2017 Harrisburg City Islanders season explained

Club:	Harrisburg City Islanders
Season:	2017
Chrtitle:	Owner
Chairman:	Eric Pettis
Mgrtitle:	Head coach
Manager:	Bill Becher
Stadium:	FNB Field
League:	USL
League Result:	11th place
Cup1:	USL Playoffs
Cup1 Result:	Did not qualify
Cup2:	U.S. Open Cup
Cup2 Result:	Fourth round
League Topscorer:	Ropapa Mensah (7)
Season Topscorer:	Ropapa Mensah (7)
Highest Attendance:	League: 3,289 (7/15 vs. RIC)
Lowest Attendance:	League: 1,820 (9/12 vs. CIN)
Average Attendance:	League:
Largest Win:	League: HAR 2–0 NY (7/12) HAR 2–0 STL (9/30) All: REA 0–3 HAR (5/31, USOC)
Largest Loss:	League/All: LOU 5–0 HAR (8/23)
Pattern La1:	_whiteborder
Pattern B1:	_whitehoophigh_w_stripes
Pattern Ra1:	_whiteborder
Pattern So1:	_white_band_color
Leftarm1:	1F2148
Body1:	1F2148
Rightarm1:	1F2148
Shorts1:	1F2148
Socks1:	1F2148
Pattern La2:	_thinblackborder
Pattern B2:	_blackhoophigh_w_stripes
Pattern Ra2:	_thinblackborder
Pattern Sh2:	_blackcollar
Pattern So2:	_black_band_color
American:	true
Prevseason:	2016
Nextseason:	2018

The 2017 season was the Harrisburg City Islanders's 14th season of competitive soccer - its first in the second division of American soccer, and its seventh season in the United Soccer League.^[1]

This was the club's final season under its original name, with the club renamed Penn FC (in full, Penn Football Club) shortly after the end of the season.

Review

For the 2017 season, the City Islanders played all their home matches at FNB Field rather than splitting time between Harrisburg and Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster. This decision was made to focus on marketing the team more intently in Harrisburg area.^[2]

The 2017 season marked the first time the City Islanders competed in the second division of American soccer after USL was granted provisional Division II status.^[3]

The season would also kick off under new majority ownership joined by George Altirs of Capelli Sports. The new ownership has intended to invest in the club to keep up with the growing league and keep the team in Harrisburg.^[4] Despite additional investment and club connections to Ghanaian club, International Allies F.C., the City Islanders failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

At the conclusion of the season, it was announced that the Harrisburg City Islanders would be re-branded as Penn FC for the 2018 season marking the end of the "City Islanders" name after 14 seasons.^{[5] [6]}

Roster

Updated as of July 21, 2017.^[7]

Transfers

In

Date	Player	Number	Position	Previous club	Fee/notes
February 23, 2017		15	DF		Free; 1-year contract^[8]
February 24, 2017		20	DF		Signed^[9]
March 1, 2017		9	MF		Signed^[10]
March 2, 2017		4	DF		Signed^[11]
March 9, 2017		33	GK		Signed^[12]
March 16, 2017		22	MF		Signed^[13]
March 16, 2017		13	FW		Signed
March 16, 2017		16	DF		Signed
March 16, 2017		2	DF		Signed
March 21, 2017		7	MF		Signed^[14]
March 21, 2017		12	MF		Signed
March 23, 2017		5	DF		Signed^[15]
March 23, 2017		21	GK		Signed
April 14, 2017		30	FW		Signed^[16]
July 21, 2017		6	FW		Signed^[17]

Out

Date	Player	Number	Position	New club	Fee/notes
November 12, 2016		30	GK		Undisclosed^[18]
November 23, 2016		2	DF		Undisclosed^[19]
December 5, 2016		16	DF		Transfer^[20]
January 1, 2017		22	FW		Free Transfer^[21]
January 26, 2017		8	MF		Transfer^[22]
February 20, 2017		9	FW		Retired^[23]
February 28, 2017		77	FW		Undisclosed^[24]

Loan in

Date	Player	Number	Position	Loaned from	Fee/notes
March 23, 2017		18	DF		Signed
March 23, 2017		25	FW		Signed
May 5, 2017		60	FW		Signed^[25]

Competitions

USL

Results

All times in Eastern Time.^[26]

2017 Harrisburg City Islanders Regular Season Schedule^[27]

Results summary

U.S. Open Cup

See main article: 2017 U.S. Open Cup.

The City Islanders competed in the 2017 edition of the U.S. Open Cup, entering the competition in the second round. They were eliminated in the fourth round to the Philadelphia Union for the second consecutive year.

