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USL Richmond Kickers

Kickers Travel to Baltimore Saturday

July 15, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


Richmond, VA - (Wednesday, July 15, 2009) - The Richmond Kickers head on the road this weekend, traveling to take on Crystal Palace Baltimore on Saturday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m. at UMBC Stadium. The Kickers return to the University of Richmond Stadium one week later to host the Champions of Guatemala, CSD Comunicaciones on Saturday, July 25th at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now via RichmondKickers.com.

The Kickers meet Baltimore for the second time this year after battling to a 1-1 tie in Richmond on May 23rd. Last time out, Baltimore took the lead in the 30th minute when midfielder Val Teixiera connected on a cross from Paul Robson. Within seconds after the break, the Kickers leveled the score when a scramble in the box left midfielder Adrian Bumbut in front of an open net 10 yards out.

The two teams split the series 1-1 last season. The Kickers avenged a 2-0 loss early in the 2008 campaign with a 5-0 win to close the regular season. Kickers midfielder David Bulow tallied a pair of goals while Mike Burke and Bumbut each added to the scoreline. Overall, Richmond holds a 2-1-2 record against Baltimore.

Most recently, the Kickers leapfrogged into first place in the standings after handing a 7-2 decision to the Bermuda Hogges last weekend. Bulow added his eighth and ninth goals of the season on either side of a Matthew Delicate tally with Mike Burke and Ben Hunter each notching goals before the end of the first half. Midfielder Chris Carrieri added a sixth goal after the restart and Delicate rounded out the scoreline with a second tally at the end of regulation. The Kickers bring a 7-2-5 record and 26 points into this weekend's match-up.

Meanwhile Palace rekindled their playoff hopes with a strong performance against table-topping Harrisburg at UMBC Stadium last weekend. Dan Lader tallied twice for Baltimore while goalkeeper Brian Rowland and the back line held strong for their first shutout in seven league games. Baltimore currently resides in fifth place in the standings, on the cusp of playoff contention with a 6-7-3 record and 21 points.

Both Burke and Delicate earned USL-2 Team of the Week honors for their offensive efforts against Bermuda while Baltimore placed four this week following last weekend's win. Joining Rowland and Lader, defender Shintaro Harada and midfielder Paul Robson were also honored.

USL Second Division Playoffs

The playoffs will feature the top five teams in the regular season standings. The fourth and fifth seeds will square off in a midweek First Round encounter August 19 for a spot in the Semifinals. The winner of the match will face off against the regular season champion while the second and third seeds meet in the other semifinal the weekend of August 21-22. The USL Second Division Championship will be played August 29 and will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel. All matches will be hosted by the higher seed, excluding the final, which is determined via bid.

Last season, Palace finished in fourth place in the standings last season with an 11-8-1 record and 34 points. Advancing to the USL-2 semifinals, Baltimore snuck by the defending Champion Harrisburg in the first round after battling to a 2-2 draw and eight rounds of penalties. Narrowly missing a berth to the title match, Baltimore was eliminated from postseason play by the then top-seeded Charlotte, 2-1. The Kickers nearly claimed the Regular Season title last season, finishing with a first-place tie with the Charlotte Eagles at 44 points each but conceding the title based on tiebreakers. Receiving a bye to the semifinals, the Kickers were ousted from the playoffs by the eventual USL-2 Champions Cleveland City Stars in overtime by a 2-1 scoreline.

Kickers Return Home Next Week For Historic International Exhibition

The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones, Champions of the Guatemalan First Division, Liga Nacional, in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, July 25th. The 2008/2009 champions will take on the Richmond Kickers in a historic international exhibition at the University of Richmond Stadium at 7:00 p.m. The match marks the first time in history the Guatemalan First Division team will play in Richmond. General admission tickets are $20 and are on sale now via RichmondKickers.com. Click HERE to order tickets in advance.

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