VIDEO :: Kickers defeat Orlando City, 2-0

Richmond remains unbeaten in league play as they pick up the 2:0 win in Orlando, giving them their first loss at home this season. Michael Seaton and Brian Ownby had the goals for the Kickers.








via RichmondKickers:

Video :: Kickers vs Hammerheads Game Highlights

Check out highlights from the match between Richmond and Wilmington this past weekend. The Kickers kept their unbeaten streak in tact with a draw.

Kickers draw Hamerheads, 1-1

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers kept their unbeaten streak alive, battling the Wilmington Hammerheads to a 1-1 draw Saturday night on a pair of second half goals in rapid fire succession.  Scoreless through the first half, the Kickers broke the ice on a Philippe Davies strike in the 78^th minute before conceding a Steven Perry goal thirty seconds later.

In a defensive battle riddled with set pieces, the Kickers nearly capitalized on a free kick in the 12^th minute. Dangerously positioned near the top of the 18, midfielder Nate Robinson drilled a determined strike on target, forcing Hammerheads goalkeeper Troy Hernandez to leap to tip it over the bar.

Kickers Ranked No. 3 this week, Reckless Rankings

Thanks in large part to their current unbeaten streak, the +Richmond Kickers  have been ranked 3rd in this weeks Reckless Rankings by RecklessChallange.net. +USL PRO
 
Full Rankings: Reckless Rankings: USL PRO Week 10

Video:: Richmond Kickers vs Harrisburg City Islanders match preview

via USL Pro
 
Nicholas Murray and David Wagner look ahead to  this weekend's USL PRO matchup as Richmond Kickers host the Harrisburg City Islanders on Friday night.

Richmond Kickers defeat defending Champs Charleston Battery

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers captured three points at City Stadium Saturday night with a 4-1 win over the defending USL PRO Champions Charleston Battery. Zimbabwean International Joseph Ngwenya opened scoring and D.C. United forward Casey Townsend registered a pair of goals for the Kickers while Battery defender John Wilson’s tally prevented the shutout in front of 2,497 fans.

Photo (c) Suz Kitsteiner

The Kickers claimed an early lead when midfielder Luke Vercollone collected the ball in the midfield and found defender Taylor Kemp on the left wing. Splitting a pair of defenders with his well-timed pass, Kemp connected with Ngwenya who eluded a tackle and played the ball wide to Alex Lee at the far post. The Kickers newcomer whipped the ball back into the mix, finding Ngwenya in the air, who nodded the ball just over Charleston goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper’s outstretched hands to officially open his Kickers account in the 23^rd minute.

Kickers host defending USL Pro Champs Battery Saturday

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, April 10, 2013) – The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium this Saturday, April 13 when they host the defending USL PRO Champions Charleston Battery at 7:00 p.m.  The enhanced game day experience begins when the gates open at 6:00 p.m. with live music from The People's Blues of Richmond, draft beer trucks, Richmond's legendary Food Trucks and a new and improved Family Zone.  Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

“Kickers versus Battery games are always fiercely contested affairs,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer.  “Hosting the reigning USL PRO Champions this early in the season provides an additional entertainment aspect to the match-up. Even though our opening game was a solid effort, we all know we need to improve upon last week's performance.”

The Kickers opened their 21^st season on April 6 when they battled the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a scoreless draw, while the Battery kick off their 2013 campaign on the road at City Stadium this week.

The Kickers meet their longtime rivals for the first time since swapping 2-1 home and home victories last season.  Saturday’s game marks the 47th meeting between the two clubs over the last 21 years, with the series deadlocked at 21 wins, 21 losses and four draws.  Despite combining for seven league Championship titles (Charleston 1996, 2003, 2010, 2012; Richmond 1995, 2006, 2009), the two sides have only met in one high-stakes match, when the Battery claimed their third league crown in a heated 2-1 affair on August 28, 2010.

