The Islanders have wrapped up the preseason with 2 wins and a draw.  They’ve settled on a squad and most of a starting lineup.

The 6-0 win against YorkPA FC was a good confidence boost, and it looked like we got out of the game with none of our players injured.  So a good match to wrap up the preseason.

So, a goal from our new starting forward: Jai Rose.  Good poaching play.  Then a pair of goals for both Josiah Ramirez and Freddy Opoku.  We’ll need them to continue to put it in the back of the net.  And Nick Ritter, with a very composed finish, helps his case as an impact sub.

But we also need to temper our joy at putting 6 past York.  They’re a brand new team and not playing well in their league.  They’re 0-4.  

So onward!

I’m never going to discount such an offensive output. It’s great for the team’s confidence. When we put 6 past someone in the UPSL Premier, then I’ll be cheering it to the clouds.

Up next is the season opener against SFC 1924. We beat them 3-1 back in the fall.

My gut says Killian O’Reilly will get the nod as the starting goalkeeper. He’s been steady, proactive when he needed to be, but he wasn’t tested with just a handful of saves over a pair of preseason games. So I’ll be watching to see how he does in the opener.

If the start goes to Gio Barberio, I won’t complain. He’s been a bit more… flamboyant in his work at the back, but he’s combined with O’Reilly for a pair of clean sheets. So that’s not nothing.

We’ve got some guys down with injuries, none more prominent than head coach Johnny Morris. He was injured on his day job, and everyone at the club hopes to see him on the sideline soon.

We’ve got a good number of options in midfield as well. At defensive midfielder, we’ve got William Kim, Atu Galadima, Derek Ramirez, among others.

In the advanced central midfield, we can move several players into the “number 10” role: Freddy Opoku, Josiah Ramirez, and the new Islander Paakow De Graft are at the top of a pretty long list. As Owner and CEO, Alex McGee said on the broadcast: “We’ve got real depth this season.”

The back line will be anchored by the twin towers of Josh Bender and Jake Altimore. They’re cool under pressure, proactive, strong, and faster than you’d expect players of their size to be. Wrist and hand injuries to Gage Souder and Jeremiah Craig will weaken our defense, but give an opportunity to other players like Aidan McWilliams, Andrew Meyers, and Luke Kramer.

When Gage Souder and Jeremiah Craig return, we’ll have serious depth in defense.

While it’s always unsettling to have players out who were critical to our great run in the fall, the recruiting for the Islanders has stocked the team with lots of high-quality options. And that can only be a good thing. Depth is a safety net. Injuries, illnesses, and everything unforeseen… so the drop in quality will be as little as possible when replacements come into the game.

And those guys who are on the bench will be pushing the starters at every practice.

The Islanders are defending champions of the UPSL Northeast American (South). The division has been renamed—to just Northeast American—but the goal is the same. And that means the team will have a target on its back all season.

And so it begins. Our second year as a club. We’re defending division champions. The lads made the round of 16 in the national tournament and lost to the eventual champion NY Renegades. So that’s our target. To better that result.

And I think we’ve got a solid chance.

Let’s take a quick look ahead at the spring schedule and some matches I’ve circled on the calendar with a red Sharpie:

Home Opener, April 4: 

We’re up against SFC 1924, and playing at Bishop McDevitt due to the expected rain during the week to kick off our defense of the Northeast American (South) Premier Division.  Kick off is at 6 p.m.  The weather for the day is forecasted to be beautiful.

Hersheypark Night, May 2: 

We’ll face Cosmos’ B team, but the big deal is the Hersheypark passes!  The first 1500 youth, 12 and under, with a paid ticket get a complimentary Hersheypark pass thanks to the Islanders' partnership with Hershey Entertainment.  Get your tickets today!

The Islanders are a team built by many hands, and we need help.  Do you want a peek behind the curtain to see how a semi-pro soccer team operates?  Do you need National Honor Society volunteer hours?  Looking for an Eagle Scout project?  Retired and bored at home? We have a variety of internship and volunteer opportunities.  

My 4-year-old daughter helped me set up a display for my Islanders jersey just yesterday.  It looks pretty snazzy, and the blue-and-white checkerboard pattern is very distinctive.  Check out the club shop for this beauty and more!

As a programming note, I’ll be bringing you the Islander Insider Newsletter each week.  It’ll be chock-full of inside info from the team, interviews, stats, and more.