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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Host Wilmington Saturday

June 12, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Thursday, June 12, 2014) - The Richmond Kickers (7-1-5, 26 points) return to City Stadium this Saturday, June 14 to host the Wilmington Hammerheads (5-1-3, 18 points) at 7:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with live music from Common Wealth, food trucks and draft beer trucks, featuring the Kickers official craft beer, Kick It Hunny. Additionally, the Kickers' fourth annual Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award will be presented to a youth soccer player during halftime and tickets are just $7.00, in memory of Avery's #7 jersey, in advance at RichmondKickers.com.

The Kickers and the Hammerheads meet at City Stadium for the first time in just over a year, having last battled to a 1-1 draw in Richmond on June 8, 2013. Earlier that season, the Kickers edged the Hammerheads 2-0 at Legion Stadium to avenge a dramatic 3-2 loss in the 2012 USL PRO Quarterfinals, bringing the club's all-time series record advantage to 11-6-6 over their long-time rivals.

The Kickers enter Saturday's match following a 1-0 win over the Harrisburg City Islanders last weekend. Kickers all-time leading scorer Matthew Delicate notched his seventh goal of the season while goalkeeper Joe Willis posted his league-leading fifth shutout to extend the Kickers unbeaten streak to 12 games overall.

Meanwhile, the Hammerheads are undefeated in six USL PRO games and head to City Stadium on the heels of a 2-2 draw against the expansion OKC Energy FC last week. The back-and-forth affair kicked off with a Samuel Ochoa goal just before halftime but the Hammerheads conceded the lead just after the break. A second half goal by defender Tom Parratt gave Wilmington another short-lived advantage before OKC rallied for a late equalizer.

Following's Saturday's game, the two clubs conclude the three-game series with a pair of games in Wilmington on June 28 and August 1.

Players to Watch

Kickers: Veteran defender Sascha Gorres (#23) earned Team of the Week honors after his perfectly placed cross led to the game-winning goal against Harrisburg last week while also contributing to the club's fifth shutout on the season. In his 10th season with the Kickers, the player/assistant coach holds the club record for most consecutive games played, appearing in 107 successive matches. Prolific goal-scorer George Davis IV (#11) leads the team and ranks third in the league with seven goals and two assists in his first season in Richmond. Forward Matthew Delicate (#7) notched his second goal in as many games with the game-winner against Harrisburg last week. He is now tied with Davis IV for team lead in goals, and the 14 goals between the two make them the highest scoring duo in the league.

Hammerheads: The Hammerheads are led by the strike force of Samuel Ochoa (#9) and Steven Miller (#12) who have a combined seven goals this season. Ochoa, who is in his first year with the club, is a former member of the United States U23 National Team and the Seattle Sounders. Miller is also in his first year at the club after spending a year overseas with Jammerbgt FC of the Danish second division. On loan from the club's official MLS affiliate, Toronto FC, goalkeeper Quillan Roberts made an appearance for the Canada U17 national team at the 2011 U17 World Cup, and has posted three shutouts on the season in Wilmington.

Must See Games at City Stadium

The Richmond Kickers kick off a three-game Must See Games Series beginning with a U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round match-up against Major League Soccer's New England Revolution on Wednesday, June 18. Later, the Kickers return to City Stadium to host the Mexican Olympic Team on Tuesday, July 1 before rounding out the summer exhibition schedule with an historic international friendly against Crystal Palace from the world famous Barclay's Premier League on Monday, July 28. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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