Rivals since 1993, Richmond and Charleston, alongside fellow USL PRO side Charlotte Eagles are the longest, continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the country.  The Kickers first-ever league match against the Battery was on May 1, 1993 at Stoney Field in downtown Charleston.  The Battery claimed the 2-1 victory behind goals from Mario Lone and Nigel James, with current head coach Leigh Cowlishaw notching the lone goal for the Kickers. 

D.C. United and Richmond Kickers announce affiliate agreement

Washington D.C. (January 24, 2013) – In conjunction with the groundbreaking multi-year deal unveiled on Wednesday between MLS and USL PRO, D.C. United today announced that the club has entered into an affiliate agreement with USL PRO side the Richmond Kickers.

As a part of this arrangement with the Kickers, United will send a minimum of four first-team players – to be announced at a later date – on long-term loans to Richmond. Separated by a little over 100 miles, the two organizations worked closely together last year to organize loan spells for forward Long Tan and Homegrown defender Ethan White.

“We have had a long-standing relationship with the Richmond Kickers and we are thrilled to now have a formal partnership in place that will benefit both organizations,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “Many current and former D.C. United players have gained valuable experience while playing for the Kickers over the years, and we are excited to be working with a club who has a vision of excellence with everything from their professional team down to their academy and youth teams.”

Richmond Kickers 2013 USL PRO Schedule Released

photo courtesy uslsoccer.com

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, January 24, 2013) – The +Richmond Kickers  are pleased to announce the 2013 professional schedule, opening the season against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m.  The Kickers will call Richmond City Stadium home for the 19^th consecutive season.

“We are looking forward to the season immensely,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer.  “With 13 teams visiting City Stadium and the added ingredient of MLS Reserves inter-league play, it could prove to be the most competitive and entertaining season in Kickers history.”

Featuring six teams with more than a decade of operational experience, and more than 100 years of combined operational experience, USL PRO will field 13 teams in a single-table format, playing a 26-game schedule as the league embarks on a groundbreaking partnership with MLS that features interleague games versus MLS Reserve teams.  Two new teams have been added to USL PRO in 2013, with the Phoenix FC Wolves and VSI Tampa Bay FC joining the 11 returning teams from 2012.

Kickers headed to ULS PRO Postseason after 1-0 win over Barracuda FC

ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – David Bulow’s lone goal earned the Richmond Kickers a 1-0 victory over Antigua Barracuda FC, punching the team’s ticket to the postseason Friday night.   

Purchase Tickets: Richmond Kickers vs Wilmington Hammerheads - USL PRO Quarterfinals 

Keeping Richmond’s hopes of finishing second in the USL PRO standings alive, Bulow and Nozomi Hiroyama teamed up for the decisive play, four minutes after entering the match.  Holding his own deep in Barracudas territory, Hiroyama turned his defender and fed the ball to a fleeting Sascha Görres.  With one touch, he sliced a cross through the penalty area, finding Luke Vercollone at the right edge of the box but the midfielder’s ambitious strike was deflected wide.

Hiroyama stepped up for the resulting corner kick and played a short ball to Görres who once again delivered a perfectly placed left-footed cross into the mix.  Bulow rose above the crowd and nodded home the crucial goal just inside the right post.

The Kickers nearly broke the ice 45 minutes earlier when Philippe Davies served a corner kick into traffic.  The ball fell to Matthew Delicâte at the penalty spot but his header was cleared off the line.  Shane Johnson attempted to volley the loose ball but his rebound shot was blocked by the Antigua defense.

Meanwhile, the Barracudas saw their best chance of the half fall by the wayside in the 28^th minute.  Orlando Mitchem collected the ball in the midfield and quickly fed it to Randolph Burton on the left wing.  Beating his mark, he slotted a low ball on target but Kickers veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale dove to the near post to smother his effort.

The two clubs entered the break scoreless after the Kickers failed to convert a chance in first half stoppage time.  Controlling the ball, midfielder Gerson Dos Santos played it wide to Vercollone on the right wing who lofted a cross into the box.  Delicâte won the ball in the air but his point blank header sailed just over the crossbar.

