RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, August 20, 2007) – United Soccer Leagues announced today the Finalists for the Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards for the USL Second Division 2007 season as voted on by the league’s coaches and general managers.  The candidates include Richmond Kickers Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw as a USL2 Coach of the Year nominee while Kickers captain Mike Burke is a Most Valuable Player contender. The winners for the honors will be announced at the Championship Teams Banquet Friday, August 24th in Richmond. 

In his eighth season at the helm, Cowlishaw makes his fourth championship appearance in the past six years, previously leading the Kickers to two USL First Division Finals and the USL Second Division title last season.  This year, he captured the Regular Season crown with a record of 12-3-5, including a record of 8-0-2 at home.  A native of Burton-on-Trent, England, Cowlishaw has been an integral member of the Kickers’ organization since the club’s inception in 1993.  As a player, he helped the Kickers win the “Double” with the US Open Cup and Premier League Championships in 1995.  Off the pitch, he acts as Vice President, Soccer Programs, providing technical direction and guidance for all levels of the Kickers organization and serving on the board of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club.

The USL2 Assist Leader with nine on the year and All-League First Team member, Burke assumed the role of captain upon the mid-season retirement of veteran defender Kevin Knight, finishing the regular season tied for scoring on the team with three goals and nine assists for 15 points. In his eighth season with the Kickers, Burke eclipsed the all-time career assists leaders to hold the sole position in the franchise with 38 assists overall. He continues to reside in third place on the Kickers all-time career points list with 90 (26g, 38a). Last season, Burke was a USL2 First Team honoree and USL2 Most Valuable Player Finalist en route to the 2006 USL2 Championship.

The USL Second Division Championship featuring the Richmond Kickers at home defending their title against the Harrisburg City Islanders is Saturday, August 25 at 8:00 pm at the University of Richmond Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel on delay at 10:00 pm ET following the MLS match broadcast.

Coach of the Year Finalists
Bill Becher (Harrisburg City Islanders)
Leigh Cowlishaw (Richmond Kickers)
Martin Rennie (Cleveland City Stars)

Rookie of the Year Finalists
F – Stephen Astwood (Bermuda Hogges)
F – Damon Ming (Bermuda Hogges)
M – Brian Ombiji (Harrisburg City Islanders)

Most Valuable Player Finalists
D – Mark Schulte (Cleveland City Stars)
M – Mike Burke (Richmond Kickers)
F – Jacob Coggins (Charlotte Eagles)