RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, September 15, 2005) – The Richmond Kickers enter the First Round of the 2005 playoffs, hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps this Friday, September 16, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium in the first leg of the home-and-away aggregate score playoff series.  The Kickers will then travel west to finish the series in Vancouver two days later. 

 

Playoff Structure
After concluding the regular season with a 3-0 loss to the Portland Timbers last weekend, the Kickers have finished the 2005 campaign in sixth place in the USL First Division Standings.  Regular season champion Montreal and Rochester clinched the top two playoff spots (#1 and #2 respectively) and will receive Round One byes.  Vancouver holds onto the third position while Seattle follows one point behind, seeded fourth and will face fifth-seed Portland in Round One action.  The winners of Round One will advance to face Montreal and Rochester in Round Two the weekend of September 23-25th.       

 

All playoff rounds will be two-legged aggregate score series with the exception of the USL First Division Championship with the Host determined on a bid basis to be played on Saturday, October 1st.  The winner of the series will be determined by the following criteria (in order): 1. Aggregate score (after two ninety-minute matches); 2. 2x15-minute overtime periods* will be played (only if aggregate score tied after the 2nd ninety-minute match); 3. FIFA penalty kicks.

 

 

Round One
3-Vancouver Whitecaps vs. 6-Richmond Kickers
Leg 1: 9/16 @ Richmond 7:00 p.m.
Leg 2: 9/18 @ Vancouver 10:00 p.m.

 

4-Seattle Sounders vs. 5-Portland Timbers
Leg 1: 9/16 @ Portland 10:00 p.m.
Leg 2: 9/18 @ Seattle 10:00 p.m.  – LIVE on Fox Soccer Channel

 

USL First Division Semi-Finals
1-Montreal Impact vs. #4/#5 Winner
Leg 1: 9/23 @ Portland/Seattle 10:00 p.m.
Leg 2: 9/25 @ Montreal 4:00 p.m.

 

2-Rochester Raging Rhinos vs. #3/#6 Winner
Leg 1: 9/23 @ Richmond/Vancouver 7:00 p.m./10:00 p.m.
Leg 2: 9/25 @ Rochester 7:00 p.m.

 

USL First Division Championship
Saturday, October 1st

USL All-League Second Team Honors
The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce that defender Peter Luzak (#25) has been selected to the USL All-League Second Team.  Chosen by the league’s coaches and general managers, Luzak has been honored for the second consecutive year after being named to the All-League First Team last season.  A 2004 Defender of the Year Finalist, Luzak’s solid defensive play helped guide the Kickers to the playoffs, starting and playing every minute of all but one game this season, tallying one goal and one assist. 

 

Players To Watch:
Kickers: On loan from the Charlotte Eagles (USL2), forward Dustin Swinehart (#26) joins the lineup after winning the USL Second Division Championship with the Eagles.  Finishing second in scoring with Charlotte (11g, 5a, 27 pts), Swinehart was recently named to the 2005 USL Second Division All-League First Team and has made five appearances with the Kickers this season, tallying one assist.  Midfielder Tim Brown (#15) registered the equalizer during the Kickers last meeting with the Whitecaps on August 14th while Richmond native, defender Jeff Hare (#2) recorded his first goal of the season with a last-minute game-tying goal against Portland during the Kickers last regular season home game, earning Richmond a playoff position.

 

Whitecaps: Finishing first in the USL First Division in points and goals scored, Jason Jordan (#26) leads the Whitecaps and the league with 17 goals and 37 points.  Jordan was responsible for both goals in the Kickers 2-0 loss to the Whitecaps earlier this season and was recently named to the USL First Division All-League First Team.  Second on the team in scoring, midfielder Steve Klein (#3) has tallied seven goals and four assists for 18 points this season and recently garnered USL All-League First Team honors while forward Ian Fuller (#15) recently registered his second goal of the season with the game-winner in the Whitecaps 1-0 win over second-place Rochester.

 

History
The Kickers last met the Whitecaps in Vancouver on August 14th, battling to a 1-1 stalemate after dropping a 2-0 decision at home on August 7th.  Last year, the Whitecaps finished the 2004 regular season in second in the Western Conference standings.  After defeating the Minnesota Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, Vancouver lost the Conference Final series 2-1 on aggregate goals to the Seattle Sounders.  Second in the Eastern Conference standings in 2004, Richmond was ousted from post-season play on penalty kicks by the now defunct Syracuse Salty Dogs during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  This season, Richmond concluded the regular season in sixth place in the 12-team single table USL First Division standings with 39 points, six points behind third-seeded Vancouver. 

 

Pro Pass Buddy Night
The Kickers are hosting “Pro Pass Buddy Night” this Friday and are inviting all 2005 Pro Pass holders to bring a buddy for free as an added benefit.  In addition, the Kickers are offering free youth tickets in advance (while supplies last) to all youth interested in attending Friday’s playoff game.  Please call 644-KICK for more information.

 

Season tickets, Sponsor tickets and Pro Passes will be accepted at any Kickers home Quarterfinal and Semi-Final playoff match.  Normal ticket prices and discounts apply (Adult tickets are $10/person, Youth tickets are $7/person).  Present your Ukrop’s Valued Customer Card at the gate to receive $2.00 off.

 

USL First Division All-League Teams 
First Team
G Greg Sutton (Montreal)
D Gabe Gervais (Montreal)
D Taylor Graham (Seattle)
D Scot Thompson (Portland)
M Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar (Portland)
M Mauro Biello (Montreal)
M Steve Klein (Vancouver)
M Kirk Wilson (Rochester)
F Fabien Dawkins (Atlanta)
F Jason Jordan (Vancouver)
F Mauricio Salles (Puerto Rico)

 

Second Team
G Preston Burpo (Seattle)
D Ben Hollingsworth (Charleston)
D Peter Luzak (Richmond)
D Nevio Pizzolitto (Montreal)
M Darren Caskey (Virginia Beach)
M Jeff Matteo (Minnesota Thunder)
M Rodrigo Rios (Atlanta)
M Petter Villegas (Puerto Rico)
F Dan Antoniuk (Portland)
F Johnny Menyongar (Minnesota)
F Melvin Tarley (Minnesota)