Kickers Forward Delicate named USL PRO Player of the Week

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO announced its Team of the Week for week 16 of the 2012 season today, honoring Richmond Kickers forward Matt Delicâte as Player of the Week after he broke the club’s all-time goal-scoring record with a late finish in the Kickers’ 2-0 win against the Dayton Dutch Lions on Saturday night.

A stalwart with the Kickers, and now in his second spell with the club, the 30-year-old broke the record held by former Kickers player and current President of the club’s Board of Governors Rob Ukrop with his 64^th goal for the club. The goal came in the final minute after Delicâte himself had been brought down in the Dutch Lions penalty area to earn a penalty kick, which he dispatched into the back of the net.



Matthew Delicate, Richmond Kickers

 The goal was Delicâte’s fourth of this season, and helped the Kickers take sole possession of the sixth and final playoff place in the USL PRO standings. The 2011 All-League selection told the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Vic Dorr Jr. that helping the side reach the postseason was at the front of his mind, even having broken the record.

"It's the kind of thing I'll look back on in the offseason, or after I've retired," he said. "But right now, it's not about [personal] records. Right now, it's about winning soccer matches and getting our team into the playoffs."

Delicâte was joined on the Team of the Week by Kickers teammate William Yomby, who marshaled a defense that helped goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale earn a shutout with just one save. Yomby was joined in defense by Rochester’s Lucas Fernandez, who had an outstanding game in the Rhinos’ 2-0 win against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Orlando’s Luke Boden, who had both assists as City clinched a place in the playoffs with a dramatic 2-1 win against Charleston.

Orlando’s Ian Fuller, who had the game-winning goal in the Lions’ win against the Battery, was also selected, and the forward line was completed by Wilmington’s Cody Arnoux, who scored a spectacular goal from 50 yards out in the Hammerheads’ 2-0 win against Dayton on Friday night. Arnoux was joined by teammate Alex Horwath, who made five saves to earn his seventh shutout of the season.

Leading the quartet of midfielders is Harrisburg’s Tom Mellor, who scored in both of the City Islanders’ games this past week. He is joined by Rochester’s Tyler Rosenlund, who played a key role in the Rhinos’ victory against Pittsburgh, and Dayton’s Kyle Knotek, whose clever back-heel set up the Dutch Lions’ game-winning goal against Harrisburg. Rounding out the group is Charleston’s Jose Cuevas, who had a fine finish in the Battery’s contest with Orlando.

USL PRO Team of the Week

Pos	Player	Team	Highlights
GK	Alex Horwath	Wilmington	Recorded five saves for seventh shutout of season.
D	Lucas Fernandez	Rochester	Had an assist, and helped set up opener, in Rhinos’ victory
D	William Yomby	Richmond	Helped limit Dayton to one shot on goal with stout performance
D	Luke Boden	Orlando	Pair of assists keyed Lions’ dramatic victory in Charleston
M	Jose Cuevas	Charleston	Had seventh goal of season as Battery almost defeated Lions
M	Tyler Rosenlund	Rochester	Controlled the midfield as Rhinos regained second place
M	Kyle Knotek	Dayton	Fine assist allowed Dayton to take victory against Harrisburg
M	Tom Mellor	Harrisburg	Had two goals, including game-winner against Pittsburgh
F	Cody Arnoux	Wilmington	Spectacular finish helped Hammerheads maintain home record
F	Matt Delicâte	Richmond	Late goal clinched victory, broke club’s all-time scoring record
F	Ian Fuller	Orlando	Dramatic game-winner clinched playoff berth for Lions

Honorable Mention –Charleston: Tony Donatelli; Dayton: Gerrit-Jan Bartels, Matt Williams; Harrisburg: Lucky Mkosana; Orlando: Matt Luzunaris, Jamie Watson; Pittsburgh: Matt Kassel; Richmond: Ryan Heins, Sascha Goerres; Rochester: Andrew Hoxie, JC Banks; Wilmington: Dylan Riley, Corey Hertzog.