USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Head to Wilmington Wednesday

Published on August 9, 2011 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


Richmond, VA - (Tuesday, August 9, 2011) - The Richmond Kickers embark on a three-games-in-five-days road stand this week to conclude the 2011 USL PRO regular season. First, they will face the Wilmington Hammerheads on Wednesday, August 10 on USLLive.com from Legion Stadium at 7:30 PM before heading west to take on the Los Angeles Blues on Friday, August 12 and Sunday, August 14.

With a rivalry dating back to the 2006 season, the Kickers hold an all-time record of 8-3-3 over the Hammerheads. The two clubs face off the second time in 2011, having most recently met on May 7 at Richmond City Stadium when the Kickers narrowly edged their division foes 2-1. After conceding a goal in the 3rd minute, the Hammerheads staunch defense held onto the advantage until Kickers midfielder Gerson dos Santos unleashed an unstoppable low drive past goalkeeper Brock Duckworth to tie the score at one apiece in the 65th minute. With the momentum shifting in favor of the home side, it was the Kickers inexhaustible goal-scorer, Matthew Delicâte, who pulled through with an 80th minute game-winner.

Last weekend, the Kickers punched their ticket to the postseason in the tightly contested American Division with a 3-0 win over the Dayton Dutch Lions. Defender William Yomby notched the eventual game-winner in the 24th minute and Delicâte added a pair of insurance goals in the 30th and 54th minutes to secure the victory for the home side. Meanwhile, the Hammerheads bolstered their spot in the playoffs when they handed the LA Blues a 2-1 decision last Friday. Midfielders Manny Guzman and Luke Mulholland teamed up to give the Hammerheads the lead in the 31st minute. Conceding a second half equalizer, the Hammerheads rallied to re-claim the advantage with a 77th minute Andriy Budnyy tally.

Six points behind second-place Wilmington (13-6-3, 42 points), the Kickers currently reside in third place in the American Division with an 11-7-3 record and 36 points. Just four points separate the third, fourth and fifth place teams with the Charlotte Eagles (9-7-6, 33 points) and the Charleston Battery (9-9-5, 32 points) in hot pursuit of the fourth and final playoff berth.

The Kickers and the Hammerheads are familiar with a photo-finish standings race as both teams concluded the 2009 regular season with 39 points, but Wilmington took the tiebreaker for the regular season championship based on total wins in league games that season. The Hammerheads took a one-year hiatus from professional soccer in 2010 before picking up where they left off in 2011.

USL PRO Playoffs

The 2011 USL PRO playoffs will see eight teams advance following the conclusion of the regular season. The top four teams each from the American Division and National Division will advance to four single-game Division Semifinals taking place Friday-Sunday, August 19-21. The single-game Division Finals will be played a week later, with the 2011 USL PRO Championship, hosted by the highest remaining seed, to be played Saturday, September 3. One Division Semifinal, a Division Final and the USL PRO championship game will be televised nationally on FOX Soccer.

A full-service soccer club with over 8,000 players competing in youth, adult, amateur and professional programs, the Richmond Kickers pyramid structure serves as a model to soccer clubs across the country. For more information, visit RichmondKIckers.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 9, 2011


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