D.C. United USL Affiliate Richmond Kickers Clinch Regular Season Championship

TAMPA, Fla. – The Richmond Kickers claimed the 2013 USL PRO Regular Season Championship on Wednesday night as they took a 2-0 victory against Orlando City at City Stadium. The victory gave Richmond the No. 1 seed for the upcoming USL PRO Playoffs, and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Meanwhile, in the battle for the final playoff position, the Wilmington Hammerheads kept their improbable playoff hopes alive as a late surge earned a 4-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Legion Stadium. The win moved Wilmington above VSI Tampa Bay FC into ninth position in the standings, just one point behind the Dayton Dutch Lions going to the final game of the season.

Richmond’s victory was keyed by veteran forward Matt Delicâte, who scored both goals in the Kickers’ victory. The club’s all-time leading scorer struck five minutes apart off assists by Joseph Ngwenya and Houston Dynamo loanee Brian Ownby. Orlando had chances to come back into the game in the second half, but a missed penalty by Kevin Molino and some outstanding goalkeeping by Andrew Dykstra, on loan from D.C. United, preserved the Kickers’ victory and the regular season championship.

Wilmington scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to get past the Riverhounds, who had taken an early lead on Jose Angulo’s 14^th goal of the season. The Hammerheads got back on even terms before the halftime break through Kyle Greig, however, and then put in a late push to take victory. Steven Perry scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 76^th minute, and that was followed by finishes by Bryce Taylor and Cody Arnoux to seal victory.

The Hammerheads still need help if they are to advance to the postseason, with the Dayton Dutch Lions still in control of the final playoff position. Should Dayton take victory against Harrisburg on Saturday night, the Dutch Lions would earn their first playoff berth in club history. Should Harrisburg either draw, or take victory, against the Dutch Lions, the Hammerheads would jump into eighth position with a victory against Antigua Barracuda FC. VSI Tampa Bay remains alive, but would need to take victory against Charlotte on Friday night, and have Harrisburg defeat Dayton and Wilmington draw with Antigua on Saturday to advance to the postseason.

Stay up to date with all of the action in the final week of the USL PRO regular season through the league’s free online streaming service, USLNation.com, and also follow the race for the playoffs via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+ for live updates from every game, plus news, previews and recaps of all the action.

Kickers vs Tamba Bay FC ends with scoreless draw

Checkout video highlights from the +Richmond Kickers scoreless draw against Tampa Bay FC:

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers extended their lead at the top of the USL PRO standings with a scoreless draw against VSI Tampa Bay FC Sunday night.  Kickers goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra posted six saves for his league-high eighth shutout to keep the Kickers' record setting undefeated streak alive.

With their season-long unbeaten streak on the line, the Kickers pressed for an opening goal directly out of the gates when defender Sascha Görres faked a volley then teed up a shot that calmly slotted through traffic, forcing goalkeeper Alex Horwath to dive to his right to parry it wide in the 6^th minute.  Two minutes later, Horwath sprung into action again, denying a Michael Callahan strike to prevent the early break through.

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.

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. 

Kickers begin 21st season with draw against Riverhounds

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Kickers would start their 21st season Saturday night by playing to a draw against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in front of 3,268 at City Stadium.

During the first half, both sides had several near scoring chances that did not result in a goal for their respective clubs. In the 12th minute, Pittsburgh goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap lost control of the ball in his box, dropping it to ground and nearly to the feet of several waiting Kickers players before he cleared it out of the way.

In the 25th minute, a passing play between Kickers forward Jason Yeisley and midfielder Henry Kalungi was deflected out of play by a Pittsburgh player, resulting in a corner kick for Richmond. That kick connected to Yeisley, who's header went just wide of the left side of the Riverhounds' net.

The Kickers made a late attempt to score during first half stoppage time off of a corner kick from defender Sascha Görres that was grabbed from the air by Pittsburgh's Gilstrap.

In the second half, Richmond goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra maintained his clean sheet by saving a number of shots on the Kickers' net, including one from the left side of the Kickers' box from Pittsburgh midfielder Seth C'DeBaca that Dykstra was able to save and clear from the box.

In the final minute of the game, Pittsburgh would make try to get the game winning goal but their shots went wide of the crossbar, resulting in a season opening scoreless draw.

The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium next Saturday, April 6, 2013 to host the Charleston Battery at 7:00 p.m.  Order tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com.

