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 Split Weekend Series led by Yomby brace

RICHMOND, VA – Two goals from defender William Yomby gave the Richmond Kickers a split of the weekend series on Saturday night 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.

Richmond nearly took the lead off an own-goal in the 8^th minute after Charlotte’s Devon Grousis misplayed a passback to his own goalkeeper.  Grousis overhit a high, looping header over Eagles keeper Clint Irwin, but the ball ricocheted harmlessly off the left post and back into a relieved Irwin’s arms.

Five minutes later, though, Yomby seized a moment of opportunity to pull the Kickers ahead.  A Philippe Davies corner kick rebounded off the arm of a Charlotte defender in the box, giving Richmond a shout for a penalty kick.  As referee Matthew Franz waved off the protests, Yomby charged on to the loose ball at the top of the box and one-timed a low, hard shot through traffic and past Irwin. 

The 13^th minute goal seemed to spur the Eagles on, but they were unable to beat Pascale.  With a half hour gone, space opened up in the middle of the field as both teams looked tired from the stress of back-to-back games in oppressive humidity, and neither team threatened before the half.

Yomby’s offensive opportunism allowed Richmond to double the lead ten minutes after halftime.  Davies again swung a corner into the Charlotte box, sending the ball past a Charlotte defender for a diving Yomby to power a header past Irwin.

Charlotte again seemed to find energy despite falling two goals behind.  The Eagles pulled back within one in the 73^rd minute after Richmond’s Luke Vercollone cleared a ball to the center of the pitch.  Grousis, spotting teammate Jorge Herrera unmarked near the top of the area, one-timed a long ball back into Richmond territory.  An onrushing Herrera was able to control the ball before sending a well-placed shot past Pascale into the top right corner.

The Eagles continued to pile forward after the goal, sending in a number of dangerous crosses but failing to get a clean shot on target.  Grousis, appearing again in the thick of things, attempted to volley Herrera’s corner toward the net, but sent it wide.  As time expired, the Kickers were finally able to maintain possession and run out the clock.  The teams split the season series with two wins each.

The Kickers return to City Stadium next Friday, August 3, for the first of three late season matches against Antigua Barracuda FC.  Featuring several players from the Antigua and Barbuda National Team, a World Cup Qualifying opponent of the United States, the last place Barracudas fell to Richmond 1-0 last July in their only previous meeting.  Kickoff for next Friday’s match is slated for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available in advance at RichmondKickers.com.

  

Box Score             First Half         Second Half             Final

Richmond                     1                      1                      2

Charlotte                       0                      1                      1

Scoring Summary

13^th minute: Richmond: William Yomby

55^th minute: Richmond: William Yomby (Philippe Davies)

73^rd minute: Charlotte:  Jorge Herrera

Lineups

Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby, Shane Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Luke Vercollone, Sascha Gorres, Mike Callahan (Gerson Dos Santos 83’), Stanley Nyazamba (Mike Burke – 83’), Philippe Davies (Ryan Heins – 61’), David Bulow (Christopher Agorsor – 61’), Matthew Delicate (Nozomi Hiroyama – 90’)

Eagles: GK Clint Irwin, Cheyne Roberts (Luke Williams – 67’), Mark Bloom, Devon Grousis, Josh Rife, Judson McKinney (Joseph Kabwe – 73’), Jorge Herrera, Miguel Ferrer (Nate Thornton – 54’), Juan Guzman, Darryl Roberts (Mauricio Salles – 60’), Brad Stisser (Christian Meza – 54’)

Shots                           Saves                           Fouls                           Corners

Eagles:         6              Eagles:            2             Eagles:        9              Eagles:     12          

Kickers:        6              Kickers:          3             Kickers:       10            Kickers:      5                 

Cautions:

42^nd minute: Vercollone (Richmond)

75^th minute: Herrera (Charlotte)

Ejections:

