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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Defeat Wilmington 2-0

August 10, 2011 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


WILMINGTON, NC - The Richmond Kickers (12-7-3, 39 points) claimed a 2-0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads (13-7-3, 42 points) Wednesday night, gaining a crucial three points to narrow the gap in the USL PRO American Division standings. Kickers midfielder Ryan Heins notched the eventual game-winner in the 18th minute before forward Matthew Delicâte added an insurance goal 16 minutes from regulation. The Kickers staunch defense, led by goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale, posted their eighth shutout, en route to their final two regular season games against the Los Angeles Blues on Friday, August 12 and Sunday, August 14.

The Kickers maintained possession directly out of the gates and capitalized early to give the visiting team the advantage inside the first 20 minutes. After a series of non-threatening shots inside Hammerheads territory, a through-ball by Kickers midfielder Gerson dos Santos was intercepted by a Wilmington defender at the top of the box. The deflection released the bouncing ball into the path of Heins who fired a 25-yard volley into the upper 90, showing goalkeeper Brock Duckworth no mercy.

Minutes later, the Hammerheads attempted to retaliate when forward Andriy Budnyy received the ball inside the box but his low, driven shot to the far post was forced wide by Pascale.

Then, ten minutes before the break, Kickers defender Luke Vercollone found the ball deep on the right flank. He sliced it across the six yard box, to an awaiting Edson Elcock but his diving header glanced inches past the far post.

Wilmington gained momentum after the restart, but could only produce a handful of harmless headers inside the Kickers third before Elcock seized the ball in the midfield the 60th minute. Faced with just one defender to beat, he curled the ball around his mark and unleashed a determined strike on frame, but Duckworth leapt into action to push the ball around the upright.

Still reeling from his near-miss, Elcock set up the Kickers second tally of the night in the 74th minute. Gathering the ball on the right wing, he carried it down to the endline and served a looping cross to the far post. A well-positioned Heins won the ball and volleyed it back to a wide-open Delicâte, seven yards in front of the target. The Kickers leading scorer made no mistake about his left-footed shot from point blank range as he buried the ball into the far corner.

In a last minute effort to avoid the shutout, the Hammerheads threw everything forward and nearly spoiled the Kickers road trip when second half substitute Richard Jata got a good first touch on a well-played cross inside the box. The heavily marked midfielder cracked under pressure and pilfered his wide open shot from 12 yards, sending it skyward.

The Richmond Kickers conclude the 2011 USL PRO regular season with a pair of matches against the Los Angeles Blues on Friday, August 12 at Cal State Fullerton and on Sunday, August 14 at Norco College. Fans can stream the matches on USLLive.com.

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