  

Box Score             First Half         Second Half             Final

Richmond                     0                      0                         0      

Pittsburgh                     0                      0                         0

Scoring Summary

None.

Lineups

Kickers: GK Andrew Dykstra, Alex Lee, William Yomby (Mike Callahan 85’), Conor Shanosky, Sascha Goerres, Taylor Kemp, Joseph Haboush, Henry Kalungi, Nate Robinson (Philippe Davies 66’), Casey Townsend, Jason Yeisley

Riverhounds: GK Hunter Gilstrap, Sterling Flunder, Richard Costanzo, Mike Green, Andrew Marshall, Alfonso Motagalvan, Seth C’deBaca, Ryan Kinne, Mike Seamon, Mike Seth, Jhonny Arteaga

Shots                           Saves                           Fouls                           Corners

Riverhounds:     18         Riverhounds:     4          Riverhounds:     10         Riverhounds:     4

Kickers:             11         Kickers:              4          Kickers:              5          Kickers:              6

 

Cautions:

31^st minute: Henry Kalungi (Richmond)

Ejections:

None.

Referee:                                                Robert Sibiga

Assistant Referees:                             Robert Velbis, Michael D’Angelo

Fourth Official:                                     Andrew Moses

Attendance:                                          3,268

Weather:                                               Clear, 40º

Piranhas announce 2013 Ticket Prices and Flexi-Pack

Virginia Beach, Virginia - The Virginia Beach Piranhas announce the clubs 2013 ticket prices which include a Flexi-Pack that allows fans to combine tickets for both men's and women's games.

Season Ticket Flexi-Pack ($79.99) includes 13 tickets that can be used in any combination for regular season PDL and W-League home games. 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS

   

The Piranhas are also offering a $19.99 Youth Pass for fans age 12 and younger that includes all 13 regular season PDL and W-League home matches.  Tickets at the gate this season are $8 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and younger.

FASA to host USL-National Guard clinic, Feb. 23-24

TAMPA, Fla. – In the first of several camps designed to benefit youth soccer, the Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association will host a soccer clinic, presented by the National Guard, February 23-24 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Thanks to the USL-National Guard partnership, USL youth clubs will host a series of camps throughout the U.S. in the coming months.

The FASA clinic is for high school-aged boys and girls and is free to all 76 players who will be in attendance. The clinic will be managed by professional trainers that will include a combination of college coaches, USSF-licensed coaches and college players, and is designed to introduce, sharpen, and challenge every player, help prepare them for their upcoming season, and take them to the next level of their development.

“We are thrilled to be in on the ground floor of this program and able to contribute to getting it off the ground,” FASA General Manager Pete Cinalli said.  “We run a lot of camps and academies throughout the year and the key is always maximizing the value for each and every player that attends.  The format of this program, which focuses on high school-aged athletes, is so important and timely since college is right around the corner. 

“Running the first clinic is a huge honor for our entire organization, and we are prepared to do our part to make sure this is a great experience for everyone and repay the confidence USL and the National Guard have shown in us.”

Lunch will be provided both days and clinic personnel will be available to answer questions about the college recruiting process and potential financial aid. The clinic curriculum will focus on individual foot skills, technical drills, tactical practices, small-sided games and coached scrimmages, all presented in a fun, positive learning environment.

"The National Guard is honored to be working in conjunction with USL and FASA to host local high school-aged soccer players in an upcoming clinic,” SFC David Therrell said. “Our goal is to provide these young athletes with exceptional training and an opportunity to learn about the benefits of the National Guard. It is important to us that these players are given the opportunity to learn more about playing soccer in college from college coaches and what it's like to serve in the National Guard from local Guardsmen, all at no cost to them."

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.

Trio of D.C. United Women named to Super-20 All-Tournament Team

Mónica Mendes (D), Lindsey Lane (M), and Stephanie Hamilton (F) where all named to the Womens' Super-20 All-Tournament Team.

Courtesy of USLSoccer.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Super-20 League announced its 2012 North American Finals All-Tournament Team today, honoring Colorado Rapids forward Karisa Price as the Finals’ Most Valuable Player for leading her team to the championship this past weekend at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Price scored four goals in group play and assisted the game-winning goal in the Final for Colorado, just missing out on the Golden Boot Award. Her tireless work-rate in tracking back defensively and chasing down every loose ball stood out to observers. She is joined on the All-Tournament Team by two teammates: defender Renee Hurd and Safe Hands Award-winning goalkeeper Hannah Clark. USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor characterized the three players’ performances throughout the tournament as vital to the Rapids’ championship.

