GAME SUMMARY

Saturday, August 7, 2010       Skyline Sports Complex
Harrisburg City Islanders    0                           
Richmond Kickers                1  (Delicâte 1’)

HARRISBURG, PA – The Richmond Kickers (9-5-5, 32 points) edged the Harrisburg City Islanders (4-9-6, 18 points) 1-0 Saturday night and are guaranteed a first or second place finish in the USL-2 standings.  Goal scoring phenomenon Matthew Delicâte notched his 11th goal of the season, to give the Kickers the lead in the first minute of play.  With Richmond now residing just three points behind league-leading Charleston, the regular season championship will come down to the wire as the teams face the final week of the 2010 campaign on August 14th. 

The Kickers claimed the lead twenty seconds into the match after a faulty kickoff left Delicâte in dangerous territory.  Harrisburg opened the game by playing the ball back to defender Tyler Ruthven.  As the Kickers pushed forward right away, Ruthven played a soft ball back to goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski, who found himself staring straight down the barrel of Delicâte’s gun.  The Kickers leading scorer challenged Chencinski 1v1 and struck from 12 yards out but his early attempt was blocked by the ‘keeper.  The Islanders were not so lucky the second time as the ball ricocheted back to Delicâte, who easily finished what he started.

The early goal took the wind out of the Islanders’ sails, as they struggled to break down the Kickers defense, finding themselves outshot 6-0 in the first half. 

Feeling confident, Delicâte nearly scored again in the 23rd minute.  This time, midfielder Gerson dos Santos fed the ball to him at the left corner of the penalty box.  The big forward cut inside and fired a low shot to the near post but Chencinski reached for a diving save.

Ten minutes later when the Kickers were awarded a corner, midfielder Mike Burke delivered an inswinger into the box, finding dos Santos in the air.  His free header from nine yards out tested Chencinski who held firm under attack.

Harrisburg made two substitutions after the restart and gathered much-needed momentum as the second 45 got underway.

Their best chance of the night to level the score occurred in the 53rd minute when Kickers goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was barely able to punch clear a dangerous cross.  The rebound fell to an awaiting Kai Kasiguran at the top of the box who controlled it with his first touch and struck with his second, only to see his attempt sail inches over the crossbar.

In an effort to make up for his misfire ten minutes earlier, Kasiguran burned a Kickers defender with some fancy footwork and blew down the sideline, placing a cross at the head of a well-positioned Mpho Moloi.  Unable to stifle the pace, the close range nod soared skyward.

The Kickers were equally as unlucky on a 76th minute counterattack when dos Santos served the ball over the top to an onrushing Luke Vercollone.  Slicing through the defense, Vercollone detonated a left-footed missile from 15 yards that rattled the crossbar and bounced directly down before falling on the wrong side of the goal line.

In a final attempt to avoid the shutout, the Islanders crossed a free kick from 35 yards to an eager Jeritt Thayer.   Positioned 12 yards from the target, his unmarked header grazed the crossbar, dashing the Islanders hopes of survival.

Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale and the Kickers defensive unit earned their seventh clean sheet of the season, eighth overall, en route to the regular season finale next Saturday.

The Richmond Kickers return to City Stadium on August 14th to host the third annual FAMILY FEST, presented by Union First Market Bank, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  The festival will feature live music, food, arts and crafts, inflatables, video games, face-painting, a petting zoo, train rides and the largest inflatable obstacle course in Central Virginia, presented by Bounce 2 the Moon.  The Richmond Kickers pro soccer game highlights the event as the Kickers host the Real Maryland Monarchs at 7:00 p.m.  Bring the whole family before 6:00 pm and purchase a $10.00 ticket that allows admission for the whole group. 

Box Score      First Half     Second Half       Final
Harrisburg             0                    0                   0
Richmond              1                     0                  1 

Scoring Summary
1st minute: Richmond – Matthew Delicâte

Lineups
Islanders: GK Tomer Chencinski, Tyler Ruthven (Kai Kasiguran – 45’), Dustin Bixler, Jeritt Thayer, Anthony Calvano, Jason Pelletier, Mpho Moloi, David Schofield (Dominic Oppong – 78’), Jason Hotchkin (Vince Petrasso – 71’), Geoff Bloes, Tishan Hanley (Sheanon Williams – 45’)

Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby, Henry Kalungi, Sascha Görres, David Hertel, Luke Vercollone, Gerson dos Santos, Bobby Foglesong, Mike Burke, Matthew Delicâte (Stephen Nsereko – 67’), Jonny Villanueva (Jeremy Barlow – 45’)

Shots              Saves             Fouls              Corners
Kickers:     9    Kickers:     1    Kickers:    5    Kickers:     3 
Islanders: 6    Islanders: 4    Islanders: 8    Islanders: 3

Cautions:
42nd minute: Dustin Bixler (Harrisburg)
52nd minute: Anthony Calvano (Harrisburg)
69th minute: William Yomby (Richmond)
90th minute: Sheanon Williams (Harrisburg)
90th minute: Stephen Nsereko (Richmond)

Ejections:
90th minute: Bill Becher (Harrisburg, coach)

Referee:    Zachary Rubinich
Assistant Referees:   Tim Snyder, Ross Kleinstuber
Fourth Official:    Eric Weisbrod
Attendance:    1,417
Weather:    Clear, 77º