Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com
Friday, June 17, 2011
RICHMOND, Va. – Despite facing a formidable opponent in the Harrisburg City Islanders, the Richmond Kickers had to deal with an even greater enemy in their 1-0 loss Friday night — the goal frame. 
The Kickers were denied by the woodwork on three occasions in an enthralling match that could have seen either team earn the three points. The first half was played at break-neck pace, with both sides creating numerous scoring opportunities. But it was Harrisburg's Jason Hotchkin that had the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time to give the City Islanders their first road victory of the USL PRO season.
Richmond’s best scoring opportunity came in the 21st minute, when Nozomi Hiroyama collected a through ball just inside the Harrisburg penalty area, rounded goalkeeper Chase Harrison and set himself to shoot on the empty net. Harrisburg’s defense was alert to the danger though, and put just enough pressure on the midfielder to force his shot onto the post and out to safety.
Kickers defender Sascha Görres nearly broke the deadlock three minutes later following a set piece, but his shot cannoned off the crossbar and into touch for a Harrisburg goal kick. Veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was called on to make a point-blank save to deny the City Islanders an opener following a corner kick in the 28th minute. Harrison denied Edson Elcock a potential goal-of-the-season effort in the 31st minute after the Richmond striker juggled over an Islanders defender and turned to shoot.
Possession switched between the two teams as attack after attack developed and fizzled out, but Harrisburg finally made the breakthrough in first half stoppage time when Jose Angulo launched a cross-field ball to Hotchkin, who just beat the offside trap. Hotchkin closed in on Pascale one-on-one and poked a shot beyond the keeper and into the side netting in the final act of the half.
Richmond introduced Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup heroes David Bulow, Stanley Nyazamba and Shaka Bangura in the second half as they pressed for an equalizer. The trio nearly combined for a late equalizer after Bangura was fouled just outside the box in the 90th minute, but Bulow’s header from Nyazamba’s cross found the crossbar yet again.
“We need to make sure we’re getting points on the road," Harrisburg coach Bill Becher said. "We’ve done well at home, but we hadn’t been able to win on the road yet, so this was huge for us.”
The Kickers will return to action at City Stadium on Tuesday at 7 p.m., as they face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. For more information, visit www.richmondkickers.com.