“Renee is very tactically aware,” Mellor said. “She was able to win the ball and knew where to go with it. Karisa Price can run for days and has the ability to beat defenders and get to goal.”

D.C. United, which lost to Colorado in the Final 1-0, is represented on the All-Tournament Team by defender Mónica Mendes, midfielder Lindsey Lane, and Golden Boot Award-winner Stephanie Hamilton. Hamilton recorded four goals and two assists, including a hat trick in D.C.’s 5-1 win against TSF Academy. Mendes scored the late, game-winning goal in United’s first group match against the Ottawa Fury and was part of a back line that conceded only five times in four games.

Defender Marisa Kozikowski and midfielder Julianne Boyle helped Force Football Club Academy remain undefeated during group play, as Boyle scored two goals and Kozikowski linked play from the back well. Midfielder Emily Gingrich of Reading United AC recorded two goals and an assist and put in three outstanding performances for the Mid Atlantic Division club.

Triangle FC forward Ashley Clark could not help her team to a back-to-back championship, but was able to score two important goals to keep Triangle from an early exit. Midfielder Sydney Braun-McLeod was a constant threat to the Ottawa Fury’s opposition with her speed, earning her berth to the All-Tournament Team based on her group-play performance.

Women’s Super-20 League All-Tournament Team
GK – Hannah Clark, Colorado Rapids
D – Renee Hurd, Colorado Rapids
D – Mónica Mendes, D.C. United Women
D – Marisa Kozikowski, Force Football Club Academy
M – Julianne Boyle, Force Football Club Academy
M – Emily Gingrich, Reading United AC
M – Lindsey Lane, D.C. United Women
M – Sydney Braun-McLeod, Ottawa Fury
F – Ashley Clark, Triangle FC
F – Stephanie Hamilton, D.C. United Women
F – Karisa Price, Colorado Rapids

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.

Brice Colcombe, FASA Selected to Super-20 All-Tournament Team



Brice Colcombe, FASA



Brice Colcombe of Virginia club FASA was named to the Super-20 League All-Tournament team.

Official USL Soccer Release:

TAMPA, Fla. – The Super-20 League announced its 2012 North American Finals All-Tournament Team today, honoring Chicago Fire midfielder Felipe Cortez as the Finals’ Most Valuable Player for leading his side to the championship this past weekend at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Cortez scored a goal and recorded three assists in five games for Chicago, but it was his all-around play throughout the tournament that led to him being named MVP. Jacob Brindle, also of the Midwest Division club, was the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and was awarded the Golden Boot Award. He joins Cortez as a member of the All-Tournament Team. Even though the Fire scored 14 goals during the Finals, their defense was also tremendously important in winning the title. Peter Beasley was named for his contributions at the back as well as going forward.

Midfielder Kofi Agyapong and defender Ross Friedman make the All-Tournament Team from the Crew Juniors, the other Finalists in the Men’s division. The Fire’s rivals let in one goal before the 3-1 defeat to Chicago and it was Friedman who earned special praise from USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor.

“I’ve seen him hit a 60-yard diagonal ball and hit his target time after time,” Mellor said. “It’s also the quality of the ball. He’s a great talent.”

The Safe Hands Award was awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament, Zachary Bennett of Texas Football Club. The division-winners from the Mid South lost a close 1-0 semifinal against the Crew Juniors and had Bennett to thank for making it out of the group stage.

The other semifinalist, FASA, was led by defender Brice Colcombe. Knoxville Soccer Academy midfielder Andrew Palumbo had two assists as his team failed to make it out of the same group as the Chicago Fire. Three Southeast Division teams also have representatives on the All-Tournament Team: midfielder Ellis Curry of the VSI Tampa Flames, midfielder Marco Lobo of IMG, and midfielder Matthew Campbell of Tampa Bay United.

