July 10 2010
HOLDING OFF A CHARGE
Early lead helps City Islanders to 3-2 win

HARRISBURG, Pa - The Harrisburg City Islanders stifled a struggling Real Maryland Monarchs side early in the game at Skyline Sports Complex before surviving a late Monarchs' surge to come away with a 3-2 victory in front of 1,812 fans on Saturday night. Goals by Anthony Calvano,

Tyler Ruthven, and Jason Hotchkin put the Isles up 3-0 in the first half and the Isles held off sudden offensive pressure to keep the positive result. Danny Cepero tallied three saves for the Islanders and helped propel Harrisburg to their third win in a row.

It was all Harrisburg in the beginning as the Islanders captured control right away in the 8th minute. Geoff Bloes headed a pass across the net where Calvano settled it and powered a curving shot past Monarchs' goalkeeper Brian Levey into the left corner net giving Harrisburg a 1-0 lead. Soon after in the 17th minute Calvano had another opportunity denied by Levey but Ruthven stepped in to bury the ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 score.

The Monarchs tried to regain ground and keep up with the offensive push by Harrisburg, but continued to suffer from miscues. A short pass by midfielder Ben Hunter resulted in a possession change as Hotchkin stepped up, pushed towards the box, and rocketed a long shot into the left post upper 90 to secure a seemingly untouchable 3-0 lead in the 44th minute.

But Real Maryland wasn't out of the match yet. In the 65th minute Mason Trafford slipped past Islanders defense and chipped a ball past Cepero to pull to a 3-1 score. In stoppage time Noviello countered after a failed Islanders attack and popped a pass up in dangerous territory where teammate Hunter shot towards the right net to get to 3-2. The Monarchs continued to push the Isles' defense but couldn't capitalize and Harrisburg survived to notch the victory.