Kickers aiming for top spot in USL Pro Division, host Islanders Friday

Richmond, VA – Currently in second place with 23 points sitting behind Orlando City in the USL Pro Division, the Kickers are looking to keep pace with a win against the Islanders.

Richmond is comming off of a strong showing in U.S. Open Cup play following their 4-1 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions, led by a David Bulow hat-trick.




The Richmond Kickers return to regular season action this Friday, June 17 to host Kick for the Cure Night, presented by HCA Virginia and the Harrisburg City Islanders at City Stadium at 7:00 p.m. Kickers Pink Packs are on sale at RichmondKickers.com for just $40 and include four general admission tickets and four limited edition pink Kickers t-shirts. The Kickers will donate $10 from each Pink Pack directly to Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Central Virginia.

"We are looking forward to the Harrisburg game,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “At this point in the season, the games come thick and fast and we will need to be at our very best to earn the three points we need to stay in contention for a playoff berth.”

Holding a narrow edge over Antigua Barracuda FC for second place in the USL PRO American Division standings, the Kickers (7-2-2, 23 points) returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over FC New York last weekend. A pair of first half goals by forwards Edson Elcock and Matthew Delicâte gave the Kickers their first win since May 7th. Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale posted four saves to preserve his fourth shutout of the season, earning USL PRO Team of the Week honors for his efforts.

Harrisburg (4-4-2, 14 points) resides in third place in the National Division standings, just four points behind division leaders Rochester Rhinos, who recently defeated the City Islanders 1-0 last weekend. Harrisburg was coming off a 4-1 mid-week victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions, during which Jose Angulo and Brian Ombiji each recorded a pair of first half tallies.

Over the past five seasons, the Kickers hold a 9-2-5 record over the City Islanders. The two clubs last met in Harrisburg on May 14 when they battled to a 1-1 draw. City Islanders midfielder Nelson Becerra converted a penalty kick to give the home side the lead early in the second half. The Kickers were reduced to 10 men shortly after, when Elcock was ejected in the 66th minute. The City Islanders stalwart defense held onto the advantage until Kickers midfielder Shaka Bangura broke through with the equalizer in the 82nd minute.

The heated rivalry continues as Richmond has not forgotten the 2007 USL-2 Championship match when Harrisburg stripped the defending champions of the title after nine rounds of penalty kicks. The two clubs met four times during the regular season last year, with the Kickers coming away with 3-0-1 record over their rivals. Opening the 2010 campaign with a 2-2 stalemate in Richmond, the Kickers served the City Islanders a trio of shutouts later that season with Delicâte tallying four of the Kickers collective six goals.