“We are really thankful for both the Kickers organization and William & Mary for their support of #stowestrong,” commented Roger Bothe, former Kickers and William & Mary player and co-founder of #stowestrong.  “Leigh and Chris have both been very supportive of our initiative to raise money for the Stowe family and we are grateful for their backing.”

“Having played with Ian on the Kickers PDL team and the William & Mary soccer team, we had many great memories together on the field.  It is great to see the two soccer teams come together for a bigger cause - after all, soccer is a game that unites us all.”

All proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to #stowestrong, to help offset the impending medical expenses related with Stowe’s treatment program.  Long-term, #stowestrong is committed to creating at sustainable campaign that will continue to grow, and eventually benefit more than just a single family battling cancer. 

Posting 1,250 minutes over two seasons with the Richmond Kickers Future, Stowe made 20 appearances, recording one goal for the Kickers Premier Development team.  A former FC Richmond and Clover Hill High School player, Stowe is a 2010 graduate of The College of William & Mary, making 75 appearances, notching two goals and five assists en route to two NCAA Tournament berths, CAA regular season and tournament Championships and an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

In January 2012, a brain tumor was discovered on Stowe’s brain stem, leading to a diagnosis of Germinoma, a type of germ cell tumor typically resulting from a failure of germ cells to migrate properly in the body.  Stowe is currently at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia where he will receive chemotherapy and radiation treatments with the goal of eradicating the tumor.

In addition to ticket sales, green and gold #stowestrong t-shirts will be on sale at the game for $10, with all proceeds directly benefiting the fundraising campaign.  For more information, visit www.stowestrong.com.  

Only 500 Tickets Available! Purchase Today!

Get an exclusive sneak preview of the Richmond Kickers 2012 Championship-contending squad when they take on local rivals Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday, March 3!  Tickets are just $5.00, youth and adult and All-Access Passes will be accepted.

Get a first look at USL PRO all-star, Jason Yeisley, as well as potential new signings at the Kickers first preseason match of the year when the 2011 U.S. Open Cup Semifinalists Richmond Kickers host local rivals VCU at 7:00 p.m., at the state-of-the-art soccer complex, Ukrop Park.  Space is limited to just 500 tickets and a sell out is expected!

Click HERE to order tickets or call Cody Johnson at 804-644-5425 x 311 to order by phone.  

Click HERE for directions to Ukrop Park.

 * Tickets will not be mailed. Tickets can be picked up from the stadium’s Will Call on game day. 

Kickers ADP at Collegiate is SOLD OUT, but limited space is now available only five miles away at Byrd Middle School, conveniently located in Henrico County!

Perfect for your busy lifestyle, the convenient weekday schedule does not interfere with valuable weekend time for parents on the go!

Here are 3 reasons you should sign up today:

1. Unbeatable Value – Your child will be coached by Richmond Kickers own professional players and nationally licensed coaches for just $175.  That’s less than $11.00 per session with the best professional players and coaches in the region.

2. Format - ADP is the perfect format for developing your child’s soccer skills and provides a great environment for aspiring travel players to learn and play the game they love.  Practices are held on Mondays and scrimmages take place Fridays, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

3. No Tryouts - Unlike other ADP programs, the Kickers do not require players to tryout.  However, this program is specifically designed for athletic, talented and enthusiastic youth players.

Kickers ADP is filling up fast so don’t delay!  Click HERE to learn more and register online at RichmondKickers.com!

Have questions?  Our friendly and knowledgeable staff would be happy to help.  Contact ADP Director, Ross Mackenzie at ross@richmondkickers.com to see if this program is the right fit for your child.

Reserve Your Party Today!

From invitations to clean-up, let the Kickers plan your child's ultimate birthday party this summer!  Space is limited so contact Cody Johnson at 804-644-5425 x 311 or cody@richmondkickers.com to reserve your party today!

BUY NOW!

“On behalf of our players, I sincerely hope the entire Richmond community supports this generous offer and gets behind the team for our home opener,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “Kickers versus Battery matches always provide an abundance of drama and it will be a great feeling for our players and fans to have City Stadium rocking for our home opener.  I can recall back to 1995 when our first game drew close to eight thousand fans and it would be amazing if we can replicate that experience on April 7th.”

