Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com
Thursday, April 21, 2011
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers conclude their four-game home stand to open the USL PRO season this Saturday, April 23 with a USL Second Division Championship rematch when they host the defending champions Charleston Battery at 5 p.m. at City Stadium. The two clubs meet for the first time since the Battery edged the Kickers, 2-1, in last year’s title match in Charleston. Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.
“Kickers versus Battery games are always intense affairs,” said Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer. “This one should prove to be even better as both hold 100 percent records and the game is a rematch of last season’s USL Championship. Charleston, for my money, were the best team outside of MLS last season and with many of their players returning we understand the challenge we face.”
Prior to last year’s Championship, the Kickers and the Battery had met 40 times since the club’s inception in 1993, with the all-time series deadlocked at 18-18-4, including a 2-2 split during the 2010 regular season. Both teams were successful on their home turf with the Kickers defeating the Battery 3-1 at City Stadium in June before suffering their worst loss of the season at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston one week later. The pair exchanged home-and-home victories again in July before the Battery stripped Richmond of the USL PRO crown on August 28. The heated rivalry continues in 2011 for the long-time rivals, as the clubs battle in the newly formed USL PRO American Division.
Both the Kickers and the Battery have opened the 2011 season with success, coming off a pair of wins last weekend. Richmond’s prolific goal-scorer Matthew Delicâte tallied his third goal in as many games, his 50th with the Kickers, to boost the home side to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos. Meanwhile, under the guidance of 2010 USL Coach of the Year, Mike Anhaeuser, Charleston left their mark in Dayton with a tightly-contested 2-1 battle against the expansion Dayton Dutch Lions.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Yomby William earned USL PRO Team of the Week honors for the second time this season after securing the Kickers back line in the 1-0 shutout against Rochester. The menacing defender stifled the Rhinos attack, holding the rivals to just four shots on goal. Newcomer Mike Callahan continues to anchor the midfield after earning Union First Market Bank Man of the Match honors following last week’s victory. The UNC-Chapel Hill graduate garnered USL PRO Player of the Week honors after his first appearance with the club, joining the roster days before the Kickers home opener. Veteran netminder Ronnie Pascale posted his second shutout of the season against Rochester last week, thanks to three acrobatic saves to preserve the clean sheet. In his 12th season with the Kickers, Pascale looks to improve upon last season’s league-best 0.882 goals against average in 2011.
Battery: Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra is no stranger to the Richmond scene, having made 49 appearances with the USL Premier Development League’s Richmond Kickers Future during his collegiate career at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Woodbridge, Va. native signed with the Battery this season following two seasons with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Veteran defender John Wilson reversed his retirement decision after leading the Battery to their USL Championship last season. He resides in third place on the Battery’s all-time list with 181 games played, recording over 16,000 minutes in a Battery uniform. Newcomer Nicki Paterson joins the Battery roster in 2011 after one-year stints with the Harrisburg City Islanders and Real Maryland Monarchs. Making an immediate impact with his new club, the Scottish midfielder notched the Battery’s first goal of the night against Dayton last week.
Special Guests
Saturday is Richmond International Raceway Night with the Richmond Kickers. The official Pace Car will be on display and fans will have the chance to win tickets and Green Flag Zone passes to the Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on April 30.
Tickets
General admission tickets for regular season home games are $12/adults and $7/youth ages 3-17 for the fifth consecutive season. Avoid lines at the gate and click and print your tickets in advance via RichmondKickers.com. Alleviate the hassle of individual tickets and enjoy all of the Kickers Pro regular season home games for the best possible pricing with a 2011 Family Pass ($119), All-Access Pass ($90) or Adult Pro Pass ($55).