Mike Peters, The Examiner
2007-07-25 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

BALTIMORE -

Crystal Palace USA co-coach Pete Medd understands the significance of tonight’s game against Harrisburg.

“There’s going to be playoff-level intensity,” said Medd. “This is the biggest game of our season.”

That’s because if Crystal Palace has any hopes of making the United Soccer League Second Division’s playoffs, it must win tonight’s game against the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.

Crystal Palace (6-5-5, 23 points) trails the City Islanders (8-2-5, 29 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot with four games remaining. Teams earn three points for a victory and one for a tie.

The teams played to a scoreless tie on July 13, but it is imperative Crystal Palace deals Harrisburg its first defeat in four league games dating to a 1-0 loss to Richmond June 30.

“A draw does us nothing,” said Crystal Palace co-coach Jim Cherneski. “We’re just going out with that mentality. We’re not going to accept anything less than a win.”

Crystal Palace is 6-1-5 since starting the season 0-4, but Harrisburg has been playing even better, as the City Islanders posted a 1-0 victory over Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, which plays in the country’s premier league, in the third round of the U.S. Cup earlier this month.

“They keep a lot of defenders back,” Medd said. “D.C. United couldn’t break them down.”

But Medd is hoping his best scoring threat, forward Gary Brooks, will. Brooks has recorded three goals and an assist in the past three games — victories over Bermuda, Western Mass and New Hampshire — which have elevated Crystal Palace into a tie for fifth place.

Brooks scored in the 89th minute to give his team a 1-0 victory over Western Mass on July 20 before assisting on Sean Rush’s goal in the final minute to produce a 1-0 win over New Hampshire on July 21.

“Brooks has been huge for us,” Medd said. “He just brings the intensity every single time.”

Crystal Palace has been just as impressive on defense. In the past 13 games, it has allowed more than one goal just once and just six goals overall. Crystal Palace allowed 10 goals in its first four games.

“It’s like you’re running a marathon and you’ve just done half the marathon at a good clip,” said Cherneski. “Now you’ve got to finish off at a good pace.”