Wearing retro 1993 green and blue adidas uniforms, the Kickers will open the 2012 campaign, hosting the Battery for the first leg of the Pioneer Cup on Saturday, April 7 at 5:00 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium before swapping home field advantage on Saturday, April 14 at Blackbaud Stadium.  The winner of the Pioneer Cup will be determined by the aggregate score of the two-game series.

Established in 1993, the Richmond Kickers have consistently been one of the most successful professional soccer clubs in America.  Over the past 19 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 17 times, and last reached the title match in 2010 for the sixth time in the past nine campaigns, falling just short of the Championship title.  Richmond’s seven previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) 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 twice against Charlotte in 2006 and 2009.  Claiming the U.S. Open Cup title in 1995, the Kickers made history last season, ousting the Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer en route to a semifinals finish, to become the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road.

U14
Kickers 0 :: 1 Strikers

A classic game of two halves, a lethargic Kickers team allowed the Strikers to dominate possession and control the tempo of the first half.  Neither team was able to create many dangerous opportunities, until Kickers goalkeeper Drew Romig was forced to make an important 1v1 save midway through the half to send the crosstown rivals into the break scoreless. 

Shortly after the restart, the Strikers took the lead when former Kicker, Keenan O’Shea hit a thunderous shot into the roof of the net.  From that moment on, the Kickers turned on the heat and began to really pressure the Strikers defense.  Lyndsey Moreland, Nicholas King, and Tucker Lawrence were all denied by great saves from the Strikers keeper.  The Kickers continued to press into the dying seconds but were unable to find the equalizer they thoroughly deserved.

U16
Kickers 4 :: 2 Strikers

Firing on all cylinders directly out of the gates, the Kickers claimed an early lead when a Finnlay Wyatt corner found Grayson Smith at the far post, who scrambled the ball over the line.  Minutes later, Evan Fowler doubled the Kickers lead with a well-struck shot that skidded under the outstretched Strikers goalkeeper.  Just as it seemed the Kickers would go on to totally dominate the game, Liam Jenkins fired an unstoppable shot to put the Strikers back into contention before the halftime whistle.

Building momentum, the second half started brightly for the Strikers, but two Kickers goals in two minutes effectively ended the contest early. Smith was released behind the Strikers defense and finished confidently past the keeper’s near post.  Minutes later, Smith then rounded off a memorable day completing his hat trick with another far post goal from a well-taken Wyatt corner.  Gil Topaz scored a consolation goal late as the Kickers rolled out convincing 4-2 winners.

"It was a strong performance and the team was clearly motivated to excel," commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Kickers U-16 Academy Head Coach.  "We passed the ball well at times but we need to maintain our focus and concentration to perform at that level for longer periods.  The key now is to build upon that success and increase confidence to perform at that level on a consistent basis."

U18
Kickers 1 :: 0 Strikers

The Kickers rounded out the day on a high note as the U18 team started brightly by creating several very good scoring opportunities. Zachary Harris released Dan Lauretano who was clean through only to shoot the ball straight at the Strikers goalkeeper.  Later, Ben Lewis drove inside, eluding several defenders before hitting a 20 yard left footed shot that rattled the crossbar. The Kickers deservedly went ahead when Lauretano shot and Harris was first to the rebound to calmly slot the ball into the goal.  The Strikers were always threatening as Todd Wharton and Valeriy Sviderskly’s pace and intelligent movement caused the Kickers defense problems throughout the match.  In the end, the Kickers defended well, with much improved focus and discipline to preserve the shutout.

"I am extremely pleased with the way the team played in our last two Academy games versus North Meck and the Richmond Strikers," commented Ihor Dotsenko, Kickers U-18 Academy Head Coach.  "We created a lot of chances on the attacking end and did not give up a goal from the run of play in either game.  The boys are playing much better as a cohesive unit working for each other on both sides of the ball and their commitment to do the little things has never been better."