Men’s Super-20 League All-Tournament Team

GK – Zachary Bennett, Texas Football Club

D – Ross Friedman, Crew Juniors

D – Brice Colcombe, FASA

D – Peter Beasley, Chicago Fire

M – Marco Lobo, IMG

M – Ellis Curry, VSI Tampa Flames

M – Andrew Palumbo, Knoxville Soccer Academy

M – Matthew Campbell, Tampa Bay United

M – Kofi Agyapong, Crew Juniors

M – Felipe Cortez, Chicago Fire

F – Jacob Brindle, Chicago Fire

Richmond Kickers Host Dayton Dutch Lions Saturday

KICKERS HOST DAYTON SATURDAY

Present Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award at Halftime

RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, July 18, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers return to Richmond City Stadium this Saturday, July 21 to host the Dayton Dutch Lions.  Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and the first 250 fans through the gate will receive a cooler bag, courtesy of Challa Law Offices, PLC.  The second annual Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award will be presented to a youth soccer player during halftime and admission is just $7.00, in advance at RichmondKickers.com.

The Kickers battle the Dutch Lions this Saturday for the sixth time in history, and for the second time during the 2012 campaign, having last met in Dayton on May 5.  Kickers midfielder David Bulow converted a stoppage time penalty kick to salvage a point on the road in a 1-1 draw.  Trailing for 90 minutes, the Kickers conceded a goal in the second minute when forward Gibson Bardsley connected on a Joel DeLass cross. 

Previously, the two clubs met three times during 2011 regular season action and once during last season’s U.S. Open Cup tournament, with the Kickers sweeping the series 4-0.  The Kickers last hosted the Dutch Lions at Richmond City Stadium on August 6, 2011 when the home side handed the then-USL PRO expansion franchise a 3-0 scoreline.

Most recently, the Kickers are coming off a decisive 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  Defender William Yomby earned USL PRO Team of the Week honors after notching his first goal of the season to open scoring at City Stadium before Matthew Delicâte converted his 63^rd career goal, to draw even with the club’s all-time leading scorer, Rob Ukrop.

Earning a much-needed three points last weekend, the Kickers now reside in a three-way tie for sixth place in the standings, alongside the Charlotte Eagles and Los Angeles Blues, with a record of 6-6-5 and 23 points.  Off to a slow start in their sophomore USL PRO campaign, the Dutch Lions join in the battle for playoff positioning, currently trailing the Kickers by 10 points with a record of 2-8-7 following a scoreless draw against the fifth-place Harrisburg City Islanders last week on the road.  Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams was named USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Week for his heroic eight-save performance against the City Islanders to preserve his fourth clean sheet of the season.

Saturday’s match-up concludes a grueling three-game road swing for the Dutch Lions who must first travel to Harrisburg on Wednesday, July 18 and to Wilmington on Friday, July 20 before finishing the two-game home and away regular season series against the Kickers on Saturday.

USL PRO Playoff Structure

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:  Prolific goal scorer Matthew Delicâte (#7) is on the verge of becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer, having tied Rob Ukrop’s franchise record (63) last Saturday against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with this third goal of the 2012 campaign.  The veteran forward has posted over 11,000 minutes in 153 appearances with the Kickers over six seasons, notching at least 13 goals in each of his last three seasons.  Stalwart defender
William Yomby (#2) contributed on both sides of the ball during last week’s 3-1 win over Pittsburgh, stifling the Riverhounds attack while netting a pass from Gerson Dos Santos to open scoring.  Earning USL PRO Team of the Week honors for his offensive efforts, the 6’4” defender has made 14 appearances this season, contributing to four shutouts.  Newcomer Philippe Davies (#20) is expected to join the lineup this week, signing with the Kickers 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.

  

Dutch Lions:  Featuring in every minute of every game played during the 2012 season, midfielder Joel DeLass has notched one goal this season and added an assist against the Kickers last May.  Signing with Dayton in 2011, he spent one season with the Charlotte Eagles.  Fellow former Charlotte player Gibson Bardsley (#17) is second on the team with seven points on three goals and one assist.  He was responsible for a 2^nd minute tally against the Kickers earlier this season and most recently, scored the game-winning goal in the Dutch Lions 4-0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads last month.  Matt Williams (#30) earned USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Week honors this week after posting an impressive eight saves against the Harrisburg City Islanders to earn his fourth shutout of the season.  Protecting the nets for every minute of every game for the Dutch Lions in 2012, the former University of Cincinnati standout leads the league in the saves category with 83 saves and is ranked fourth with a goals against average of 1.176.

Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award

The Richmond Kickers will present the second annual Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award to a youth soccer player during the Kickers pro game versus the Dayton Dutch Lions this Saturday, July 21.  The Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award was established to honor Kickers youth player, Avery Spence, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on May 1, 2011.  In honor of Avery’s #7 jersey, admission to the Kickers pro game will be $7.00 per person, in advance at RichmondKickers.com (enter promo code “AVERY” at checkout).

