Kickers Host 2005 USL Season Opener This Saturday
Published on April 11, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Richmond Kickers News Release
RICHMOND, VA â (Monday, April 11, 2005) â The Richmond Kickers will open the 2005 USL regular season against Southern rivals Atlanta Silverbacks this Saturday, April 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. The first 1,000 fans will receive a 2005 Richmond Kickers schedule magnet and all Pro Pass holders will receive a special gift.
The Kickers will compete in a 28-game primarily balanced schedule with 14 games home and 14 on the road beginning this Saturday and extending to the beginning of September. Prior to the 2005 season, the USL announced the restructuring of the two professional leagues, formerly the A-League and Pro Soccer League, to form a new two-tiered professional division, now referred to as the USL First Division and the USL Second Division. The First Division has adopted a single table of 12 teams and the Kickers will compete alongside the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, Portland Timbers, Puerto Rico Islanders, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Seattle Sounders, Toronto Lynx, Vancouver Whitecaps and Virginia Beach Mariners. The regular season champion will be awarded the Commissioner's Cup, which was utilized by the American Professional Soccer league prior to the league's merger with USL before the 1997 season.
Richmond vs. Atlanta
The Silverbacks finished the 2004 season in fifth place with a record of 14-11-3, in their rookie campaign under head coach David Vaudreuil, three spots below the second-place Kickers who concluded 2004 with a 17-8-3 record. Last season, Richmond and Atlanta exchanged two wins and two losses, one of each home and away. The Kickers last faced the Silverbacks on August 12, 2004 where they came away with a 2-1 overtime victory. Overall, the Kickers hold an all-time series record of 19-4-1 over the Silverbacks.
"With the recent changes to the league [single table & no overtime], each and every game will be a battle this season," comments Richmond Kickers General Manager Paul Sterbenz, "We have the majority of last year's playoff team back and the addition of some new personalities, and I am excited and eager in anticipation of what the 2005 season will bring to our faithful."
Players to Watch
Kickers: The 2004 A-League Rookie of the Year Finalist and Kickers leading scorer (12 g, 4 a, 28 points) forward McColm Cephas (#8) returns for his second season. Joining Cephas in front are fellow former VCU standouts, Kickers veteran Kevin Jeffrey (#10) and Matthew Delicâte (#7). Both Jeffrey and Delicâte finished the 2004 season with 20 points each, tied for Kickers second leading scorers. Entering his fourth season with the Kickers, Ronnie Pascale (#22) will protect the nets again this year after finishing the 2004 season with a .94 goals against average, allowing just 33 goals during the season. 2004 USL First Division Defender of the Year Finalist and All-League First Team selection Peter Luzak (#25) rejoins forces with Kevin Knight (#3), and Chris Fox (#5), in what proved to be one of the top defensive units in the USL First Division in 2004. Tied for third in goals against, this solid back line contributed to nine shutouts last season. Off season acquisitions to watch include midfielder Chris Carrieri (#9), the first overall draft selection in the 2001 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft, who joins the Kickers after a three-year career with the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and a one-year stint with the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL First Division). Also, the addition of forward Robert Ssejjemba (#14) will add attacking strength to the field, joining the Kickers upon completion of a stellar collegiate career at Virginia Intermont College.
Silverbacks: Joining the Silverbacks this season is former Kickers midfielder David Hayes (#5) who finished the 2004 season tied for third in scoring (4 g, 5 a). Other new Silverbacks additions are Machel Millwood (#23), the 2004 Syracuse second-leading scorer with six goals and four assists for 16 points and Kris Stone (#27) from Jamaica. Atlanta forward Mac Cozier (#28) returns after leading the Silverbacks in 2004 and finishing sixth in the league in scoring with 12 goals and three assists for 27 points. Returning in goal for the Silverbacks is 6'3" goalkeeper Joe Barton (#1) who concluded the 2004 season with a 1.25 goals against average, good for 10th in the league.
Pro Pass Kickoff
The Kickers season opener will also serve as the 2005 "Pro Pass Kickoff." Available to all youth ages 17 and under, the Richmond Kickers Pro Pass offers admission to all regular season professional games as well as all regular season Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League) and Richmond Kickers Future (PDL) games. The Kickers have sold over 4,000 Pro Passes so far this season and all current Pro Pass holders* will receive a special gift at the gate (while supplies last) from the Kickers on Saturday, April 16th. To order your 2005 Pro Pass, please call (804) 644-KICK.
Also New In The USL This Season...
With 12 teams in 2005, there will be a six-team playoff format with the top two overall seeds receiving Round One byes. All playoffs will be two-legged aggregate score series with the exception of the USL First Division Championship with the Host determined on a bid basis to be played on Saturday, October 1st.
Additionally, the USL will see the elimination of overtime in all regular season matches, per FIFA guidelines. During playoffs, two 15-minute overtime periods will be played as a tiebreaker when the aggregate score series is tied.
USL First Division Stories from April 11, 2005
- Kickers Host 2005 USL Season Opener This Saturday - Richmond Kickers
- Rhinos continue preseason schedule - Rochester Rhinos
- Lynx and Rogers Television Announce 2005 Broadcast Schedule - Toronto Lynx
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