A 1995 graduate of Wake Forest University, McGinty accrued impressive stats throughout his collegiate career, ranking second in Wake Forest history in career saves and third in goals against average.

Signing with the Kickers in 1997, McGinty made 120 appearances over five seasons, setting single-season records for the lowest goals against average (0.68 in 1998) and fewest goals allowed (11 goals in 16 games played, 1998) before wrapping up his professional at D.C. United in 2002. 

A stint as goalkeeper coach at Virginia Commonwealth University kick started McGinty’s coaching career in 1997, earning an assistant coaching position at University of Virginia five years later, eventually taking the title of Associate Head Coach in 2008.  Leading the Cavaliers to the 2009 NCAA Championship and three ACC crowns, McGinty proceeded to St. Louis University as the new Head Coach in 2010.  

RichmondKickers.com sat down with Mike McGinty to reflect on his career as a professional player and coach:

RichmondKickers.com: Mike, do you think there was a particular moment that leveraged your career as a player?
McGinty: I would not say that there was one particular moment. I just knew from the beginning on, when I was a kid, that I wanted to play soccer and that I would try to take it as far as I could.

RichmondKickers.com: What do you love most about your position as Head Coach of the Men’s Team at St. Louis University?
McGinty: Obviously the age group of the players that I work with is great. Most of them are between 17 and 22 years old and this is a very important stage for everyone that determines their career. I enjoy seeing the progress and how they proceed in their careers, no matter if it’s in sports or business.

RichmondKickers.com: How would you describe your time with the Richmond Kickers?
McGinty: I really enjoyed my time with the Kickers and I have some great memories of the five seasons that I played in Richmond. All the people at the club have been very good and supportive.

RichmondKickers.com: What do you think is special about the Kickers?
McGinty: The Kickers do a great job of identifying themselves. They have always been a very sustainable and down to the ground club, not going with every new trend that comes up. They know about their responsibility within the community and especially with their large youth section they open a lot of great opportunities for kids to play soccer at all levels of play. There is a good balance between the pro side and the youth side in the club.

"Drew has been very focused on performing at the highest level both in training and matches,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers U-16 Academy Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “The Academy environment has certainly challenged him over the last few months. To train and play league matches on a regular basis with talented players several years older has been very beneficial for his development. On behalf of the Kickers we are delighted that Drew’s dedication and talent continues to be recognized and we wish him well at the training camp."

The Home Depot Center in Carson, California will host the selected players for seven days of training and evaluation in front of the U.S. National Team coaching staff.

• 2012 Camp Schedule
• Don’t delay!  Register now!

“Our camps provide players throughout Richmond great opportunities to be taught by some of the best coaches and professional soccer players in the area,” commented Andy McIntosh, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer Camps.  “The 2012 camp schedule will offer a variety of camps at multiple locations across Richmond giving parents and players the flexibility to find a camp that is perfect for them.” 

“This combination of quality programming at convenient locations with inspirational professional instruction is why the Richmond Kickers Camps truly are the best camps in town," added McIntosh.

This year’s camp schedule opens with the Future 2012 Spring Break Camp at the beautiful, natural grass complex, Hensley Park, April 9-13.  The convenient pay-as-you-go format makes it even easier to take advantage of this great opportunity.  

The Kickers are pleased to partner once again with Shooters Indoor Sportsplex, conveniently located at Route 288 and Hull Street, to add Footskills Camps July 9-13 and August 6-10.  A technically focused week of footskills, fast footwork, first touch and futsal, the Footskills Camps are designed to help players become more comfortable with the ball.  Players will be in constant contact with the soccer ball in a fun and challenging environment where they are encouraged to play with creativity and freedom. 

With indoor and outdoor locations in Midlothian, Chesterfield, West End, Ashland and City of Richmond, registration is now live for all of the Kickers popular camps including, First Kicks, Recreational, Academy, Finishing & Goalkeeping. 