Following Bulow’s well-timed tally, the Kickers continued to pepper the Barracudas goal with shots throughout the second half but nearly squandered their lead in the 83^rd minute.  Antigua attempted to capitalize on a missed clearance when Mitchem gathered the ball on the left side of the box and found an unmarked Lawson Robinson behind the defense.  One on one with Pascale, he fired from 18 yards but was denied by the post, allowing the Kickers to collect all three points on the first leg of their two-game regular season finale.

The Kickers are now tied with the Rochester Rhinos at 38 points apiece, with both teams having one game to play and Richmond (+5) holding a two-goal advantage over Rochester (+3) on goal differential.  The Kickers conclude the 2012 regular season with the second leg of the two-game series against the Antigua Barracuda FC on Sunday, August 19.  Watch live from Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on USLNation.com.

Box Score             First Half         Second Half             Final

Antigua                       

  0                      0                        0

Richmond                     0                      1                        1       

Scoring Summary

61^st minute – Richmond - David Bulow (Sascha Görres)

Lineups

Barracudas: GK Keita DeCastro, George Dublin, Hazeley Pyle (Matthew Aldred – 64’) , Akeem Thomas, Ranja Christian, Luke Blakely, Quinton Griffith, Lawson Robinson, Kerry Skepple (Jeremy Lloyd – 64’), Randolph Burton, Orlando Mitchem

Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Shane Johnson, Jason Yeisley, Luke Vercollone, Sascha Gorres, Henry Kalungi, Gerson Dos Santos (Bobby Foglesong – 85’), Ryan Heins (Edson Elcock – 83’), Philippe Davies (Nozomi Hiroyama – 62’), Christopher Agorsor (David Bulow – 58’), Matthew Delicâte

Shots                         

  Saves                         
  Fouls                           Corners Kickers:            11         Kickers:            5          Kickers:            2          Kickers:            6
Barracudas:       7          Barracudas:       3          Barracudas:       8          Barracudas:       1

Cautions:

47^th minute: Luke Blakely (Antigua)

71^st minute: Ranja Christian (Antigua)

Ejections:

None

Referee:                      

                          Curtis Charles

Assistant Referees:                     

          Brian Willet, Anthony Guvia

Fourth Official:                     

    Garfield Waul

Attendance:                   

                       400 Weather:                      
                         Partly cloudy, 82º

Kickers host City Islanders Saturday

RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, August 9, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers return to Richmond City Stadium this Saturday, August 11 to host the Harrisburg City Islanders in the regular season home finale.  Admission is just $10 for the whole family before 6:00 p.m. as the Kickers and Union First Market Bank present FAMILY FEST. With a one-of-a-kind fun zone, presented by Bounce 2 the Moon, featuring inflatable games, train rides, petting zoo, and live music, fun is guaranteed for the whole family when the gates open at 4:00 p.m. 

Saturday’s pro match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and will be critical in shaping the final USL PRO standings as Harrisburg leapfrogged Richmond into fifth place in the table after a convincing 3-0 victory over third-place Charleston Wednesday night.  The City Islanders capitalized on a man-advantage when Battery defender Kyle Hoffer was sent off in the 25^th minute, with Brian Ombiji and Tom Mellor firing home a pair of goals in the first half and Lucky Mkosana rounding out the scoreline six minutes from regulation.

Following a dramatic 2-0 win over Antigua Barracuda FC last weekend, the sixth-place Kickers trail second place Rochester by just six points.  Second half substitute Gerson Dos Santos notched the decisive late goal two minutes after entering the match and added an assist on Matthew Delicâte’s 90^th minute tally to keep the Kickers neck and neck with Charleston, Wilmington, Harrisburg, Charlotte and Los Angeles in the postseason race.

