Richmond, VA – (Thursday, April 17, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the addition of forward Pat Viray out of Virginia Commonwealth University and welcome back midfielder Ralph Pace for his sophomore season in 2008, pending USSF approval.  Specific details of the contracts were not disclosed. 

“Ralph was our most improved player last season and we are looking for him to continue that progression by competing for a starting position in the center of midfield,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach.  “Pat will be another attacking option for our three pronged attack. He has great pace, can play both central and wide and, most importantly, an uncanny knack of scoring important goals.”

Viray signs on with the Kickers professional team upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, where he tallied 15 goals and eight assists over four seasons at VCU.  The 5’11” native of Reston, Virginia finished third on the team his senior year with six goals and five assists for 17 points, earning seven starts in 20 appearances, after leading the Rams with six goals and 12 points his sophomore year.  As a senior at South Lakes High School, Viray was named First Team All-District. 

The first Kickers youth player to be signed to a Kickers professional contract, Pace joined the team mid-season out of the University of South Carolina. Pace was a member of the 2001 Kickers Super Y-League team and participated in numerous Kickers academies and clinics.  As a rookie, he made four starts in seven appearances and recorded an assist during his first professional start on July 6th in New Hampshire.

At the University of South Carolina, Pace was an All-Conference Second Team selection in 2006, notching one goal and three assists for five points his senior season.  Joining the Gamecocks program in 2005 after spending two seasons at UMass, Pace started all 21 matches his junior year.  In two seasons at UMass, the 6’2” defender tallied four goals and eight assists for 16 points, finishing his sophomore season third on the team in scoring (3g, 4a, 10p). 

#16 Pat Viray        Forward             Ht: 5’11”          Wt: 170            Hometown: Reston, VA
College Statistics
Club                                                            Year     GP    GS     G     A     Pts
Virginia Commonwealth University      2004     9       0       0     1       1
Virginia Commonwealth University      2005    18     13     6      0      12
Virginia Commonwealth University      2006     17     11    3      2      8
Virginia Commonwealth University      2007     20      7      6      5    17
Totals                                                                        64     31   15     8     38

#2 Ralph Pace     Midfielder           Ht: 6’2”           Wt: 170            Hometown: Boston, VA
Professional Statistics
Club                                 Year         GP       GS       Min       G     A    Pts
Richmond Kickers       2007          9          4          348      0     1     1