Offering unbeatable value, the Richmond Kickers camp staff is comprised of professional players and nationally licensed coaches who serve as role models to the youth community.  Camp participants will be grouped by age and ability, receiving age-appropriate instruction.  For a complete camp schedule or to register online, visit RichmondKickers.com.  For a free consultation about which camp is the right camp for your child, please contact Andy McIntosh, Director of Soccer Camps at 804-644-5425 x 306 or amcintosh@richmondkickers.com for more information. 

Kickers Academy central defenders Christopher Spates and Haydon Bennett will continue their partnership, signing letters of intent to Division I West Virginia University.  Academy standout Daniel Lauretano committed to ACC’s Virginia Tech while Zach Harris signed with Cedarville University.  Travis Borkey committed to Division I Virginia Military Institute and Patrick Ward joins York College.

On the girls side, Morgan Conklin, Ashley Riefner and Meghan Musgrove all committed to Division I schools, Virginia Tech, University of Richmond and College of William and Mary, respectively.  Meanwhile, Caroline Gill will attend Milligan College while Rachel Le committed to Lynchburg College.  Megan Weast joins Christopher Newport University, Katie Cersley selected Troy University and Elizabeth Weast heads to University of Mary Washington.

Stay tuned to RichmondKickers.com as many more Kickers players commit to college.

Congratulations Kickers!

“We are pleased to play such a competitive preseason schedule,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “The first two regular season games against Charleston and Orlando will be very difficult as both teams have the advantage of a longer preseason as well as the luxury of facing MLS teams during that time.  Our games, especially the showcase games, will be beneficial for our players, while providing an early opportunity for our fans to see how the team is progressing."

Fans are invited to get a first look at the Kickers 2012 squad, including USL PRO all-star, Jason Yeisley, as well as other potential new signings.  Tickets for the Kickers preseason matches are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com for $5.00 each (youth and adult).  All-Access Pass Holders will be admitted free.

In addition to the three showcase matches, the Kickers will face an intense lineup of closed door preseason scrimmages including games against James Madison University, William & Mary, Old Dominion University and Longwood University beginning Saturday, February 25.  The 20th Anniversary season kicks off Saturday, April 7 when the Kickers play host to long-time rivals Charleston Battery and the first leg of the Pioneer Cup.

2012 Richmond Kickers Preseason Schedule

DATE	TIME	OPPONENT	VENUE	TICKETS	BUY NOW!
Sat, February 25	6:30 PM	James Madison University	Ukrop Park	N/A	N/A
Sat, March 3	7:00 PM	Virginia Commonwealth University	Ukrop Park	$5.00
Sun, March 11	6:00 PM	Kickers Academy	Ukrop Park	N/A	N/A
Sat, March 17	7:00 PM	University of North Carolina	Ukrop Park	$5.00
Fri, March 23	7:00 PM	William & Mary, benefiting #stowestrong	Ukrop Park	$5.00
Sun, March 25	5:00 PM	Old Dominion University	Ukrop Park	N/A	N/A
Wed, March 28	7:00 PM	Longwood University	Ukrop Park	N/A	N/A
Sat, March 31	2:00 PM	University of Maryland	City Stadium	$5.00

ACROSS THE ACADEMY
A Weekly Summary of Development Academy News – Jan. 26, 2012

Across the Academy is a weekly summary of news related to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, highlighting Academy clubs, current and former players, youth national team activity and media coverage of the Academy. Across the Academy will be available for the duration of the 2011-12 season.

WHAT’S AHEAD:
U.S. U-17 Residency Program Finalized: A total of 31 players have been selected to join the U-17 Residency Program for the 2012 Spring Semester in Bradenton, Fla. There are 26 players representing 19 Development Academy clubs, with the New York Red Bulls sending six players and Chivas USA and Concorde Fire providing two each. The players are in the second semester of the two-year cycle in preparation for the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS:

Central Conference:

• The U-15/16 Dallas Texans continued their unbeaten 2011-2012 season with a 2-1 victory against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at the University of Texas at Dallas. Jason Machado and Brandon Aubrey netted goals in the sixth and 35th minutes as the Texans improved to 10-0-6 overall.
• The Solar Chelsea U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams posted two wins over the weekend during a sweep of Andromeda FC. The U-17/18 side posted a 6-1 victory on Saturday, with Jesse Miralrio Toledo and Hayden Partain each netting two goals. Mitchell LaGroe tallied two goals as the Solar Chelsea U-15/16 team posted a 5-1 victory against Andromeda FC.
• Lonestar SC Academy U-17/18 player Kekuta Manneh has moved into a first-place tie for the Development Academy scoring lead with his 20th goal over the weekend during a 3-2 loss to the Texas Rush. Manneh has played in 15 matches in 2011-12 (a 1.3 goals-per-game average). He shares the goal-scoring lead with James Carlin of the South Carolina United Battery U-15/16 team.

