Where are they now? Penn FC’s 2018 roster

The USL Championship season kicking off this weekend is a reminder that for the first time since 2004 there will not be professional soccer played in the capital of Pennsylvania.

Penn FC is slated to return to the new USL League One in 2020. League One’s inaugural season kicks off on March 29.

But what of the players who spent 2018 on City Island?

Here’s a look at where Penn FC’s former players are playing this season.

Romuald Peiser, Goalkeeper
Last season was the 39-year-old Frenchman’s last of a career that dates all the way back to the 1997-1998 season with Paris Saint-Germain B. He’s since taken a job as the goalkeeper coach at USL Championship team Sacramento Republic FC.

Ken Tribbett, Defender
The former Philadelphia Union and Drexel University is in Nashville SC, where he’ll have a chance to prove himself worthy of inclusion in an MLS squad again when Nashville joins Major League Soccer. The Colorado native showed last season with Penn FC his ability both anchoring a back line and scoring goals with six.

Kyle Venter, Defender
The other half of Penn FC’s Colorado-born center back duo, Venter will be part of the inaugural season of USL League Two with FC Tucson.

Dan Metzger, Midfielder
After a year in Harrisburg, the 25-year-old midfielder is part of the inaugural roster of USL Championship newcomer Memphis 901 FC where he’s joined up with fellow former Red Bulls Academy standout Adam Najem.

Aaron Dennis, Forward
The former Villanova attacker has returned to his roots, signing on with New York Cosmos ahead of their National Premier Soccer League campaign and the launch of the NPSL Founders Cup, the league’s new professional competition. Dennis was a member of the Cosmos Academy prior to attending Villanova.

Jorge Rivera, Midfielder
Rivera has also returned home, signing on with Don Bosco FC in Liga Puerto Rica. The 22-year-old played for his hometown Puerto Rico FC two seasons prior to joining Penn FC.

Pedro Galvão, Defender/Midfielder
Galvão has joined Dennis with the New York Cosmos in the NPSL for the 2019 season.

Sean Lewis, Goalkeeper
After making 14 appearances in two seasons for Penn FC, Lewis has moved over to the Western Conference with Tulsa Roughnecks.

Salvatore Barone, Midfielder
The Brooklyn native is returning home to play for the New York Cosmos, where his dad, Joe Barone, is the senior vice president. Barone gives the Cosmos three players from Penn FC’s 2018 roster, including Aaron Dennis and Pedro Galvão.

Jacob Lissek, Goalkeeper
Another Colorado native on Penn FC’s 2018 roster, Lissek is part of the inaugural roster for USL Championship newcomer Hartford Athletic.

Calvin Rezende, Midfielder
Calvin is part of the inaugural roster for the USL Championship newcomer El Paso Locomotive. The 26-year=old made 20 appearances for Penn FC last season.

Fabio De Sousa, Midfielder
The 21-year-old midfielder who left college at Rutgers-Newark early to sign with Penn FC last season was announced as a player addition last month to Atlantic City FC’s 2019 NPSL roster.

Harri Hawkins, Defender
The Englishman who made 22 appearances for Penn FC last season is part of the Loudoun United’s inaugural roster in the USL Championship. Loudoun is the affiliate of D.C. United.

Lucky Mkosana, Forward
The 31-year-old veteran, who returned to City Island for his second stint last season after spending 2012 and 2013 with the City Islanders, has moved over to the two-time defending USL champions Louisville City.

Marco Franco, Defender
Marco will be part of Miami FC’s 2019 season in the National Premier Soccer League and their NPSL Founders Cup campaign to follow.

Saalih Muhammad, Midfielder
The 23-year-old from California has moved back west after a season with Penn FC to join USL Championship newcomer New Mexico United.

Tommy Heinemann, Forward
Heinemann won his arbitration case against FC Cincinnati back in November, but has been relatively quiet on the soccer front since. He was seen scouting players at the GA Cup qualifiers at the Power Training Complex in Chester in October and does note that he is an assistant coach at Yale Soccer on his Twitter account.

Tiago Calvano, Defender
The Brazilian hung up the boots on an 18-year career after last season with Penn FC and was hired in November by Rush Soccer as the director of international affairs.

Paulo Jr., Forward
After a season that saw him score four goals in 18 games for Penn FC, Paulo Jr. has moved to USL League One with Forward Madison FC.

Prince Baffoe, Midfielder
The 25-year-old midfielder who was on loan with Penn FC has returned to Inter Allies in his native Ghana.

Jake Bond, Defender
After playing in Harrisburg in 2017 and 2018, Jake Bond announced his retirement from soccer via Instagram post in January.

Isaac Osae, Forward
Another Inter Allies loanee, Osae went out on loan again for 2019. This year he’ll play for Al Ragaa FC in the Egyptian second division.

The following players’ destinations are unknown: Walter Ramirez, Chris Hill, and Richard Menjivar