Short Term Loans

The Harrisburg City Islanders travel to Richmond tonight to open their USL-2 season against the Kickers – they will do so in the company of 3 short-term loanees. The Union have lent out M/D Toni Stahl, M Shea Salinas, and M/F JT Noone for the game this evening. What is unclear at this time is the contract status of JT Noone. The undrafted free agent has been training with the Union throughout the preseason and they do have sufficient space to sign him, though it has not yet happened or been made official. Noone, however, has taken to signing autographs at Union games and is using#17 next to his signature – a number which is occupied on the Islanders roster, but ‘open’ on the Union roster. We are keeping a close eye on this story and will come back with any details we can on the performance of Stahl, Salinas, and Noone tonight, and also and wrap-up details on Noone’s contract situation.

Islanders News

In addition to the loanees, the Islanders have reinforced their squad with 3 young signings. The Islanders have signed U-20 internationals Sheannon Williams (U.S.) and Tishan Hanley (Nevis and St. Kitts), as well as former NYU, Red Bull, and Wilmington Hammerheads midfielder Jeritt Thayer.  Add in the previous signings of Canadian U-20 internationals Dominic Oppong and Anthony Di Biase, and it appears as though the Islanders have taken a slightly different approach to the season. There is a definite emphasis on youth development within the squad and certainly with these signings, and fans of both the Islanders and Union must wonder how the relationship of the two teams will continue to blossom. We know that Coach Hackworth played at least some role in Williams coming to the Islanders; one wonders if scouting reports or directives from Hackworth or Nowak played a role in any of these other signings.