Harrisburg City Islanders News Release - www.cityislanders.com
Friday, July 3, 2009
HARRISBURG, PA -- The Harrisburg City Islanders (8-3-2, 26 points) scored two last minute goals to defeat Crystal Palace Baltimore (5-7-3, 18 points) 3-1 on Friday in front of 2,133 fans at Skyline Sports Complex. The victory keeps the Islanders in first place in the USL Second Division.
In what is a rarity for the Islanders at home, they were unable to score first.
Baltimore scored their first and only goal of the evening in 11th minute when Machel Millwood assisted Jordan Seabrook. Baltimore’s goal was the first league goal the Islanders have surrendered at Skyline since their home opener on April 25th. It was also the first regular season goal that Islander keeper Chase Harrison has given up on the Island.
Despite going down 1-0 early, the Islanders had the majority of possession and tied the game up in the 29th minute the when Jason Pelletier slipped the ball to Tiyi Shipalane. Shipalane took a touch and chipped the ball off the cross bar and past Baltimore’s keeper Brian Rowland. That was the last goal of the half.
At the start of the second half a Baltimore goal in the 52nd minute was disallowed due to an offside call, and for the next 35 minutes neither side was able to capitalize.
Then, in the last four minutes a pair of goals from second half substitution Brandon Swartzendruber gave the Islanders a victory.
In the 87th minute Pelletier found Swartzendruber’s head in the box off of a free kick from just inside the halfway line.
Just four minutes later in stoppage time, another second half substitute, Phil Buffington laid the ball off to Swartzendruber who capitalized yet again in the 91st minute.
On Tuesday, July 7 the Islanders take on Major League Soccer’s DC United in the quarter finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Their next regular season match is on Friday, July 10th away at Crystal Palace Baltimore.
The Islanders will also be facing off against Crystal Palace Baltimore’s sister organization Crystal Palace London on July 16th in a world class exhibition match to be held at the Lancaster Barnstormer’s Clipper Magazine Stadium.