The Kickers face the City Islanders for the third and final time this weekend, holding an overall 9-3-7 record against them, having last met in a 1-1 deadlock in Harrisburg last June.  Kickers defender Shane Johnson notched his first professional goal, breaking the ice in the second half before Harrisburg newcomer Garrett Pettis leveled the score seconds after entering the match off the bench.  The game was called in the 84^th minute following a lightning delay and torrential downpour that left conditions at Skyline Sports Complex unplayable. 

The two clubs previously faced off in Richmond early in the season when back-to-back goals on either side of the half saw the Kickers battle Harrisburg to a 2-2 draw.  The Kickers took an early lead when Delicâte and Christopher Agorsor teamed up in the 8th minute before conceding a goal to Harrisburg forward J.T. Noone seconds later.  The teams went back and forth once more in rapid fire succession when Delicâte and Agorsor combined again before City Islanders forward Yann Ekra notched the equalizer two minutes later.

Heading into the final two weeks of regular season action, the USL PRO standings are a fierce battleground, with just 12 points separating second-place Rochester from eighth-place Los Angeles.  The 2012 USL PRO Playoffs will include the top six finishers in the table, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye the weekend of August 24-26. The semifinals, featuring the four remaining teams, will be played the following weekend, with the 2012 USL PRO Championship set for the weekend of September 7-9. All playoff rounds will implement a single-game knockout format.

The Richmond Kickers conclude the regular season with a two-game road trip to Antigua August 17 and August 19.

Players to Watch

Kickers:  Saturday’s match-up marks the final regular season home game for veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale (#22) who plans to retire following the 2012 season.  The 13-year veteran has made over 300 appearances in a Kickers uniform since becoming the club’s starting goalkeeper in 2002.  Backstopping the team to six Championship appearances and two league titles, the franchise player has posted seven shutouts so far in 2012.  Virginia Commonwealth University product, Gerson Dos Santos (#8), notched his first league goal and added his third assist of the season against Antigua in a critical 2-0 win at City Stadium.  The heroics earned the Brazilian powerhouse USL PRO Team of the Week honors.  Defender Sascha Görres (#23) joined Dos Santos on the Team of the Week following a solid performance against Antigua.  An integral component on both sides of the ball, he created dangerous scoring opportunities while also contributing defensively to the team’s seventh shutout of the season. 

City Islanders: Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin (#18) joins the City Islanders for the final playoff push on loan from MLS affiliate Philadelphia Union.  The 19-year old rookie signed with the Union prior to the 2012 season as the club’s second Homegrown Player and has made four appearances with Harrisburg.  Zimbabwean midfielder Lucky Mkosana (#17) was selected in the second round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire before signing with Harrisburg midseason.  The Ivy League Rookie of the Year leads the City Islanders with 13 points, notching his sixth goal of the season against the Charleston Battery this week.  Midfielder Tom Mellor (#14) added a goal and an assist against the Battery to boost the City Islanders into fifth place in the USL PRO standings. 

20^th Anniversary Jersey Auction Saturday

The Richmond Kickers custom, green jerseys, inspired by the club’s inaugural campaign and worn during the 2012 regular season and U.S. Open Cup versus D.C. United will be auctioned during the last regular season home game this Saturday, August 11.

The retro uniforms, created by adidas, pay homage to 20 years of professional soccer in Richmond.  The jerseys feature a classic design in the Kickers’ original green and blue colors from 1993.  In addition to the unique color scheme, the throw-back look features the adidas three-stripes and red accents, which inspired the Kickers modern red strip.

Bids will be accepted at City Stadium for the chance to own the jersey of the Kickers all-time leading scorer Matthew Delicâte, USL PRO All-League player Jason Yeisley or three-time Goalkeeper of the Year Ronnie Pascale starting at 4:00 p.m.  Bidding ends at halftime (approximately 7:45 p.m.) and the Kickers pro players will present their jerseys to winning bidders on the field immediately after the game.

