New Conquest kicker will be second youngest ever to play in af2

April 29, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


Albany, N.Y. April 29, 2004 – Vinny Cirrincione (sere-in-see-oh-knee), just 21-years old and born March 1, 1983, will be the second youngest player to ever play in an arenafootball2 game when he kicks-off as kicker for the Albany Conquest tomorrow evening (Friday, April 30) when the team travels to meet the Manchester Wolves at 7:30 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

Cirrincione, who has been assigned to the Conquest (emergency kicker), earned his first chance to kick for a professional football team by edging out three other kickers Wednesday evening in a competition to become the Albany Conquest's new kicker following knee and shoulder injuries to Steven Green (placed on emergency hold for one week), kicker for the Conquest in their first three games of the season. The youngest player in af2 is Troy Bergeron, offensive specialist for the Columbus Wardogs, born in December of 1983.

"Vinny is an accurate kicker with a strong leg and he earned the chance to prove his abilities," said Albany Conquest Head Coach Steve Matthews. "He is a young guy with a lot of confidence and we believe he will do a great job for us," he added.

Cirrincione attributes a lot of his growth as a kicker to Green, who has been giving Cirrincione advice on his kicking for much of this season. "Steven Green has taken a lot of time before and after Conquest practices to help me fine tune some elements of my kicking and now I have been given a chance to kick professionally by Coach Matthews," added Cirrincione.

Cirrincione, who's family owns Paesan's Pizzeria, is originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., but now resides in Albany, N.Y. and has been working out with the Albany Conquest at practices for the past two years. He has had tryouts with the New York Dragons of Arena Football League and played for semi-pro football team, Kings Bay Knights. Cirrincione, like many professional kickers is a converted soccer player having played high school soccer in New York City.

Cirrincione beat out Wes Virgilio of Fort Myers, Fla., a two-year arenafootball2 veteran with the Memphis Xplorers and Greensboro Prowlers. Scott Barrick, former University of Louisville kicker from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bryan Bagtsad, who kicked for the University at Albany and is from Clifton Park, N.Y.

All Conquest games, including this Friday's game against the Manchester Wolves at 7:30 p.m., can be heard live on 104.5 The Buzz (WABT). This Friday 's game can be seen on tape delay on UPN Capital Region at Noon and 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Albany Conquest fans can purchase tickets, including a new "Pick 4 Ticket Package with Bon Jovi," at the Pepsi Arena box office, by visiting www.albanyconquest.com or by calling 518-487-2081 or 518-487-2085. In addition, individual game tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster by calling 518-476-1000.

The Pick 4 Ticket Package offers fans the ability to select four of the Conquest's remaining six home games, including the July 23rd game featuring a special one-hour performance by Bon Jovi.



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