All times in Eastern Time.^[26]

Statistics

As of December 3, 2017.^[28]

Players included in matchday squads

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Name	League	Playoffs	Cup	Total	Discipline
scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Apps	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Goals	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Apps	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Goals	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Apps	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Goals	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Apps	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;	Goals	scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;		scope=col style="color:white; background:#00245D;
2	DF		scope=row	Griffin Libhart	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0
4	DF		scope=row	Travis Brent	21	0	0	0	2	0	23	0	0	0
5	DF		scope=row	Tiago Calvano	26	1	0	0	0	0	26	1	11	0
7	FW		scope=row	Manolo Sanchez	10	2	0	0	1	0	11	2	0	0
8	MF		scope=row	Mouhamed Dabo	21	0	0	0	3	0	24	0	6	0
9	MF		scope=row	Jonny Mendoza	23	2	0	0	2	1	25	3	1	0
10	MF		scope=row	Paul Wilson	28	3	0	0	1	0	29	3	3	0
11	FW		scope=row	Aaron Wheeler	14	2	0	0	1	0	15	2	1	0
12	MF		scope=row	Rasheed Olabiyi	27	1	0	0	2	0	29	1	4	0
13	FW		scope=row	Mike Olla	12	0	0	0	1	0	13	0	0	0
14	MF		scope=row	Danny DiPrima	23	1	0	0	3	1	26	2	1	0
15	DF		scope=row	Lee Nishanian	25	1	0	0	3	0	28	1	4	1
16	DF		scope=row	Jake Bond	14	2	0	0	3	2	17	4	1	0
17	DF		scope=row	Jamie Thomas	20	0	0	0	3	0	23	0	7	1
18	DF		scope=row	Abass Mohamed	20	0	0	0	3	0	23	0	7	1
19	MF		scope=row	Cardel Benbow	21	1	0	0	1	0	22	1	2	0
20	DF		scope=row	Chris Hill	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
22	DF		scope=row	John Grosh	21	0	0	0	2	0	23	0	3	0
23	DF		scope=row	Shawn McLaws	27	0	0	0	3	0	30	0	5	0
25	FW		scope=row	Ropapa Mensah	19	7	0	0	0	0	19	7	6	0
30	FW		scope=row	Pedro Ribeiro	19	3	0	0	3	0	22	3	5	0
60	FW		scope=row	Fredrick Opoku	15	0	0	0	1	0	16	0	2	0
Total											31	71	2

Players with names struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.

Players with names in italics were loaned players.

Players with names marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Harrisburg.

League denotes USL regular season

Playoffs denotes USL playoffs

Goalkeepers

League Stats

As of December 3, 2017.^[28]

Players included in matchday squads

Nat.	No.	Player	Apps	Starts	Record	GA	GAA	SO
	1		1	1	0-1-0	3	3.00	0	1	0
	21		6	6	2-3-1	9	1.50	2	0	0
	33		25	25	9-11-5	35	1.40	7	1	1
Total					11–15–6	47	1.47	9	2	1

Record: W-L-D

U.S. Open Cup Stats

As of June 24, 2017.^[28]

Players included in matchday squads

Nat.	No.	Player	Apps	Starts	Record	GA	GAA	SO
	1		0	0	0-0-0	0	0.00	0	0	0
	21		2	2	1-1-0	3	1.50	1	0	0
	33		1	1	1-0-0	0	0.00	1	0	0
Total					2–1–0	3	1.00	0	0	0

Record: W-L-D

Honors

• Week 9 Team of the Week: Honorable Mention M Rasheed Olabiyi^[29]
• Week 14 Team of the Week: Honorable Mention F Pedro Ribeiro^[30]
• Week 15 Player of the Week: F Pedro Ribeiro^[31]
• Week 17 Team of the Week: G Brandon Miller and M Mouhamed Dabo^[32]
  Honorable Mention M Ropapa Mensah^[32]
• Week 17 Goal of the Week: M Ropapa Mensah^[33]
• Week 18 Team of the Week: Honorable Mention G Brandon Miller^[34]

