RICHMOND, VA - (Wednesday, June 18, 2008) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to team up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to host the sixth annual Jamie Hess Night this Saturday, June 21st, benefiting the Jamie Hess Bone Marrow Transplant Research Fund at VCU’s Massey Cancer Center. The Kickers are slated to host the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7:00 pm at the University of Richmond Stadium. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Jamie Hess Fund, established in honor of Jamie Hess, a ten-year old soccer fan who lost his battle with leukemia in 2002. The Fund helps seed new research projects in the area of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation.
In addition, Richmonders can join Connor’s Heroes and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the ‘Quest’ to cure childhood cancer this Saturday. For the second year, families, friends, and corporate teams have the opportunity to don their fedora and use treasure maps, clues, and cool gadgets to race through Carytown and be the first to solve the secrets of the Anthem “Quest for the Cure” beginning at 2 p.m. The Quest will come to an exciting close at the Kickers game that evening at the University of Richmond Stadium with an enhanced Fun Zone, face painting, a halftime Juggle-A-Thon, a memory/honor wall and live music by the band Silly Bus. Visit ConorsHeroes.org to register for the Quest.
About Connor’s Heroes
Connor’s Heroes Foundation was established in 2006 and strives to conquer childhood cancer. The organization provides Heroes Bags and Backpacks to families with a child who has been diagnosed with cancer at the VCU Children’s Medical Center. Additionally, the program benefits families who have a child who suffers a relapse, families who lose a child to cancer, and families whose child celebrates the end of cancer treatment.
Richmond versus Harrisburg
The Kickers look to avenge an earlier season loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders this Saturday, kicking off at 7:00 pm at the University of Richmond Stadium. Richmond dropped a devastating 4-1 decision on the road to the defending USL-2 Champions Harrisburg City Islanders on June 6th. Despite controlling the run of play early in the match, the Kickers went into the break down 2-0. Harrisburg added two more on the other side of the half, with Richmond newcomer Ian Bennett netting the Kickers’ lone goal on the last shot of the night.
The two teams met in last year’s USL Second Division Championship match in Richmond, when the City Islanders stripped the Kickers of the title. A 1-1 stalemate in regulation last August led to 30 minutes of overtime, followed by nine rounds of nail-biting penalty kicks. Each goalkeeper made a save during the first five rounds but the score was settled when City Islanders defender Ryan Pierce converted his chance and Kickers defender Evan Harding just glanced the woodwork.
Overall, Richmond leads the two-year regular season series with a record of 3-2-0 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. Last 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 with the City Islanders avenging their loss with a 2-1 victory at home on July 28th.
Last Time Out
The Kickers came out on the positive side of another 4-1 scoreline last weekend pinning the Bermuda Hogges with a loss, despite a one-hour lightning delay midway through the match. The Kickers and the Hogges netted a goal apiece on Ian Bennett and Lashun Dill tallies, respectively, before the break in the 39th minute. Over half of the 2,006 dedicated fans waited out the storm to see the Kickers add three goals in a span of 10 minutes, registered by forward David Bulow, defender Trevor McEachron and Luke Vercollone. Midfielder and Captain Mike Burke added two assists to swing the momentum in favor of the home side, earning USL-2 Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
Meanwhile, the City Islanders have been on a four-game win streak, notching 12 goals over the opposition, after going 0-1-5 in their first six outings. A 3-0 win against the Real Maryland Monarchs started the winning trend, followed by Harrisburg’s 4-1 romp over the Kickers earlier this month. More recently, the City Islanders knocked off one of the league leaders, Crystal Palace Baltimore, 1-0, before adding four goals over Maryland last weekend. Harrisburg’s top scorers Mo Oduor and Brian Ombiji have each added three goals in the last four matches.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Midfielder and Captain Mike Burke (#19) earned USL-2 Player of the Week honors for his offensive efforts in the Kickers 4-1 win over Bermuda last weekend. Tied 1-1 against Bermuda, Burke played with a cracked rib to help lead Richmond to victory in the second half of their encounter with the Hogges. Entering the game in the 39th minute, after a one-hour lightning delay, he made an immediate impact on the run of play and assisted on the game-winning goal within five minutes of the second half. Newcomer Ian Bennett (#20) netted his second goal in five games played over the Hogges last weekend to give the Kickers an early lead with a 19th minute tally. A native of Ontario, Canada, Bennett joined the lineup on loan from the Chicago Storm of the now defunct Major Indoor Soccer League. Bennett’s tally was courtesy of a set up by midfielder/defender Sascha Görres (#23) who earned USL-2 Team of the Week honors for his efforts on both sides of the ball last weekend. Posting his first assist this season, Görres is the only Kicker who has played every minute of every regular season game so far this season. A workhorse in the midfield, Luke Vercollone (#4) registered his first goal in a Kickers uniform last Saturday, adding the Kickers fourth and final mark on the night. Vercollone spent two seasons each with the New England Revolution (MLS) and the Charlotte Eagles (USL-1) before coming to Richmond prior to the 2008 season. Forward David Bulow (#10) was also named to the USL-2 Team of the Week for adding a goal and an assist during last week’s win over Bermuda. Overall, he converted two goals and added two assists last week, including the points he contributed during the Kickers 3-0 Open Cup First Round win over Fredericksburg.