Richmond Name Leigh Cowlishaw Interim Head Coach

RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, August 7, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that Leigh Cowlishaw has been named men’s soccer interim head coach at the University of Richmond, effectively immediately.  Cowlishaw replaces Clint Peay, who resigned to accept a coaching position with the U17 U.S. Men’s National Team.  He will continue to act as head coach of the Richmond Kickers USL PRO team as well as the club’s Director of Soccer in addition to taking the helm of Spider men’s soccer this fall.

“I am honored that the University of Richmond asked me to guide them through this difficult transition period,” said Cowlishaw. “The challenge of producing a winning season, coupled with a return to my alma mater, was an opportunity I could not pass up.”

“I would like to thank the Kickers Board of Directors for allowing me the opportunity to take this interim position,” he added.  I feel confident that my role as Director of Soccer will only be enhanced by the experiences and challenges I will encounter over the next four months.”

Leigh Cowlishaw

Cowlishaw, a native of Burton-on-Trent, England, was a forward for the Spiders from 1990-93. He earned CAA Player of the Year honors as a freshman in 1990, also receiving All-America honors that season. Cowlishaw led the Spiders to their first CAA title and first NCAA Tournament berth in his freshman campaign.

The Spiders' all-time leader in goals (54), assists (31) and points (139), Cowlishaw was a two-time Academic All-American. He holds Richmond's top-two single season marks in points, goals and assists and was also named to the CAA Silver Anniversary men’s soccer team in 2009.

“We are grateful to Coach Cowlishaw for agreeing to step in to assist with our men’s soccer program,” commented LaRee Sugg, University of Richmond Associate Athletic Director.  “He brings with him a great affection and respect for the University as well as a desire to win that will be contagious among our student-athletes. We look forward to him being a positive influence on our young men during his tenure with our program.“

A cornerstone for the Spiders’ men’s soccer program, Richmond named an award in Cowlishaw’s honor following his graduation. The Leigh Cowlishaw Hall of Fame Award was bestowed upon a Spider men’s soccer student-athlete who demonstrated outstanding play and dedication throughout his athletic career at Richmond. The award was presented annually from 1995-2008. Cowlishaw was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame with the Class of 2001, becoming the first soccer student-athlete to be selected.

An integral member of the Richmond Kickers franchise since the club’s inception in 1993, Cowlishaw has acted as Head Coach of the Kickers professional team since 2000, compiling an overall record of 203-103-73 over 13 seasons.

Under Cowlishaw’s guidance, the Kickers have qualified for postseason play 11 of the past 12 seasons, reaching the league title match six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010) and claiming the USL crown twice (2006 and 2009).  Having also achieved significant success in the U.S. Open Cup, he won the tournament title as a player in 1995 and has since led the team to four quarterfinal appearances (2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and a remarkable semifinal finish in 2011.  Ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way, including Colorado Rapids in 2000, D.C. United in 2004, LA Galaxy in 2007 and Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in 2011, the Kickers became the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road.

Cowlishaw’s success on the field is matched by numerous awards off the field, helping to guide the club to five USL Organization of the Year awards (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009).  Following the 2006 and 2009 seasons, he was named FieldTurf USL-2 Coach of the Year and was a USL Coach of the Year finalist six consecutive seasons (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).  In 2009, Cowlishaw was honored for his achievements by being inducted into the USL Hall of Fame in the Coach Category.

As Director of Soccer, Cowlishaw provides technical direction and guidance for all levels of the Kickers organization and serves on the Richmond Kickers Board of Directors.  Integral in establishing the Richmond Kickers youth club in 2000, he now works closely with the technical staff to oversee nearly 8,000 youth soccer players in programs sponsored by the Kickers and partner clubs.

As a professional player (1993-1998), Cowlishaw helped the Kickers win the “Double” with the U.S. Open Cup and the Premier League Championships in 1995.  He resides in sixth place on the Kickers all-time goals scored list (19) and all-time points list (49) and is a Kickers top 10 career leader in assists (11).  Cowlishaw is the only player to play under every coach in Kickers franchise history and in September of 1999, he was honored as the first player to have his number (13) retired. 

