RICHMOND, VA – (Wednesday, July 20, 2010) – The Richmond Kickers (6-5-5, 23 pts) will return home to the familiar atmosphere of City Stadium this Saturday, July 24th to entertain the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (4-4-6, 18 pts) and the Richmond SPCA Paws on the Pitch Night at 7:00 p.m. Kickers supporters are encouraged to bring their four-legged companions along with them for a night of professional soccer. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a complimentary Richmond SPCA tote bag. Click here to purchase discounted tickets in advance.
The Richmond SPCA Tail Wag’N adoption vehicle will be in attendance, seeking to match homeless pets with new adopters. Fees for all pets adopted at the game will be discounted. Vendors in attendance will include Holiday Barn Pet Resorts, Bikram Yoga, Kristie Bradley Photography, Family Dog Digest and more. Professional photographer Kristie Bradley of the Lee Davis Paws for a Cause organization will be present to take photos of pets, which will be available for purchase through donations to the Richmond SPCA.
With just four matches remaining on the season and the overall playoff picture aggressively taking shape, a home victory for the Kickers would be exactly what the doctor ordered. Three additional points would supply Richmond with some much needed breathing room in the highly contested race for second place. Aside from a berth to the postseason, the USL Second Division runner-up is guaranteed a home semifinal fixture prior to the championship bout.
A Riverhounds triumph would shake up the standings and make for a very eventful final month of the 2010 campaign. A win would bring Pittsburgh within two points of Richmond and pull ahead of Charlotte for sole possession of third place. The proud owner of two games in hand, the Riverhounds are more than capable of crashing the postseason party.
In their last league contest, Richmond dropped a 2-0 decision in Pittsburgh. A Chad Severs double saw the Riverhounds pass the defending champions, who were unable to muster a tally. Most recently, Pittsburgh settled for a 1-1 draw against Harrisburg in the battle for Pennsylvania bragging rights. The Kickers have yet to beat the Riverhounds thus far in three meetings, but have the overall series advantage of 10-6-3.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Forward Matthew Delicâte (#7) continues to lead the league in points (21) and goals (10). Having been on top for nearly the entire season, the Virginia Commonwealth University hit man will certainly be looking to boost his stock. Midfielder Mike Burke (#19) is tied for the league lead with four assists this campaign. A fan favorite loaded with experience, Burke represents a constant threat from set piece situations and is constantly looking to get his teammates involved. Defender Henry Kalungi (#25) has been a rock in the Kickers backfield all season long. Aggressive in the air and intelligent when gaining possession, Kalungi routinely deals with pressure situations and helps anchor the defense.
Riverhounds: Forward Chad Severs (#20) has been on an offensive tear of late, bagging three goals in his last two outings. Always a threat to score, Severs has also acquired two assists through 12 appearances. Forward Lee Kouadio-Tobey (#17) helps to complete an effective attacking unit. Armed with speed and some clever foot skills, Kouadio-Tobey requires a lot of attention from opposing defenses. Midfielder Thomas Gray (#7) leads the team in assists and is competent when moving forward. Former Kickers defender Ed Hayden (#8) joined the Riverhounds squad prior to the 2008 season after taking the USL-2 Championship title with Richmond in 2006. A native of Silver Spring, MD, Hayden has made 40 appearances with the Riverhounds over the past three seasons.
Soccer Ball Drive
Former Kickers youth club player, Andrew Wells, is headed to Haiti on August 1st with the Christian aid organization, Thirst No More. He will help rebuild a school and visit local orphanages, where soccer equipment is in high demand. This Saturday, July 24th, Andrew will be collecting soccer balls at the Kickers home game versus the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at 7:00 p.m. Any new or gently used soccer balls can help and this is where our soccer community can truly make a difference.
MARTIN’S Food Drive Saturday, July 31st
Help us help others! The Richmond Kickers and MARTIN’S Food Markets are teaming up with the Central Virginia Food Bank to sponsor a food drive during the month of July. Now through July 31, there will be a food collection container at Ukrop Park where Kickers players, families and friends can do their part by donating non-perishable foods to needy families of Central Virginia. The food drive will culminate at the Kickers pro soccer game on Saturday, July 31 against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Bring a non-perishable food item to the game and receive a coupon for $5.00 OFF admission*. Visit RichmondKickers.com for more information.
