Kickers Battle Wilmington to 1-1 Draw
Published on June 28, 2014 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release
WILMINGTON, NC - The Richmond Kickers battled the Wilmington Hammerheads to a 1-1 draw at Legion Stadium Saturday night. After conceding a second half tally by Tom Parratt, the Kickers rallied for the equalizer 10 minutes from regulation when rookie defender Hugh Roberts posted his first professional goal to preserve the hard-fought point on the road.
In a tale of two halves, the Kickers first tested the Hammerheads back line in the 19th minute when forward Jason Yeisley's long throw in from the right side was cleared out of the box, falling to George Davis IV at the top of the 18. Scooping up the rebound, he rounded the left edge of the box and whipped in a left footed curler that forced goalkeeper Quillen Roberts to leap to tip it over the crossbar.
Davis was dangerous again five minutes later when midfielder Luke Vercollone played him a leading pass that he latched onto and fired a shot from distance that glanced just wide of the left post.
Kickers goalkeeper Joe Willis sprung into action in the 32nd minute when a quick Hammerheads counter attack earned the home side a corner kick. Forward Mickael Oliveira delivered an inswinger from the left side that was cleared out to a lurking Steven Miller at the top of the box. He blasted a follow up shot on target but Willis was on his line and punched the ball from harm's way.
The Hammerheads broke the ice just past the hour mark when they regained possession inside their own half and worked the ball down the field to spring Sunny Jane free in the midfield. He played the ball wide to Miller who centered it for Parratt stationed at the top of the box. The veteran defender laid the ball off but the resulting chip into the box was cleared directly back to Parratt who buried a one time strike from the penalty area inside the left post.
The shift in momentum stifled the Kickers' attack as they failed to capitalize on a well placed cross by Yeisley in the 66th minute that found defender William Yomby in the air but whistled just wide of the target.
Ten minutes later, the Hammerheads nearly doubled their lead when midfielder Paul Nicholson drew a foul inches from the top of the box. Wilmington's leading scorer, Sammy Ochoa, lined up the free kick and cleared the defensive wall but his close-range effort soared skyward.
In the waning minutes of regulation, midfielder Shay Spitz chased down a poor clearance along the right touchline and played it back to defender Sascha Görres who served a long ball into the box from the far side. Delicâte won the ball at the top of the 18 and flicked a header into the path of an onrushing Roberts who sliced through the box and tapped home the equalizer seconds after entering the match as a substitute to salvage the point.
The Kickers return to City Stadium on Tuesday, July 1 to host the Mexico U21 National Team in an international exhibition before taking on the Real Salt Lake Reserves of Major League Soccer on Sunday, July 6. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 28, 2014
- LA Galaxy II Fall on the Road to Orlando City SC, 3-0 - LA Galaxy II
- Riverhounds Drop Heartbreaker to Dayton Dutch Lions FC 1-0 - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Dayton Dutch Lions FC Win on the Road against Pittsburgh - Dayton Dutch Lions
- Rhinos Drop Home Match to Charlotte - Rochester Rhinos
- Eagles Earn Three Points in Rochester - Charlotte Eagles
- Republic FC fell to Energy FC 2-0 - Sacramento Republic FC
- Kickers Battle Wilmington to 1-1 Draw - Richmond Kickers
- Hertzog Scores Brace in City's 3-0 over LA Galaxy II - Orlando City SC
- Wilmington, Richmond Extend Streaks - Wilmington Hammerheads FC
- Riverhounds Host Dayton Dutch Lions FC Saturday at Highmark Stadium - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
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