Notes and References

1. Web site: City Islanders Club History. 2017-01-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311162134/http://cityislanders.com/club/history/. 2014-03-11. dead.
2. Web site: Harrisburg to play at FNB field for 2017. Harrisburg City Islanders. December 21, 2016. January 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170103003246/http://cityislanders.com/press-releases/holiday-inn-harrisburg-east-signs-2-year-hotel-agreement/. January 3, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
3. Web site: U.S. Soccer Board of Directors Grants Provisional Division II Status to NASL and USL. U.S. Soccer. January 6, 2017. January 13, 2017.
4. Web site: Harrisburg City Islanders Announce George Altirs as Majority Owner. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 24, 2017. April 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170402165418/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/harrisburg-city-islanders-announce-george-altirs-as-majority-owner/. April 2, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
5. News: Penn FC to Make USL Debut in 2018 . November 15, 2017.
6. News: City Islanders to change club name to Penn FC for 2018 Season . Ross . Lippman . . Harrisburg, PA . November 15, 2017 . September 21, 2018.
7. Web site: City Islanders 2017 Roster. July 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20140307191755/http://cityislanders.com/teams/harrisburg-city-islanders/. 2014-03-07. dead.
8. Web site: Lee Nishanian Signs 1-Year Contract with Harrisburg. Harrisburg City Islanders. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017.
9. Web site: Chris Hill Signs with Harrisburg City Islanders in 2017. Harrisburg City Islanders. February 24, 2017. February 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170227064212/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/chris-hill-signs-with-harrisburg-city-islanders-in-2017/. February 27, 2017. dead.
10. Web site: Jonny Mendoza Signs with Harrisburg City Islanders. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 1, 2017. March 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170302030025/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/jonny-mendoza-signs-with-harrisburg-city-islanders/. March 2, 2017. dead.
11. Web site: Travis Brent Signs with Harrisburg City Islanders. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 2, 2017. March 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170304035854/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/travis-brent-signs-with-harrisburg-city-islanders/. March 4, 2017. dead.
12. Web site: Harrisburg City Islanders Sign 2015 USL Goalie Of The Year. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 9, 2017. March 10, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170312044157/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/harrisburg-city-islanders-sign-2015-usl-goalie-of-the-year/. March 12, 2017. dead.
13. Web site: Islanders Sign Local Talent and New Faces to 2017 Roster. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 16, 2017. March 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170318000006/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-sign-local-talent-and-new-faces-to-2017-roster/. March 18, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
14. Web site: Islanders Ink Olabiyi and Sanchez for 2017 Season. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 21, 2017. April 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170322111902/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-ink-two-more-midfielders-for-the-2017-season/. March 22, 2017. dead.
15. Web site: Islanders Round Out Roster for 2017. Harrisburg City Islanders. March 23, 2017. April 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170324174757/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-round-out-roster-for-2017/. 2017-03-24. dead.
16. Web site: Islanders Welcome Back Pedro Ribeiro. Harrisburg City Islanders. April 14, 2017. April 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170416220731/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-welcome-back-pedro-ribeiro/. 2017-04-16. dead.
17. Web site: Jason Plumhoff Signs with Harrisburg City Islanders. Harrisburg City Islanders. July 21, 2017. July 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170823163752/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/jason-plumhoff-signs-with-harrisburg-city-islanders/. August 23, 2017. dead.
18. Web site: Riverhounds Sign Goalkeeper Keasel Broome. Pittsburgh Sporting News. November 12, 2016. January 2, 2017.
19. Web site: Riverhounds Add Banjo, Campbell to 2017 Roster. Pittsburgh Riverhounds. November 23, 2016. January 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161124093850/http://riverhounds.com/2016/11/23/riverhounds-add-banjo-campbell-to-2017-roster/. November 24, 2016. dead.
20. Web site: Harrisburg and Kansas City Finalize Doyle Transfer. Harrisburg City Islanders. December 5, 2016. January 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170103003411/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/harrisburg-and-kansas-city-finalize-doyle-transfer/. January 3, 2017. dead.
21. Web site: Craig Foster returns to boost Reno’s RSPL chances. Jamaica Observer. Sanjay Myers. 1 January 2017. 6 February 2017. 10 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510153748/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Craig-Foster-returns-to-boost-Reno-s-RSPL-chances_85287. dead.
22. Web site: Jose Barril Added to Energy FC Roster. Oklahoma City Energy FC. January 26, 2017. January 26, 2017.
23. Web site: Forward Garret Pettis Hangs Up His Cleats After 5 Seasons in Harrisburg. Harrisburg City Islanders. February 20, 2017. February 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222193838/http://cityislanders.com/uncategorized/forward-garret-pettis-hangs-up-his-cleats-after-5-seasons-in-harrisburg/. February 22, 2017. dead.
24. Web site: Reno 1868 Signs Former Harrisburg City Islander Cameron Vickers. Carson Valley Times. February 27, 2017. February 28, 2017.
25. Web site: Islanders Sign Ghanaian Player Fredrick Yamoah Opoku. Harrisburg City Islanders. May 5, 2017. May 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171203013759/http://cityislanders.com/club-news/islanders-sign-ghanaian-player-fredrick-yamoah-opoku/. December 3, 2017. dead.
26. Web site: Harrisburg City Islanders Schedule. 4 February 2017. 6 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103921/http://www.uslsoccer.com/harrisburg-city-islanders-schedule. dead.
27. Web site: 2017 Harrisburg City Islanders Regular Season Schedule . 2017-01-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150906075034/http://cityislanders.com/schedule/2015-schedule/ . 2015-09-06 . dead .
28. Web site: Players . USLsoccer.com . May 29, 2017 . June 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170603085150/http://www.uslsoccer.com/harrisburg-city-islanders-player-stats . dead .
29. Web site: USL Week 9 Team of the Week. USLsoccer.com. May 23, 2017 . June 11, 2017.
30. Web site: USL Week 14 Team of the Week. USLsoccer.com. June 27, 2017 . June 27, 2017.
31. Web site: Ribeiro Named USL Player of the Week. USLsoccer.com. July 4, 2017 . July 4, 2017.
32. Web site: USL Week 17 Team of the Week. USLsoccer.com. July 18, 2017 . July 21, 2017.
33. Web site: Mensah Earns Fans' Choice Goal of the Week. USLsoccer.com. July 20, 2017 . July 21, 2017.
34. Web site: USL Week 18 Team of the Week. USLsoccer.com. July 25, 2017 . August 3, 2017.