The open tryouts have ended, the camp roster is shaping up, and the Harrisburg City Islanders are headed full steam into the pre-season. 32 players  suited up at In The Net, outside of Harrisburg on Monday, and the competition will be fierce. Harrisburg is returning 8 players from last year’s squad after a number of departures to other teams in MLS and the USL. Add to the that the signing of highly touted midfielder Nate Jafta and the Islanders have a solid core from which to build – but build they must. Ten more trialists will be brought in on March 22nd and head coach Bill Becher is adamant about good competition for spots in the preseason workouts. Among the trialists in camp are rumored to be Bermudan internationals Domico Coddington (Forward, 21 caps), formerly of the Bermuda Hogges, and Logan Alexander.

With the likelihood of player(s) coming to Harrisburg from the Philadelphia Union on loan, I would expect 8 – 10 new players to make it through preseason with the Islanders. That means that not even half of the new trailists will make the squad for opening day on April 17th. Competition should be fierce indeed. I posted it before but I will put it up again – the Islanders will be touring Central Pennsylvania in their preseason friendlies – check ’em out if you get a chance:

Date – Opponent – Time – Location
Wed, March 17 – Saint Francis University – 8:00 – Millersville University
Tues, March 23 – Bucknell University – 7:00 – Millersville University
Thurs, March 25 – Crystal Palace Baltimore – 7:00 – Millersville University
Sun, March 28 – Towson University – 2:00 – Richard Montgomery HS
Tues, March 30 – Penn State University – 7:00 – Jeffrey Field, PSU
Thurs, April 1 – UMBC – 7:00 – Millersville University
Thurs, April 8 – Temple University – 4:00 – Temple Ambler Soccer Field