City Islanders: Last year’s leading scorer Mo Oduor (#19) is back to scoring ways, leading the City Islanders again this season with three goals and two assists for eight points. Notching a goal in three out of four of the City Islanders last fixtures, Oduor was also responsible for a goal over the Kickers on June 6th. With three goals in as many games, midfielder Brian Ombiji (#21) sits one point behind Oduor with seven points total on the season. Making an immediate impact during his rookie season last year, he finished the 2007 campaign in the same position, one point away from the leading scorer with 13. A mid-season addition, midfielder Yu Hoshide (#16) joined the Harrisburg roster for the May 31st match in Wilmington. Since then, he has posted a goal and three assists in four games played. He assisted on two out of four goals over Maryland last weekend, good for a USL-2 Team of the Week nod this week. Joining Hoshide on the Team of the Week was Anthony Calvano (#23) who led the City Islanders backline to their second straight shutout, while converting a goal in the 4-0 win. The sophomore defender was the only player on the squad to play every minute of every game during Harrisburg’s historic championship season in 2007.
PDL Doubleheader
The Richmond Kickers Future of the Premier Development League will take the field prior to the Kickers pro match this Saturday when they host the Virginia Legacy at 3:00 pm at the University of Richmond Stadium. The Future last met the Legacy on May 29th when they suffered a narrow loss by a lone goal margin. The Future are still searching for their first win of the season, holding a 0-6-3 record to date and three points. Last weekend, the Future rallied back from a harrowing 3-1 halftime deficit to tie the match, 3-3, against the Northern Virginia Royals. Future midfielder Boris Gatzky was responsible for two while midfielder Bobby Fogelsong contributed a goal and an assist.
Most recently, the Legacy dropped a 2-0 decision to the Hampton Roads Piranhas one week after shocking the Division leading Fredericksburg Gunners, 1-0. With last weekend’s loss, the Legacy’s record fell to an even 3-3-3 for nine points, good for third in the Mid-Atlantic Division. Midfielder Andrew Hoxie notched the lone goal over the Future in May while Legacy leading scorer Nathan Belcher added their only tally over the Gunners, bringing his totals to five goals and one assist for 11 points.
US Open Cup Second Round
US Soccer recently announced the possible pairings for the US Open Cup Third Round, sending the winner of the Richmond Kickers versus Western Mass Pioneers Second Round match to face the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer on the road on July 1st.
The round of 16 will kickoff on June 24th with the Richmond Kickers slated to face USL-2 rivals Western Mass at Lusitano Stadium at 7:30 pm. The Kickers received an automatic berth into this year’s tournament as the defending USL-2 Regular Season Champions and then cruised by the Fredericksburg Gunners on Tuesday with a 3-0, First Round victory. Meanwhile, the Pioneers ousted the Boston Olympiakos (USASA) in their Open Cup match by a 2-0 scoreline.
The 2008 season marks the 10th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 14 seasons and hold an overall record of 15-8 during tournament play. The Kickers claimed the U.S. Open Cup title the first year of the “Professional Era” in 1995 and have since made it to the quarterfinal round four times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007), ousting three Major League Soccer teams along the way (Colorado Rapids 2000, DC United 2004, LA Galaxy 2007).
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 94 consecutive years dating back to 1914. In total, forty teams participate in this year’s tournament, with eight entries per league across Major League Soccer, USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League (PDL) and United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). At stake is $180,000 in prize money and the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title.
