USL Feature
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Richmond Kickers
Head Coach: Leigh Cowlishaw
2010 Season: Runner-Up, USL-2
The Lowdown – After coming close to a championship a season ago, the Kickers have bolstered their squad for a potential run to the playoffs again this season. An opening four-game home stand to start the season could help the Kickers get off to a flying start, but we’ll find out a lot about the team’s title credentials as Orlando City, Rochester and Charleston all come to visit in that span.
Key losses – Looking down the Kickers’ roster, it doesn’t appear that the side has lost much in the way of quality during the offseason. In fact, it appears the entire lineup that started the 2010 USL-2 championship game will return for the side this season, giving the club a very good starting point for the new season.
Key returnees – The foundation of the Kickers’ success in 2010 was its defense and the club returns its entire back four, including USL-2 All-League selection Yomby William, and goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale.
“The group as a whole defended very well last season and with only two weeks to prepare for our first game it will be very helpful to work with players who understand our system and who we are very familiar with,” Coach Leigh Cowlishaw said.
Key additions – The Kickers were eager to bolster their attacking options for the new season to provide help for Matt Delicate and Edson Elcock, and with the return of midfielders Stanley Nyazamba, David Bulow and Nozomi Hiroyama to the squad, Cowlishaw is pleased with the options he now has at his disposal. Former Japanese international Hiroyama in particular could be one to watch as he brings a vast experience from playing the game on three different continents.
The Coach’s Opinion – “Our expectations are same as they have always been. We strive to field a team that will compete successfully with any team in the country.” – Cowlishaw
If it all goes to plan – The Kickers came very close to winning back-to-back championships a season ago, but will be tested by a strong American Division. With the way the team played last season, especially at home, the opportunity to win a fourth USL championship might be within the team’s grasp.