RICHMOND, VA - (Thursday, August 20, 2009) – United Soccer Leagues recently announced the statistical award winners for the 2009 USL Second Division season, honoring Richmond Kickers forward Matthew Delicâte as Goal Scoring Champion.
For the first time since 2001, the Scoring and Goal Scoring Champions are not the same player. Trailing Wilmington’s Jamie Watson by one goal entering the last match of the season, Delicâte registered two tallies in the 2-2 draw against Wilmington last weekend. With the goals, Delicâte eclipsed Watson’s total, bumping the Kickers star striker’s total to 13 on the season, awarding him the Goal Scoring crown.
Delicâte returned to the Kickers starting lineup prior to the 2009 season after spending three seasons with USL-1 side Rochester Rhinos. The graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University began his professional career with the Kickers in 2004, and has continued his goal scoring prowess in the 2009 season, leading the team into this weekend’s Semifinal match with 13 goals and two assists for 28 points during the regular season.
During his tenure in Richmond, Delicâte proved to be a consistent goal-scorer in 2004 and 2005, reaching seventh place on the Kickers all-time career goals list with 19 and ninth place on the all-time career points list with 46 in just two seasons. Following the 2005 season, the Kickers transferred Delicâte’s playing rights to the Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) where he quickly made his way onto the team’s all-time scoring list with 19 regular season goals over three seasons.
Wilmington’s Jamie Watson finished as the league’s Scoring Champion, combining his 12 goals with six assists for 30 points, while leading the Hammerheads to their first regular season championship in the club’s 14-year history. Watson’s teammate, Kenny Bundy recorded nine assists en route to becoming this season’s Assists Champion, narrowly beating out Richmond’s Mike Burke, who finished the season with seven assists.
Harrisburg’s Chase Harrison is honored as the GAA Champion, after finishing the regular season with a 0.812 goals against average. The goalkeeper appeared in 16 matches for the City Islanders in 2009, posting eight shutouts, on his way to an 8-4-4 record.
Further USL Second Division honors will be announced on Monday, August 24th.
