Burke rules Monarchs in Kickers' 6-0 win
Published on July 26, 2008 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release
RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers (11-4-2, 35 points) rolled past the Real Maryland Monarchs (3-14-1, 9 points) during a 6-0 affair in front of a summer evening crowd of 2,111. Kickers veteran Mike Burke recorded a natural hat trick and added two assists on the night while newcomer Fabian Dawkins, forward Freddie Smith and defender Anthony Catalano bolstered the scoreline with a goal apiece. Tonight's results have secured a first round home playoff game for Richmond, to be held either Wednesday, August 13th or Saturday, August 16th.
The Kickers opened the high-scoring affair in the ninth minute when Burke sent a corner kick into the box. Midfielder Luke Vercollone flicked the ball on to a well-positioned Dawkins at the six-yard line. The Jamaican international hammered a side volley just under the crossbar for his first goal in his second game of the season.
Burke took charge and struck three times in a span of 28 minutes, recording his first natural hat trick in a Kickers uniform. Deep on the left wing, the Kickers were awarded a free kick 15 yards out, inches from the box. Burke lined up the set piece and bent the ball around the defensive wall, glancing the far post as it curled into the net.
Fifteen minutes later, Burke tripled the score, adding his second goal on the night, this time, courtesy of Adrian Bumbut. Defender Sascha Görres played the ball behind the defense to Bumbut on the left flank. Bumbut cut back towards the penalty spot where Burke was waiting to tap the ball into the lower right corner.
As the end of the first half drew close, Burke hit home again in the 43rd minute. Kickers defender Kevin Knight played a square ball across the box to Burke at the 18 yard line. The crafty midfielder slipped a shot through the defense and snuck the ball just under a diving Monarchs goalkeeper Oscar Araujo.
Real Maryland nearly avoided the shutout in the 47th minute when defender Harold Peña attempted a shot that narrowly missed the near post. Richmond retaliated seconds later when Görres collected a long cross from Evan Harding on the left side and played it forward to Dawkins just inside the box. Dawkins eluded defenders and almost posted his second goal of the night but the ball sailed just wide of the far post.
The Monarchs attack did not relent as defender Devlin Barnes looked dangerous in the 61st minute. Barnes' long-range strike was stopped by Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale.
Kickers forward Freddie Smith added his third goal of the season in the 65th minute to bring the scoreline to 5-0. Burke again fed the ball to an unmarked Smith, inside the six yard box, who took one touch into the near corner.
Also notching his third goal of the season, Richmond defender, Anthony Catalano, capped off the victory in the 78th minute. Positioned at the near post when Burke's corner kick inswinger entered the box, Catalano won the ball in the air and fired a header into the back of the net.
With a last minute push forward, Monarchs forward Nilson Perez unleashed a 20-yard blast but Pascale beat the ball to the near post to preserve his seventh clean sheet of the season.
With just two home games left, the Kickers return to the University of Richmond Stadium on Friday, August 1st when they host the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7:00 pm. Next Saturday is Player Card Night, presented by Moto Photo. The first 100 fans through the gate will receive a full set of the Kickers brand new player cards. Order tickets in advance via RichmondKickers.com and save $2.00 on admission.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 2008
- Burke rules Monarchs in Kickers' 6-0 win - Richmond Kickers
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