once for the Celtic friendly, I wish I could have made it more. [But] I am back at [South Carolina] till preseason.

MLS has maintained relatively tight roster rules since the death of its reserve league in 2008, and a review of MLS Superdrafts past shows lists of players who never saw an MLS roster, let alone the field. Athletes coming out of college were drafted by MLS teams, but when they weren’t offered a contract or place on the team simply because the roster was full, many of them were frozen out. MLS teams maintain the league rights of their draft picks for two years, so even when one team said no, it wasn’t as though players could shop their game around MLS. There are of course other options — USL or NASL squads or professional PDL teams scattered across the country — but you can usually count the number of guys picked up by MLS teams from lower division squads in a given season on one hand. For many, not catching on with an MLS team after the draft or within the first two years out of school meant never catching on. And for MLS squads, it meant having to make relatively quick decisions about the potential of a player without having worked with them for any real period of time — not a good situation for player or club.

Philadelphia currently holds five draft picks for the upcoming Superdraft and might have more come draft day if Nowak and Co. decide to deal players or allocation cash.

What would the point of drafting a half dozen players be if there wasn’t more than an open spot or two on the MLS roster? Stocking the system.

Instead of freezing players out of MLS for the two years that Philadelphia maintains their draft rights, the Union can provide a place to develop as a player and a professional within relative proximity of the first team squad: Harrisburg. Better yet, already having the draft rights to the player on the Islanders squad means not having to use a discovery signing should the team choose to bring them up after the first season. Certainly this situation is not ideal for an incoming player, but it allows the Union more flexibility in player development and provides an opportunity for the team to continue being aggressive in the draft.

Now, there’s no guarantee that Nowak and Hackworth will take advantage of this opportunity, and with the potential return of the MLS Reserve League next season, how the Union choose to use their affiliate may still be determined. If MLS rosters expand considerably to accomodate the reserves, allowing a draftee or two to play the season in Harrisburg might not be necessary, but the option still exists.

The structure of MLS makes some of these adventures in player development more difficult, but I am hopeful that the Union will look to maximize the benefits for both partners in this affiliation. I am keeping a close eye on the situation, because I am relatively sure that we have not seen the full extent of this partnership yet.

The Islanders 2010 league campaign has fallen short of expectation. While the team impressed with a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal run, they were unable to piece together a run in the regular season.

While the Isles find themselves eliminated from the upcoming USL-2 playoffs they still have pride to play for. Sitting in 5th place in the six team league, the Islanders will look to end on a positive note and would love to close with a win. The three previous meetings of the Islanders and Riverhounds this season have all ended in 1-1 draws and each contest has been a heated affair—with pride on the line, don’t expect this finale to be any less intense.

Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm at Skyline Sports Complex and this is likely to be your last chance to see the Islanders in action until March. Check out the team website for more details.

Turning their attention forward, the Islanders face off in a league match against the Charleston Battery Saturday nigh, July 24, on City Island. The Islanders have climbed out of the cellar and sit on 17 points (4-6-5) just on the edge of the playoff bubble. With 5 games left in the regular season, every game is important when trying to make up ground and secure 4th place. Charleston sits atop the league with 30 points (9-3-3) but the Battery have divided the season series with the Islanders on a win, loss, and a tie. The Islanders will look to take all 3 points from the visiting Battery in what should be a hard fought and physical contest. In addition, the Islanders will have the benefit of young striker Jack McInerney on a one game loan from Philadelphia. His speed and creativity will hopefully cause some problems for the Battery defense.

On the lighter side, Tuesday, July 27, shows the Union coming to City Island to square off against their affiliate club in their first-ever friendly. The Islanders will look to keep their team sharp while the Union prepare for next Saturday’s battle with the New England Revolution. Also look for the Union to showcase their new signing, Argentine midfielder Eduardo Coudet, and for Coach Nowak to run out any trialists he may look at over the next week.

