Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Stephen Basso and the Harrisburg City Islanders agreed to terms to bring the defender back to the team for 2012 (pending USSF approval) after Basso became a staple of the Islanders defense for the 2011 season. The 24-year old defender appeared in 21 games for the City Islanders in 2011 and was fourth on the team in minutes played. He played for Crystal Palace Baltimore for the two seasons prior to 2011 and was a member of the USL-2’s Real Maryland Monarchs before that.

Basso played a crucial role last season in leading the City Islanders to a National Division Championship and a berth in the USL PRO Championship Game, a game that the Islanders would lose to Orlando City after falling in a penalty shootout. It was Basso’s first-half goal in the National Division Final that sparked the City Islanders to a 2-1 victory against Rochester and the division title.

"I'm happy to be back in Harrisburg and I'm looking forward to the upcoming season,” Basso said. “I am eager to get back to playing for a chance to win that championship we were so close to winning last year."

With Basso back patrolling the defense, the Islanders appear to have a strong back line as they look to build off of last year’s success and bring home the trophy that, as Basso mentioned, barely eluded them last season.

“We were very strong as a team defensively last year, and Stephen was a big reason why,” Head Coach Bill Becher remarked. “His signing helps solidify the left side in the back.”

Harrisburg opens their 2012 regular season April 20-21 in North Carolina, where they will take on the Charlotte Eagles and Wilmington Hammerheads. The team’s home opener will be on May 4, when they will host Charlotte at Skyline Sports Complex.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the upcoming season, visit www.cityislanders.com or call 717-441-GOAL.