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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Dethrone Monarchs with 2-0 Win

May 16, 2010 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


ROCKVILLE, MD - The Richmond Kickers left their mark in Maryland Sunday night, shutting out the Real Maryland Monarchs, 2-0. Midfielder Luke Vercollone notched his first goal of the season, courtesy of Edson Elcock in the 43rd minute. Elcock reversed roles in the second half, connecting with the target after a series of missed opportunities to double the score. The Kickers outshot the Monarchs 17-8 but Maryland goalkeeper Brian Levey posted nine big saves to hold the opposition at bay.

Hungry for three points, the Kickers did not waste any time with their offensive pressure. Three minutes in, they created a chance when a bad back pass from a Maryland midfielder narrowly missed a defender in a dangerous position. Kickers forward Matthew Delicate seized the opportunity and struck from 20 yards out but Levey leapt into action to ward off the attack.

Later, Delicate was in scoring position again in the 20th minute when Vercollone delivered a cross from the left side. Weaving through the Monarchs defense, Delicate drove a determined shot on goal but Levey came up big again, smothering his attempt.

Vercollone was instrumental again minutes later when Jonathan Villanueva played a short corner combination into the box from the left side. Vercollone played the ball back to midfielder Mike Burke at the top of the box but his shot shook the paint off the post as it whizzed inches past.

The pair was not to be denied in the 43rd minute when Burke split two players at midfield and fed the ball to an onrushing Elcock. The midfielder played the ball back to Vercollone, positioned at the top of the 18-yard box, who curled it around defenders and buried it into the lower right-hand corner.

The second half opened with the same intensity as the first when a couple of close calls nearly increased the scoreline. Immediately after the restart, Villanueva was played over the top by Delicate, and was left 1v1 with the last Monarchs defender. His laser strike from 14 yards was punched back into the mix by Levey. The rebound fell to Elcock, stationed four yards out but his left-footed attempt sailed wide.

After his failed chance minutes earlier, luck was on Elcock's side in the 50th minute. Burke lined up a free kick on the right flank and served it to the opposite post. A defensive mistake allowed Elcock to burst through the scene and he capitalized on the blunder by slipping the ball into the far corner.

Maryland made three substitutions and changed the lineup to aggressively play with four forwards. The change of scenery nearly paid off in the 69th minute when a wide-open Ben Hunter volleyed a bouncing ball from 20 yards out but his ill-timed attempt sailed over the sideline for a throw in.

Four minutes later, the Monarchs saw their best chance of the night stifled by Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale. Defender John Borrajo delivered a cross from the right side to the far post. Finding Nicki Paterson in the air, his nod from six yards out split the defenders and fell idly into the arms of the 'keeper.

The Kickers nearly closed with a big finish in the final few minutes of regulation when midfielder Stephen Nsereko played the ball into the box to a well-positioned Neil Barlow. The rookie midfielder took one touch and blasted a left-footed attempt directly into Levey's gloves. Then, Nsereko made an effort to score himself in stoppage time when he received the ball from Gerson dos Santos at the top of the box. Unmarked, he settled the ball and curled it to the far post but Levey made one last heroic save to deflect it from harm's way.

The Richmond Kickers return to the University of Richmond Stadium on Friday, May 21st to host the Charlotte Eagles at 7:00 p.m. The first 100 fans through the gate will receive a seat cushion, courtesy of Ukrop's Homestyle Foods. Order tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com and save big on admission.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 16, 2010


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