None

Referee:                                                Matthew Franz

Assistant Referees:                               Robert Velbis, Matthew Nelson

Fourth Official:                                     Michael Samaan

Attendance:                                          1,791

Weather:                                               Sunny, Humid 87º

Kickers Coach and Defender USL PRO award finalists

USL PRO has announced the finalists for its 2011 awards honoring the Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year from the 2011 season. The winners will be announced at Friday’s awards ceremony prior to the 2011 USL PRO Championship Game in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando City, which will face the Harrisburg City Islanders in Saturday night’s USL PRO Championship Game (7 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer), has four individuals named to the list of finalists.  The Wilmington Hammerheads have three finalists competing for awards, while the Richmond Kickers and F.C. New York each have two.

  

Votes for the USL PRO honors are submitted by USL PRO team management, and finalists are determined based on total All-League votes.

2011 USL PRO Award Finalists

   

Coach of the Year

Leigh Cowlishaw,  Richmond Kickers               

Adrian Heath, Orlando City               

David Irving, Wilmington Hammerheads

Defender of the Year

Gareth Evans, Wilmington Hammerheads                

Rob Valentino, Orlando City                                

William Yomby, Richmond Kickers

Yomby and Delicâte named USL PRO All-League First Team

Two members of the Richmond Kickers where selected to the 2011 USL PRO All-League First Team today. Defender William Yomby and Forward Matt Delicâte where recognised for their outstanding play this season.

USL PRO honored the top performers from an exciting and successful 2011 regular season today, naming the All-League First and Second Teams as chosen through a vote of team management.

USL PRO regular season champion Orlando City leads the way with four players selected to the First Team and a total of six players honored. The Lions, who will host Saturday’s USL PRO Championship against the Harrisburg City Islanders (7 p.m. ET, FOX Soccer), are represented at every position on the First Team after the selections of striker Maxwell Griffin, midfielder Yordany Alvarez, defender Rob Valentino and goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo.

Wilmington Hammerheads defender Gareth Evans is making his second consecutive appearance on the First Team, while Richmond Kickers defensive leader William Yomby and Richmond striker Matt Delicâte are honored for the third consecutive season. Remarkably, Charlotte Eagles set-up man Jorge Herrera is on the First Team for the fourth consecutive season after finishing second in the league in assists.

League scoring leader Jhonny Arteaga of F.C. New York was a natural choice for one of the three forward spots after tallying 13 goals and 27 points in 21 games. Rounding out the USL PRO All-League First Team is former MLS defender Nelson Akwari of the Los Angeles Blues and rookie midfield standout Luke Mulholland of Wilmington, who finished tied for second in points.

The finalists for Coach of the Year, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player will be announced on Wednesday, August 31, with the awards being presented at the USL PRO Championship Media Luncheon on Friday, September 2 in Orlando.


2011 USL PRO All-League First Team
GK – Miguel Gallardo, Orlando City
D – Nelson Akwari, Los Angeles Blues
D – Gareth Evans, Wilmington Hammerheads
D – Rob Valentino, Orlando City
D – William Yomby, Richmond KickersMF – Yordany Alvarez, Orlando City
MF – Jorge Herrera, Charlotte Eagles
MF – Luke Mulholland, Wilmington Hammerheads
F – Jhonny Arteaga, F.C. New York
F – Matt Delicâte, Richmond KickersF – Maxwell Griffin, Orlando City

2011 USL PRO All-League Second Team
GK – Neal Kitson, Rochester Rhinos
D – George Dublin, Antigua Barracuda
D – Colin Falvey, Charleston Battery
D – Kyle Hoffer, F.C. New York
D – Troy Roberts, Rochester Rhinos
MF – Lewis Neal, Orlando City
MF – Lawson Robinson, Antigua Barracuda
MF – Jamie Watson, Orlando City
F – Jose Angulo, Harrisburg City Islanders
F – George Davis IV, Dayton Dutch Lions
F – Jason Yeisley, Pittsburgh Riverhounds