Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
HARRISBURG, Pa. – In their last home match of the regular season, the Harrisburg City Islanders (8-6-6) will welcome the Charleston Battery (11-9-1) to Skyline Sports Complex on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Battery defeated the Islanders 3-1 in the teams’ previous meeting on June 23. Goals by Jose Cuevas, Navion Boyd and Ryan Richter sent the 4,634 at Blackbaud Stadium home happy and the visitors to their second loss in as many nights.
Since then, Charleston has struggled to regain its momentum from earlier in the season, accruing a 2-6-1 record. The Islanders, meanwhile, have been unable to put together an extended streak of any kind, failing to win, tie or lose three games in a row all season.
Harrisburg, however, has fared slightly better than its Wednesday-night opponent, going 4-2-2, but still sits four points behind the Battery in the USL PRO standings.
Both teams are coming off losses. Charleston lost a 2-1 road decision to playoff contender Wilmington on Saturday, while Harrisburg faltered against streaking Orlando in a 4-2 loss at Skyline. With the playoffs looming, both sides will be eager to get a victory, said Harrisburg defender Bilal Duckett, who hopes to return to action this week after sitting out four games with a shoulder injury.
“We need to approach this game like it’s a playoff game,” the 23-year-old Georgia native said. “There's no question that we have the talent to make a run at a title this year, and now is the time for us to prove it.”
The usual starter at right back for the Islanders, Duckett said a more workmanlike effort would be needed in a match that could swing the competitive balance in USL PRO.
“We are still very much in the playoff hunt,” he said. “Getting the results we are after could catapult us up near the top of the table.”
Kickoff for Wednesday’s game will take place at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for youths and
$12 for senior tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cityislanders.org or call 717-441-GOAL.
