USL Richmond Kickers

USL names five Kickers to All-League teams

Published on August 16, 2006 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Richmond Kickers News Release


RICHMOND, VA - (Wednesday, August 16, 2006) - USL2 regular season champion Richmond Kickers saw four players named to the All-League First Team with a fifth player named to the All-League Second Team. Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale, midfielders Sascha Gorres and Mike Burke and forward Robert Ssejjemba garnered All-League First Team honors will midfielder Chris Carrieri was an All-League Second Team selection.

Pascale took the Goalkeeper of the Year honor with a league-low goals against average of 0.99 for the 2006 season. He also led the USL Second Division this season in wins with a 13-3-3 record. He was second in shutouts with six on the year, two behind Cincinnati's Jordan James. Pascale gave way to backup Steve Ankiel late in three matches in which the club finished with a clean sheet. A member of the Kickers since 2000 and starter since 2002, Pascale has been one of the top netminders in the league, finishing between fifth and seventh in the USL First Division GAA table over the last four years and playing in every game the last two.

In his seventh season with Richmond, Burke finished second in the league in scoring behind teammate Robert Ssejjemba with 23 points on nine goals and five assists. He played in 19 games on the season while helping lead the Kickers to the regular season title.

A second-year pro, Gorres proved an important part of the Kickers midfield en route to the regular season title, registering four goals and three assists in 17 games. The lesser-known midfielder only missed one regular season game last year as he helped lead the side to the playoffs and the USL-1 Final, where he scored the Kickers lone goal of the match in a 1-1 draw that saw them fall in penalties.

In his second year with the club, Ssejjemba captured the league Goal Scoring Championship with 17, seven more than Wilmington's Chris Bagley and New Hampshire's Almir Barbosa. With four assists, his point total of 38 was 15 clear of teammate Mike Burke for the league Scoring Championship as well.

Leading the league with nine assists, Carrieri finished third on the team in scoring with five goals for 19 points in 19 games played. The 2000 ACC Player of the Year joined the Kickers prior to the 2005 season after spending the prior year with the Rochester Raging Rhinos (USL1). Drafted first overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, Carrieri spent three seasons in Major League Soccer (San Jose, Colorado).

All-League First Team:

G - Ronnie Pascale - Richmond Kickers

D - Marc Hubbard - New Hampshire Phantoms

D - Derek Smith - Cincinnati Kings

D - Gary Sullivan - Long Island Rough Riders

M - Mike Burke - Richmond Kickers

M - Sascha Gorres - Richmond Kickers

M - Everson Maciel - Western Mass Pioneeers

M - Dustin Swinehart - Charlotte Eagles

F- Chris Bagley - Wilmington Hammerheads

F- Almir Barbosa - New Hampshire Phantoms

F - Robert Ssejjemba - Richmond Kickers

All-League Second Team:

G - Jordan James - Cincinnati Kings

D - Cody Bragg - Pittsburgh Riverhounds

D - Kevin Nylen - Wilmington Hammerheads

D - Josh Rife - Charlotte Eagles

M - Josh Barton - Cincinnati Kings

M - Chris Carrieri - Richmond Kickers

M - George Corrie - Wilmington Hammerheads

M - Greg Schroeder - Charlotte Eagles

F - Jacob Coggins - Charlotte Eagles

F - David Flavius - Pittsburgh Riverhounds

F - Omar McFarlane - Western Mass Pioneers

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 16, 2006


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