GAME SUMMARY

Saturday, July 22, 2009              Legion Sports Complex
Wilmington Hammerheads   3 (Franks 59’, Hufstader 67’, Budnyy 75’)
Richmond Kickers                 2 (Delicâte 72’, Burke 87’) 
    
WILMINGTON, NC – The Richmond Kickers conceded three second half goals, suffering their first defeat in the last seven matches with a 3-2 loss to the Wilmington Hammerheads Wednesday night.  Following a scoreless first half, Wilmington broke the ice in the 59th minute on a Jamie Franks tally.  Philip Hufstader doubled the score eight minutes later with Kickers forward Matthew Delicâte notching his 11th goal of the season to cut the deficit in the 72nd minute.  Wilmington reclaimed the two-goal advantage three minutes later when Andriy Budnyy connected on a Kenneth Bundy cross.  Veteran Mike Burke notched a second Kickers tally with three minutes remaining in regulation with Adrian Bumbut just missing the equalizer during stoppage time.  The Kickers host the Champions of Guatemala, C.S.D. Comunicaciones this Saturday, July 25th and return to regular season action one week later to host the Real Maryland Monarchs on August 1st.

A defensive first half led to few chances on either side of the field.  The Kickers were able to cut through the Wilmington defense in the 31st minute when defender Kenny Cutler delivered a cross into the box from the right side.  Delicâte, stationed eight yards out, won the ball in the air but his header just missed the far post.

With just two minutes remaining in the first half and little offensive pressure from the Hammerheads, the Kickers narrowly missed a second good chance to get on the scoreboard.  Burke received the ball on the left side, dribbled into the box and fired a shot to the far post that glanced inches over the woodwork.

Wilmington’s first good shot of the night gave way to their first goal in the 59th minute.  A Hammerheads player attempted a long-range shot that was deflected to midfielder Mark Briggs.  Briggs played the ball to Franks stationed 22 yards out, who unleashed a curling strike to the upper 90. 

The Hammerheads doubled their lead in the 67th minute when they hustled on a quick free kick on the right flank.  Defender Jeritt Thayer got in behind the defense and crossed the ball to a wide-open Hufstader eight yards out and the forward one-timed it into the back of the net. 

The Kickers cut the deficit in the 72nd minute when midfielder Ben Hunter played the ball to an onrushing Kenny Cutler on the right wing.  The former Real Salt Lake defender crossed the ball into the box, finding Delicâte in the air 11 yards out, who nodded home his 11th goal of the season.

Three minutes later, the Hammerheads reclaimed their two-goal advantage when Bundy capitalized on a nice combination on the right side.  Cutting inside, he played the ball back to Budnyy who took a shot from 16 yards.  Despite a slight deflection, his strike slotted just inside the far post.

Later, the Kickers rallied back, adding their second tally of the night with just three minutes remaining in regulation.  Defender Sascha Görres played a corner to Burke, positioned at the top of the box.  Burke lined up a shot with his right foot that was cleared out by the Wilmington defense.  The rebound fell directly to Burke, who this time fired a left-footed strike, that cut through the defenders and slipped into the goal.

In a last minute effort to level the score, a good combination between midfielder Chris Carrieri and Delicâte fed Adrian Bumbut through on goal.  Bumbut fired from 10 yards out but goalkeeper Kyle Polak charged off his line to save the bouncing ball.

The Richmond Kickers return to the University of Richmond Stadium to host Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones, Champions of the Guatemalan First Division, Liga Nacional, on Saturday, July 25th.  The match marks the first time in history the Guatemalan First Division team will play in Richmond.  The 2008/2009 champions will take on the Kickers in a historic international exhibition at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are on sale now via RichmondKickers.com. 

Box Score      First Half     Second Half        Final
Wilmington           0                    3                     3
Richmond              0                    2                     2 

Scoring Summary
59th minute: Jamie Franks (Mark Briggs)
67th minute: Philip Hufstader (Jeritt Thayer)
72nd minute: Matthew Delicâte (Kenny Cutler)
75th minute: Andriy Budnyy (Kenneth Bundy)
87th minute: Mike Burke

Lineups
Hammerheads: GK Kyle Polak, Patrick Tate (Jerit Thayer – 33’), Colin Falvey, Tweetie Walters, Graham Tatters, Chris Murray (Andriy Budnyy – 70’), Mark Briggs, Zeke Dombrowski, Jamie Franks, Kenny Bundy (Steven Curfman – 82’), Phil Hofstrader (Ryan Solle – 78’)
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, Henry Kalungi, Yomby William, Sascha Görres, Kenny Cutler, Luke Vercollone (Kelvin Jones – 70’), Gerson dos Santos (Ben Hunter – 70’), David Bulow (Adrian Bumbut – 70’), Joey Worthen (Chris Carrieri – 58’), Mike Burke, Matthew Delicâte

Shots                       Saves                       Fouls                         Corners
Kickers:             4     Kickers:              0    Kickers:               6     Kickers:               3 
Hammerheads: 4     Hammerheads:   3    Hammerheads:   5     Hammerheads:   3

Cautions:
23rd minute: Patrick Tate (Wilmington)
36th minute: David Bulow (Richmond)

Ejections:
None.

Referee:    Abbas Piran
Assistant Referees:   Larry Stroud, Jeremy Smith
Fourth Official:    Tacettin Canel
Attendance:    1,976
Weather:    Clear