A longstanding member of the Richmond Kickers youth club, Avery started with the Kickers rec program when she was nine years old, progressing with arguably the best girls team in the Kickers Elite girls program over the past seven seasons.  A committed volunteer since the age of 13, Avery donated countless hours throughout the Richmond community, participating in over 50 youth soccer clinics, Meals on Wheels, caroling to senior citizens, as well as working with the Kickers ADP program for six and seven year olds.  She was in the academic top ten in her class at Manchester High School and was heading to Virginia Tech to pursue a career in dentistry.  Avery had a love for life, sharing her time and talent with kids of all ages.

Each year, the Richmond Kickers will present the Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award to the Kickers youth player that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the youth community in Richmond.  Criteria will be based on volunteer involvement, commitment, leadership and athletic and academic achievements. 

About Challa Law Offices, PLC

A Richmond, Virginia based law firm specializing in business in immigration law, Challa Law Offices was established by Lakshmi and Shekar Challa in December 2001.  Lakshmi Challa has been practicing immigration law exclusively for over sixteen years. The firm focuses on providing solutions-directed business immigration strategies for a wide range of clients around the globe by leveraging state-of-the-art case management technologies and outstanding client service.  Challa Law Offices specializes in employment-based, temporary and permanent resident visas for business professionals, assisting international companies/individuals in setting up their business in the U.S. as well as family-based temporary and permanent resident visas.

Kickers Face Hammerheads Saturday

KICKERS TRAVEL TO WILMINGTON SATURDAY

High-Stakes Match Kicks Off at 7:30 p.m. on USLNation.com

RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, July 6, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers (5-5-5, 20 points) conclude a three-game series against the Wilmington Hammerheads (6-5-4, 22 points) this Saturday, July 7.  The match is slated to kick off at 7:30 p.m. live from Legion Stadium on USLNation.com. 

Last time out, the Richmond Kickers narrowly edged the Los Angeles Blues to leapfrog into fifth place on the USL PRO table.  Midfielder Ryan Heins notched his first goal of the season to lift the Kickers to a 1-0 victory while goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale posted his fourth shutout of the 2012 campaign.  Three days earlier, the Hammerheads downed the Blues, 4-2, to defend a perfect record at Legion Stadium.  Midfielder Bryce Taylor contributed a goal and two assists, with Andriy Budnyy and Corey Hertzog rounding out the high-scoring affair to preserve their fourth place spot in the standings.

“It was encouraging to gain three points on Tuesday but the players recognize it's only the first step toward our ultimate objective,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers and Director of Soccer.  “Wilmington is a difficult place to play and we are fortunate to finally have a close to full strength squad to select from. The players’ improved attitude has been a joy to see in training and we look forward to testing Wilmington's undefeated home record to the maximum.”

The Kickers and the Hammerheads last met at Legion Stadium three weeks ago when Wilmington edged the visitors 2-1, on a pair of first half goals.  The Kickers opened scoring when defender Sascha Görres fed a through ball to Christopher Agorsor, who made no mistake from 16 yards out, but quickly squandered the early lead when Budnyy leveled the score seven minutes later.  Wilmington claimed the advantage that they held throughout the match when Hertzog converted a penalty at the half hour mark.

Previously, the two clubs faced off at Richmond City Stadium when the Kickers defeated their southern rivals 3-1 in a stoppage time frenzy.  Budnyy tallied the lone goal for the Hammerheads, but the Kickers rallied back from the early deficit when David Bulow leveled the score with a second half penalty.  It was not until after the 90 minute mark that Agorsor registered back-to-back goals seconds before the full-time whistle to earn all three points.

With a rivalry dating back to the 2006 season, the Kickers hold an all-time series record of 10-4-4 over the Hammerheads.  The two clubs have a history of dramatic finishes, after having met in the USL PRO American Division Semifinals last August when the #3 seed Kickers ousted the #2 seed Hammerheads to advance to the Division Finals 5-4 on penalties. Scoreless for 120 minutes of regulation and overtime, the Kickers converted all five of their penalty kicks before relying on veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale to make a heroic save on the Hammerhead’s fifth attempt to send to the Kickers through to the next round.

Following this weekend’s road trip, the Kickers return to Richmond City Stadium on Friday, July 13 to host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  Mexican food trucks will be on site and the first 200 fans will receive a stadium cup, courtesy of Northwestern Mutual.

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.