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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers To Host islanders Friday, May 24

May 22, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Kickers look to continue their undefeated season on Friday, May 24 when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders at City Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and the gates open at 6:00 p.m. with live music from All In, draft beer trucks, food trucks and family zone. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

"We have dropped valuable points at home over our last three games, twice conceding leads," commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. "If we are to continue chasing the top teams in the league, then winning on Friday night is vital."

Harrisburg comes to Richmond this week for their only match up of the season at City Stadium. The two clubs met three times during the 2012 campaign with the Kickers narrowly edging the series 1-0-2. After a pair of home and away draws, Richmond took the rubber match 2-1 last August.

The Kickers enter Friday's game three days after the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round match against USASA side Icon FC. After conceding an early lead, the Kickers dispatched Icon with a 4-1 scoreline, on a Stanley Nyazamba double and a Joseph Ngwenya penalty. The Kickers moved on to the Third Round to face MLS side D.C. United at home on Tuesday, May 28.

Meanwhile, the City Islanders are coming off a Second Round game of their own against USL PDL side Reading United. Harrisburg were not so lucky, however, as Reading's Mario Pinto-Neto put in a volley to give the PDL side a 1-0 lead, marking the first time that Harrisburg has been eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup without winning a game.

Players to Watch

Kickers: After scoring the lone goal for the Kickers in a 1-1 draw against the LA Blues last Friday, midfielder Joseph Ngwenya (#27) further cemented himself as the club's leading scorer this season with six goals. The former Houston Dynamo and D.C. United man has averaged a tally every 63 minutes that he's been on the field, with a 1.2 goals per game average in league play. As one of three players to appear in every game this year, defender William Yomby (#2) anchors the Kickers defensive unit that has allowed just seven goals in the span of seven games. Defender Sascha Goerres (#23) is also another Kickers player to have made an appearance in every league game this season, posting 440 minutes over seven matches. The veteran defender has been a cornerstone of the Kickers organization since signing in 2005 and pulls double duty as both a player and an assistant coach.

City Islanders: Former West Virginia goalkeeper Nick Noble (#1) has been a stalwart for the City Islanders this season. The former Chicago Fire draft pick finished the 2012 season with a 1.273 GAA, and has only allowed six goals during the 2013 campaign. He came to the City Islanders last year from the LA Galaxy and finished the season as a nominee for USL Goalkeeper of the Year. After notching two goals and assisting a third in their game against Antigua Barracuda FC, Sainey Touray (#20) continued a remarkable season. The former New York Red Bulls forward and Gambian U-20 International has been in a scoring mood for the season. Defender Colin Zizzi (#6) is entering his sophomore season for the City Islanders, after coming on as a rookie from American University. The Carlisle, PA native registered 12 starts last year, and looks to play a more integral role in Harrisburg's fortunes this year, already notching a goal in five matches played.

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