CAPS MEN LOSE 2-0 IN HARRISBURG
June 27, 2007 - Harrisburg City Islanders - 2
Vancouver Whitecaps - 0
Skyline Sports Complex, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
By Michael Bullock (The Patriot-News) - Facing one of those big-picture coaching dilemmas that materializes every so often, Bill Becher and Bob Lilley strolled into their respective Skyline Sports Complex locker rooms Wednesday night planning to do the right thing for the present, and the future.
Even though both coaches hoped to give some front-line players needed breathers and get quality looks at others, the former Harrisburg Heat teammates still wanted their clubs to play good soccer.
While both accomplished those objectives before a nasty storm shortened the exhibition match to a 67-minute affair, Becher's mixed-and-matched Harrisburg City Islanders were a tad better than Lilley's mixed-and-matched Vancouver Whitecaps, as the home side won 2-0.
Chad Severs and Adam Clay netted first-half goals for the City Islanders, who returned from Tuesday night's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup victory in Ocean City, New Jersey, at 3am. Sleep deprived or not, the USL Second Division outfit certainly didn't show it.
Dave Kern and Sam Bishop shared the clean sheet, with Kern posting both saves. Richard Goddard, who posted shutouts in Vancouver's USL First Division weekend outings, made three stops.
"They controlled the tempo of the game for about 10-15 minutes and then I think we adjusted, started to win some balls and started to see that we could get behind them," Becher said. "We were fortunate to stick a couple in the back of the net."
When Wednesday night's friendly kicked off, just six City Islanders who started Harrisburg's past two games were on Skyline's thirsty turf. Meanwhile, Lilley's first XI featured nine players who were in the starting lineup for one or both of the Whitecaps weekend games.
It showed, too, as Vancouver unleashed a smooth possession attack featuring crisp ball movement. Once Clay won a ball in the 12th minute and ignited some nifty two-man action from Severs and Brian Ombiji, that allowed Harrisburg to get in on Goddard and the Whitecaps were shaken.
Five minutes later, they were mystified after Ombiji's ball over the top allowed Severs to wheel in unimpeded. A perfectly slotted eight-yard shot later, the City Islanders were in front.
Then, with Adrian Cann bloodied following a head-to-head collision with Moffat Oduor that forced Vancouver to play short, the City Islanders cashed in for a second goal. Sporting seven stitches in his head, Clay still nodded a Marty Johnston service just inside the left post for 2-0 on 26 minutes.
“We've hit a bit of a lull, we haven't been as dangerous and we haven't been playing at as quick a tempo," Lilley said. "Right now, they're in a good space how they've been playing and hopefully, they'll be able to carry it into Richmond and DC United.
"We'll get that rhythm back and we have some very good players, so I'm not concerned with the rest of the season. Obviously, we didn't play as well as we would have liked to and we were outclassed on the night."
For the City Islanders, who return to league action Saturday at Richmond, last night's victory over the USL First Division leaders and defending champs could be a real confidence boost.
"We were sizing ourselves up," defender Ryan Pierce said. "They're a good side. It was good for us, as it was a good opportunity to play against a better team."
Notes - Neither Steve Klein nor Eduardo Sebrango, the Whitecaps who played locally earlier in their careers, dressed for Vancouver. …Ryan O'Neill, who hadn't appeared all season, was in the City Islanders lineup. ... City Islanders center back Dustin Bixler, who did not play, was named to the USL Second Division's Team of the Week. ... Vancouver’s Goddard, Tony Donatelli and Diaz Kambere, all of whom played on Wednesday, earned spots on the USL First Division's Team of the Week.
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