A national search for a permanent University of Richmond men’s soccer head coach is scheduled to begin following the 2012 fall season.

Kickers Set to Battle Barracuda FC

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, August 1, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers return to Richmond City Stadium this Friday, August 3 to host Antigua Barracuda FC.  Kicking off at 7:00 p.m., Friday’s match-up marks one of the Kickers’ final four regular season games of the 2012 campaign and will be critical in shaping the USL PRO standings.

Friday’s match kicks off a late season three-game series against Antigua, as the two clubs swap home field advantage for the last two regular season games of the season.  The Barracudas roster features eight players from the Antigua and Barbuda National Team who faced the United States in World Cup Qualifying and six National Team players are expected to appear in Richmond this weekend.  The last place Barracudas (3-14-1, 10 points) fell to Richmond (8-7-5, 29 points) 1-0 in July 2011 in their only previous meeting.

Last time out, a pair of goals from defender William Yomby gave the Richmond Kickers a split of a grueling back-to-back series last weekend, avenging a 1-0 loss on the road, as the home side held on to a 2-1 win against the Charlotte Eagles.  Richmond’s victory ended Charlotte’s six-game winning streak and pulled the Kickers back into sole possession of the sixth and final USL PRO playoff spot.

Meanwhile, Antigua travels to Richmond this week hoping to snap a six-game winless slide, most recently dropping points to Pittsburgh before surrendering an early lead in Dayton two days later.  The Barracudas claimed the advantage in the 12th minute as a cross fell to recent signing Darrelle Russell who finished first-time into the back of the net.  However, the visitors conceded three unanswered goals as second half dramatics resulted in red-card ejections to midfielder Matt Aldred and 2011 USL PRO All-League Second Team defender George Dublin, forcing Antigua to face Richmond without two key players.

Heading into the final month of regular season action, the USL PRO standings have become a fierce battleground, with just seven points separating third-place Charleston from eighth-place Los Angeles.  The 2012 USL PRO Playoffs will include the top six finishers in the table, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye the weekend of August 24-26. The semifinals, featuring the four remaining teams, will be played the following weekend, with the 2012 USL PRO Championship set for the weekend of September 7-9. All playoff rounds will implement a single-game knockout format.

Players to Watch

Kickers: Defender William Yomby (#2) tallied his second and third goals of the season last weekend to lead the Kickers to a much-needed win over the Charlotte Eagles.  Earning USL PRO Team of the Week honors this week for his offensive efforts, the 2009 USL PRO Defender of the Year has also contributed to six shutouts during the regular season and U.S. Open Cup.  Newcomer Philippe Davies (#20) was immediately introduced to the starting lineup upon his arrival in Richmond, just days before the USL PRO roster freeze. The Canadian international made 29 appearances with the Vancouver Whitecaps (USL-1/USSF D2) over two seasons, before signing as the first-ever homegrown and Canadian player with the Major League Soccer side in 2010.  Midfielder Gerson Dos Santos (#8) is one of five Kickers players to appear in all 20 regular season matches this season.  Contributing two assists on the season, the Brazilian powerhouse is a Virginia Commonwealth University product.

Barracudas:  Peter Byers (#16) leads the Barracudas with three goals and three assists in 15 appearances this season.  The Antigua and Barbuda National Team forward notched the lone goal against the United States, three minutes after entering the match as a substitute, to avoid the shutout in the Semifinals of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.  Antigua and Barbuda National Team goalkeeper James Molvin (#18) has backstopped the Barracudas to three wins this season, posting 41 saves in 12 appearances.  He signed with the Barracudas in 2011 after spending four seasons in the Antiguan First Division.  Newcomer Darrelle Russell made an immediate impact on the Antigua lineup, notching his first goal of the season against Dayton.  Signing just prior to the USL PRO roster freeze, Russell made his Antigua debut against Pittsburgh and Dayton last weekend.

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.