For more Islanders coverage:

Upper 90 by Derek Meluzio

Team Website

Islanders News Index on Pennlive.com

They are also in the midst of a quarterfinal run in the U.S. Open Cup posting wins over the Brooklyn Italians, Long Island Rough Riders, and the New York Red Bulls of MLS. Despite needing overtime to dispatch NYRB, the Islanders are the last USL team alive in this year’s Open Cup and are on a collision course with the struggling DC United on July 21st.

Their run of form in USL-2 play has moved the Islanders from 6th to 4th in the league table and their Open Cup run has already won them a payout for being the last lower division team left. The Islanders have posted six straight wins in all competitions and look to keep rolling as they head out to Pittsbugh on July 17th.

Development Report:

With each game I have attended this season I have been more and more impressed by the play of Goalkeeper Danny Cepero. Once the New York Red Bulls starter in place of Jon Conway, Danny continues to impress on the island and his leadership at the back continues to prove decisive. Cepero turns in at least a few terrific saves each game and his willingness to come out and challenge for the aerial ball makes the Islanders 18 a difficult one to attack with crosses. Danny turned 25 this past May and I would not be surprised to see him back in an MLS kit within the next few seasons.

Since signing with the Islanders full time, JT Noone has been a visible presence in the middle of the park. In 12 USL games this season he has logged more than 1,000 minutes, contributing two assists and orchestrating many more chances. His confidence on the ball provides excellent tempo to the game as he looks to make the right pass rather than just a pass. He also plays box-to-box and harasses would be attackers as often as he can be seen leading a counter-attack. Many fans were disappointed to not see JT in a Union kit this season as he was the last trailist left in camp, but his time with the Islanders has been both productive and positive.

A newer face for the Islanders is defender #18 Tyler Ruthven. Tyler got his first action of this USL campaign on Saturday night in the Islanders 3-2 defeat of Real Maryland. His goal off of an Islanders corner really opened up the game in the 17th minute and he saw 60 solid minutes of action before being subbed off. Tyler is one of the mid-season signings by the City Islanders and looks like a player to watch over the coming weeks.

Notes:

If you are in the capitol area, one for your notes is the coming exhibition with Philadelphia Union. Nowak’s men will face the Islanders on City Island Tuesday, July 27th at 7pm. Tickets are available through the team website. As always, check www.cityislanders.com for more info, game times, and features.

Geoff Bloes provided it, side-volleying an equalizer to force the game into extra time, with a little help from JT Noone.

Said Bloes, who scored the overtime winner against New York Revolution in last year’s US Open Cup,“It was J.T. that flicked it on and everybody just ran to the ball. I knew all I had to do was get over the ball so it wasn’t going over the goal.”

Bloes, who also had two assists, usually plays left back. But in Friday’s match against Pittsburgh Riverhounds, City Islanders coach Bill Becher pushed him to forward with about 15 minutes left in the match and Harrisburg down 1-0. Bloes then assisted on Nick Zimmerman’s game-tieing goal. On Tuesday night, Bloes started up front where, in addition to the goal and two assists, he also had a goal called back and hit the crossbar in extra time.

Bloes is no stranger to playing forward. He set a new school record at Shippensburg University for goals with 51 over 77 games and was twice named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year.

Coach Becher said, “Geoff took his chances and made the most of them up there. In college and high school he scored tons of goals. It’s not a shock that he was able to get a goal and two assists. We’re hoping that what he tonight is going to be a spark for our team.”

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The Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) visit City Island on Tuesday, June 15, in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. The Italians are an amateur team that qualified through the preliminary stages and look to test their skills against the Islanders in this opening round clash. The game is scheduled for 7pm and all tickets have been reduced to $5 for the match.

Check the City Islanders website for a full match report from Friday’s contest, for information on the Open Cup game, or to get information on upcoming matches.

For more Islanders coverage, check in with Derek Meluzio’s Upper 90 blog. (Nick Zimmerman is doing a Q&A with Derek for this week – should be interesting)

Nick Zimmerman of the Philadelphia Union is rumored to be making a second short loan stint to the Islanders for Friday’s contest. Zimmerman provided the game-winner in his last visit to Harrisburg and they will look to his offensive spark once again to help find the back of the net. This is also likely a one game loan as Nowak looks to keep his team sharp over the World Cup break.