RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, August 21, 2007) – The 2006 USL Second Division Champions Richmond Kickers will defend their title this Saturday, August 25, 2007, hosting the Harrisburg City Islanders in this year’s final match. Kickoff is slated for 8:00 pm at the University of Richmond Stadium (just off the Downtown Expressway) and the match will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel at 10:00 pm. Tickets are $15 (youth and adult) and can be purchased in advance via RichmondKickers.com. Season Ticket Holders and Pro Pass Holders are entitled to a specially discounted rate available online until midnight on Tuesday.
Both Richmond and Harrisburg advanced to the Championship after overtime victories in the USL2 Semifinals last weekend, each by a one-goal margin. The regular season champion Kickers hosted the #4 seeded Charlotte Eagles at home while the #3 seed Harrisburg faced second-place Cleveland City Stars on the road. The Kickers took an early lead over Charlotte when midfielder Matt Watson finished a rebound in the 14th minute and kept the advantage until an 87th minute equalizer by Eagles forward Dustin Swinehart. Pushing the game into overtime, the Kickers broke the stalemate in the 110th minute when forward Nowaf Jaman netted the game-winner. Meanwhile, the City Islanders battled the City Stars to a scoreless draw in regulation. Forward Steve Fisher broke the ice in the 106th minute with the lone goal of the night to propel Harrisburg into the final round.
Richmond Versus Harrisburg
Overall, the Kickers lead the two-year series record of 3-1-0 over Harrisburg, including two wins in 2006, during which the Kickers registered 10 goals on the Islanders on a 5-2 win at home and a 5-0 romp on the road. This season, the pair split the series, each picking up three points at home. The Kickers edged the Islanders 1-0 on June 30th at the University of Richmond Stadium. The Islanders avenged their loss with a 2-1 victory at home on July 28th.
Under the guidance of 2005 USL2 Coach of the Year, Bill Becher, the Islanders finished their fourth season in third place in the USL2 standings with a record of 11-4-5 and 38 points, just three points behind first-place Richmond. The Kickers boast a regular season record of 12-3-4 and 41 points, capturing the Regular Season title with two-time USL2 Coach of the Year nominee Leigh Cowlishaw at the helm. With just two points separating the top three teams, the final playoff positioning was not decided until the last weekend of regular season play as Harrisburg threatened to leap-frog Richmond in the standings. The Kickers’ 1-1 draw with Cleveland, coupled with the Islanders 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace Baltimore determined the final seeds, leading to both team’s eventual success in the USL2 semifinals.
US Open Cup Success
Both teams made historic runs in the US Open Cup this season as the only two USL2 teams left standing in the Quarterfinal Round. Richmond’s victory over the Cleveland City Stars (USL2) and Harrisburg’s win over the Ocean City Barons (PDL) in the Second Round secured home field advantage with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy and DC United for the Kickers and the City Islanders respectively. Equally triumphant in the Third Round, Richmond shocked the world-renowned LA Galaxy by a score of 1-0 while the City Islanders handed the same decision to the storied DC United. The underdogs fell in the Quarterfinals with Richmond dropping a 1-0 final to the Carolina RailHawks (USL1) while the New England Revolution (MLS) ousted the Islanders 2-1.
Past Championship Appearances
Richmond has qualified for post-season play for the 12th time in their 15-year franchise history and will be making their sixth Championship appearance, fourth in six years, to conclude the 2007 campaign. The Kickers’ five previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006) include winning the Premier League title in 1995, a shoot-out loss to Seattle in the USL First Division final in 2005 and taking the USL Second Division crown in 2006. This year’s title match marks the first Championship appearance by Harrisburg, in their four-year history.
Players To Watch
Kickers: The USL2 Assist Leader with nine on the year and All-League First Team member, Mike Burke (#19) 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. Joining Burke on the USL2 First Team, goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale (#22) earned USL2 Goalkeeper of the Year honors for the second straight season, finishing third in the GAA Championship race with an average of 0.684. Leading the league in wins with 12, Pascale posted nine shutouts on the season, playing every minute of all but one game. Second-year pro Matt Watson (#8) also garnered First Team honors, having finished the season tied for first in points with 15 (6g, 3a). A native of Redditch, England, Watson was responsible the Kickers only goal in regulation during last week’s semifinal win over Charlotte. Midfielder Sascha Görres (#23) assisted on forward 2006 Rookie of the Year Nowaf Jaman’s (#11) semifinal game-winning goal in overtime to boost the Kickers to the USL2 Championship for the second consecutive season. A three-time USL2 Team of the Week honoree, Görres finished fifth on the squad in points with 10 on three goals and four assists during the regular season.
City Islanders: Veteran midfielder Mo Oduor (#19) leads the Islanders with six goals and two assists for 14 points on the season, earning USL2 All-League Second Team honors. A native of Eldoret, Kenya, Oduor brought U-20 Kenya National Team experience to the Harrisburg squad four seasons ago and concluded the regular season in the top 10 points leaders in the USL2. Midfielder Brian Ombiji (#21) also hails from Eldoret, Kenya and was responsible for both goals in the Islanders 2-1 win over the Kickers last month. A 2007 Rookie of the Year Finalist, Ombiji finished second on the team with six goals and one assist for 13 points on the season. Joining both Oduor and Ombiji on the Second Team, defender Mike Lookingland (#14) is a threat on both sides of the ball, registering two goals and two assists while contributing to the team’s 10 shutouts during regular season action. One of the top netminders in the league, goalkeeper Matt Nelson (#22) finished second with a goals against average of 0.611, allowing just 11 goals in 18 games played.
Tickets On Sale Now
Tickets are available for purchase in advance via www.RichmondKickers.com until noon on game day. All tickets are $15 (youth and adult), general admission. Season Ticket Holders and Pro Pass Holders can purchase specially discounted tickets until midnight tonight. No Season Tickets, Pro Passes or Sponsor Tickets will be accepted at the USL2 Championship match. Normal discounts do not apply. Children under three are admitted free. Tickets will not be mailed. All advance tickets will be held at Will Call on game day. Parking is free.