Preview: Kickers vs. Eagles at Home Saturday

KICKERS HOST CHARLOTTE SATURDAY

Veteran Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale Named USL PRO Player of the Week

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, June 6, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium this Saturday, June 9 to host the Charlotte Eagles at 7 p.m. 

The Kickers claimed four points on the road last weekend during a two-game trip to Harrisburg and Rochester.  Defender Shane Johnson notched his first professional goal in the 1-1 draw against the City Islanders before Luke Vercollone registered the Kickers lone tally against the Rhinos the following day.  Veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale posted 19 saves on the weekend to preserve his second shutout of the season, taking USL PRO Player of the Week honors.

“We really need to continue the positive momentum into the Charlotte weekend,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “We still need to treat every game as a cup final if we are to qualify for the playoffs.  Charlotte's position in the league standings is very misleading and by all accounts they are a very accomplished team this season.”

Despite posting a 2-7-2 record and eight points during the regular season, the Eagles are coming off a remarkable 2-1 overtime win against the San Antonio Scorpions in last night’s U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round game.  Knocking off Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas one week earlier, the Eagles advanced to the Quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history when Mauricio Salles converted a 116^th minute penalty kick to oust the NASL team from this year’s tournament.  One of three USL PRO teams to make it through to the next round, the Eagles will travel to The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA to take on Chivas USA on June 26.     

The Kickers and the Eagles meet for the first time this season, having exchanged 2-1 victories during the 2011 campaign.  After suffering a loss during a rain-soaked marathon in Richmond, the Kickers sought revenge 24 hours later in Charlotte.  The dramatic back-to-back weekend ended when Kickers midfielders Luke Vercollone and Edson Elcock registered in the second half before Charlotte midfielder Darren Toby pulled a goal back in the final minute of regulation. 

With an all-time series advantage of 19-9-9 over the Eagles, the Kickers’ extensive rivalry dates back to the club’s inception in 1993.  In addition to heated regular season matches, the perennial Championship contenders have a long history of battling in high stakes games.  The two clubs met in the 2007 USL-2 Semifinals when the Kickers came away with a 2-1 overtime win, boosting Richmond to their third consecutive appearance in the finals.  In 2006, the Kickers hosted Charlotte in the Championship when the same scoreline fell to the home side in regulation, granting the Kickers their third league title in franchise history.  Three years later, the rivals met again in the title match, when the Kickers rallied from a one goal deficit to reclaim the USL-2 crown, 3-1, over the Eagles in 2009.

Following Saturday’s contest, the Kickers swap home field advantage with the Eagles when they travel to Charlotte Christian Stadium on Saturday, June 16.  Next month, the two teams face off in back-to-back matches on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28, to conclude the season’s four-game series.

Players to Watch

Kickers:  Stalwart defender Shane Johnson (#3) has played every minute of every game during the 2012 campaign, netting his first goal with the Kickers against the Harrisburg City Islanders last Friday, earning USL PRO Team of the Week honors.  Integral on both sides of the ball, the Longwood University product contributed to the Kickers second shutout of the season against the Rochester Rhinos 24 hours later.  Midfielder Nozomi Hiroyama (#9) made his first start of the season against Rochester, setting up the lone goal of the night inside the first five minutes.  With professional experience extending to four continents, Hiroyama unleashed a 20-yard curler to the far post that was destined for goal but instead rattled the crossbar, allowing Luke Vercollone (#4) to finish the rebound with a diving header.  A former New England Revolution midfielder, Vercollone has played all but three minutes during the 2012 campaign and reached his 100^th appearance with the Kickers against the Chicago Fire during last year’s U.S. Open Cup Semifinals.

