What's inside?
Introductions, please
I'm Rob Sterner, and if you've watched our livestreams, you've heard me calling games from City Island. By day, I teach English and journalism at Hershey High School. Nights and weekends, I'm the voice of the Capital City Islanders—Harrisburg's semi-pro soccer team and defending champions.
That’s me on the left interviewing coach Morris at the tryout. (thanks to Jeff Bruce at Life to the Full Creative for the photos!)
This newsletter (and podcast, coming soon) is your inside look at everything Islanders: roster moves, match previews, tactical breakdowns, and conversations with the people building this team. If you're a die-hard supporter, a casual fan, or a youth soccer parent wondering what semi-pro soccer is all about, you're in the right place.
On the podcast, you can hear Head Coach Johnny Morris explain the strengths and weaknesses of his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. And I’ll use that to also lift the curtain on the players as well.
For this first issue of the Islander Insider, I'm breaking down the full spring schedule—who we're playing, which games matter most, and what to watch for.
Spring 2026 Schedule
The Season Ahead
We've got four home games at City Island, plus one special match in partnership with Hershey Entertainment which will be played at Bishop McDevitt. Here's what you need to know:
Preseason: Three friendlies at Bishop McDevitt's Rocco Ortenzio Field in March
Home Opener: April 4 vs. SFC 1924
We beat them 3-1 away in the fall. Time to do it again at home.
Key Home Matches:
April 18: Bulldogs SC (we drew 3-3 on their turf in the fall)
May 2: Cosmos B (new opponent—they're a development team for the Cosmos, yes, that Cosmos who signed Pelé in 1975)
May 2 will be at Bishop McDevitt High School’s Rocco Ortenzio Stadium
This is also Hersheypark Pass Day! First 1500 youth (12 and under, please) with a paid ticket (sorry, no complimentary or group tickets) get a Hersheypark Pass for free.
May 16: Kensington SC (beat them 2-0 away last fall)
May 23: Five Rivers SC (promoted Division 1 champions, undefeated 8-0-2)
May 30: Philly Lone Star (drew 1-1 away in the fall, a good revenge game to wrap up the home schedule)
The Big One: May 9 at Ironbound SCP
This one is my insider’s call: Both teams have designs on the league title. Ironbound won the regular season but fell to us 2-1 in the playoffs. This away match could decide the championship.
Season Finale: June 6 at UCFSC Warriors
They were promoted from Division 1 with a weak 4-2-4 record. Not a bad team to close the season against.
Every team will bring their best against us—we're defending champions now. That's a good problem to have, but it means we can't take any match lightly.
How to Follow Along
At the Stadium:
All home games at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. Free parking, family-friendly atmosphere, great soccer. Come early, bring the family, and help us defend our title.
Season tickets are very reasonable (especially when compared to the World Cup tickets, ouch!):
1 game ($10 adult/$8 youth)
3-game Flex passes ($28 adult / $25 youth)
Season tickets ($55 adult / $45 youth)
Can't Make It?
We livestream every home match on YouTube thanks to YG Productions. No matter where you are, you can watch the Islanders in action.
Stay Connected:
This newsletter will keep you updated on roster moves, match previews, and everything happening behind the scenes. Hit reply if you have questions—I'll answer them in future issues.
What's Next
Next Issue: I’ll have an issue out before the February 21st tryout, as I’ll break down the 4-2-3-1 formation Head Coach Johnny Morris uses with the Islanders. Also, I’ll have something I’m calling the Islanders Army, so look for that soon.
Future: After our February 21st tryout, I'll have roster updates and more insights from Coach Morris as we build toward the trio of March pre-season games and ultimately the April 4th home opener.
Between Now and Then:
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @capitalcityislanders for photos, videos, and breaking news.
Got questions about the team, the league, or semi-pro soccer in general? Reply to this email or DM us on social. I'll answer them in upcoming newsletters and podcast episodes.
Thanks for being here. Let's build something special in 2026.
— Rob Sterner
Voice of the Capital City Islanders