USL Richmond Kickers

Richmond Kickers Future Open Season Saturday

Published on May 7, 2008 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


Richmond, VA - (Wednesday, May 7, 2008) - The Richmond Kickers Future open their seventh season this Saturday, May 10th, hosting the Rhode Island Stingrays at 7:00 pm at Sports Backers Stadium. Saturday's contest marks the first time these two teams have met in franchise history.

Rhode Island is in the New England division of the Eastern Conference and are one of four out-of-division teams that the Future are slated to meet this season. Under the guidance of new head coach, Kyle Lessig, the Future's remaining fixtures are Mid-Atlantic Division foes. Last season, the Stingrays finished with a record of 4-11-1 and 13 points while the Future finished mid-table with a record of 5-7-4 and 19 points.

"I'm excited about our first game, as well as the entire 2008 PDL season," comments Lessig. "We have assembled a quality group of local collegiate players and experienced veterans with a desire to get to the next level. I look forward to building the team, in training, that will play attractive attacking soccer while remaining tactically disciplined defensively."

After Saturday's match, the Stingrays travel to Fredericksburg, concluding the weekend against the Gunners on Sunday before returning to Rhode Island for their home opener on Saturday, May 17th. Meanwhile, the Future host Fredericksburg on Sunday, May 18th, as the first leg of a doubleheader with the Richmond Kickers Destiny (W-League), before a back-to-back road stretch against Newark and Ocean City later that week.

In six seasons in the Premier Development League (PDL), the Richmond Kickers Future have compiled an overall record of 57-38-14. The PDL is a blend of recent and current college stars, elite high school players, and savvy veterans producing an environment ideal for development, while allowing players to maintain their collegiate eligibility. The PDL is the highest level of amateur soccer in North America and is considered the first step to the professional ranks. Last year, 63 PDL players were selected in the Major League Soccer Draft including three from the Kickers Future.

Playoffs

In the PDL Eastern Conference, the three division champions and the top-seeded second-place club (wild card) advance to the conference championship tournament, to be held July 25th-27th. The number one seed will play the lowest seeded non-divisional opponent in the conference tournament semifinals. The winner of the conference championship advances to the PDL Semifinals, August 1st-2nd. The PDL Championship will be determined Saturday, August 9th. All playoff hosts are determined via a bid process.

About New Head Coach Kyle Lessig

A native of New London, Connecticut, Kyle Lessig brings six years of professional playing experience to the Kickers Future after stints with the Connecticut Wolves (USL-1), New Jersey Stallions (USL-2), Municipal de Goicoichea Costa Rica (First Division) and Philadelphia Freedom (USISL Indoor). Presently, Lessig coaches two teams with the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, U-17 Boys Elite and U-12 Boys South, and has gained extensive youth coaching experience with several area youth soccer clubs. Additionally, he is the former Connecticut College men's soccer assistant coach and holds a USSF "B" License and has experience with the USSF Youth National Team Pool. Last season, he acted as the head coach of the Richmond Rowdies, an indoor team in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL), of which the Richmond Kickers will be absorbing the operations for the 2008/2009 season.

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