Eagles:  Late heroics by Mauricio Salles (#27) boosted the Eagles through to the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals this week when he converted a 116^th minute penalty kick to upset the San Antonio Scorpions, 2-1.  The experienced forward has added one goal during the regular season, to avoid a shutout in the Eagles 2-1 loss to Harrisburg in April.  Colombian midfielder Jorge Herrera (#10) led the Eagles in 2011 with four goals and seven assists for 15 points on the season.  Picking up where he left off, he has registered two goals and an assist during the 2012 campaign, most recently notching the game-winning goal against Harrisburg last month. In his tenth season with the Eagles, Josh Rife (#29) continues to anchor the defense, which shutout Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup Third Round last week.  The veteran defender has received All-League honors multiple times, and was named USL-2 Defender of the Year in 2005.

Kickers' Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale USL Pro Player of the Week

USL PRO NEWS RELEASE, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Kickers’ Pascale Named Player of the Week

Standout performance earned Richmond victory against Rochester

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO announced its Team of the Week for the eighth week of the 2012 season today, honoring Richmond Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale as Player of the Week after a standout weekend that saw him record 19 saves in a pair of games as the Kickers took four of a possible six points on the road.



Player of the Week - Ronnie Pascale

Pascale had a standout performance in the Kickers’ Friday-night contest against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Making nine saves in wet and windy conditions, Pascale helped Richmond earn a point in a 1-1 draw. But it was his performance the following night, when the 13-year veteran made 10 stops to shut out the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium, that saw Pascale at his best.

Watch Replay of Richmond vs. Harrisburg

Pascale made three big saves late in the first half, including denying Tam McManus from a free kick, before a diving stop at full stretch on JC Banks in the second half kept the Rhinos scoreless. The 35-year-old, who has announced his retirement after this season, showed that he is getting ready to leave while still at the top of his game, while helping the Kickers move up to fourth place in the USL PRO standings.

Joining his Kickers teammate on the Team of the Week was defender Shane Johnson, who scored his first professional goal in Richmond’s 1-1 draw against Harrisburg on Friday night. Kickers midfielder Luke Vercollone was also honored after scoring the game-winning goal against the Rhinos while also putting in a strong two-way performance to help the Kickers take victory.

Other top contenders for Player of the Week honors included Wilmington’s Corey Hertzog, whose two goals and assist helped the Hammerheads hand Orlando City its first loss of the season, and Charleston’s Nicki Paterson, who had a pair of goals in the Battery’s 3-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Thursday night. Paterson also took the lead in the USL PRO scoring race with his brace, giving him five goals this season.

Hertzog was joined on the Team of the Week by Hammerheads teammate Mark Briggs, whose perfect first-time pass set up Hertzog’s opening goal before their roles were reversed for what proved to be the game-winner, Briggs volleying home Hertzog’s long throw-in.

In addition to Paterson, Charleston’s Colin Falvey and Dane Kelly were also named to the Team of the Week, with the Irish center back putting in two strong performances as the Battery moved into second place in the standings. Kelly recorded a goal and an assist in the Battery’s two victories to earn his place on the team.

United face Philly in U.S. Open Cup at SoccerPlex

D.C. United vs Philadelphia Union
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 7:30 PM ET
Maryland SoccerPlex - Boyds, MD

Two time U.S. Open Cup Champions (1996, 2008) D.C. United are set to face their MLS rivals, the Philadelphia Union tonight at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Last year the Black-and-Red defeated the Union on Penalty Kicks in Open Cup action.

D.C. are coming off a marathon of a match against the Richmond Kickers (USL) in Richmond, VA last week that saw United win 2-1 after 120 minutes of soccer. The match-up of D.C. vs. Philly features two of only eight MLS clubs left in 2012 U.S. Open Cup action after three rounds.

This year the format of the tournament was changed (ussoccer.com: Format, Composition and Schedule Finalized for 99th Edition of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) to include all MLS clubs and less than half (8) of the clubs from the top level of U.S. professional soccer are still competing in the fourth round: D.C., Philly, N.Y., Seattle, L.A. (Chivas USA), Colorado, K.C., and San Jose.

• Directions to the SoccerPlex
• 6:30 PM: Stadium opens
• 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM: Danny Cruz autograph session
• 7:30 PM: Kickoff

To view the complete 2012 U.S. Open Cup bracket: Click Here