West Conference:

• Drew Murphy of the LA Galaxy U-17/18 team tallied three goals in a 28-minute span to lead the Galaxy past the California Development Academy on Saturday.
• De Anza Force and Pateadores both posted two-game sweeps over the weekend. De Anza Force also did not allow a goal as the U-15/16 side posted a 2-0 win against Cal Odyssey and the U-17/18 squad earned a 1-0 victory against Cal Odyssey. The Pateadores’ U-15/16 team had a 1-0 victory against Strikers FC, and the older group topped the Strikers 2-1.

PEAK PERFORMERS
Week 18 Player of the Week: John Chronopoulos, Forward, Santa Cruz Breakers Academy
John Chronopoulos scored three goals to lead the U-17/18 Santa Cruz Breakers Academy to a 4-2 victory against the San Jose Earthquakes. He is the first Breakers player to earn Player of the Week honors this season. Chronopoulos netted goals in the eighth, 37th and 60th minutes, and for the season, he has notched 12 goals in 15 games. Santa Cruz earned its first Northwest Division victory of the season.

Referee of the Week: Chris Mercado
Chris Mercado earns Referee of the Week honors for his performance in the U-17/18 Texas Division matchup between the Houston Dynamo and host Dallas Texans. Mercado is a grade 5, national candidate referee from Texas-South. He has worked more than 30 Academy matches and has attended the 2010 and 2011 Winter Showcases. Mercado was one of 50 referees to receive their first invitation to the Professional Referee Preseason Camp and hopes to work MLS games in the upcoming 2012 season. Mercado works during PDL and MLS Reserves matches.

ACADEMY ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES:
Williams Named U.S. U-17 MNT Head Coach: Former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Richie Williams was named by U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati to take over as head coach of the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team. Williams previously was the head coach of the U-18 MNT and the Mid-Atlantic Region technical advisor for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, but he will leave both positions to manage the Residency Program full-time in Bradenton, Fla.

Hamid Earns First U.S. MNT Cap: Development Academy alum Bill Hamid earned his first cap as the starting goalkeeper during the USA’s 1-0 win against Guatemala on Sunday. He needed to make only one save to become the ninth goalkeeper in U.S. history to collect a shutout in his first game.

Eight Academy Alumni at USL PRO Combine: The USL Pro is holding its combine this Thursday through Sunday at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. Eight Development Academy alumni are participating: J.J. Bilyeu (St. Louis Gallagher Missouri), Drew Russell (Crossfire Premier), Daniel Villegas (Kendall FC), Mark Lavery (Concorde Fire), Adrian Avila (Nomads SC), Juan Jose Nino (Texas Rush), Thomas Garner (CASL Chelsea FC Academy) and Travis Wall (Crew Soccer Academy).

ACADEMY IN THE NEWS:

Q & A With Former Academy Player Bill Hamid – DCUnited.com

U-23 MNT Wraps up January Camp – USSoccer.com

U-18 Players Impressed with Richie Williams – TopDrawerSoccer.com

Chivas Signs Former Academy Player of the Year Iraheta – ESPNLA.com

Philadelphia Union’s Pfeffer Enjoys Rise Through U.S. Ranks – PhiladelphiaUnion.com

MLS Academies Caught in the Tide – TopDrawerSoccer.com

Four Things to Know About …Danny Garcia of FC Dallas Juniors – Soccer America

CHICAGO (Jan. 24, 2012) - U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati has named former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Richie Williams as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team. Williams will oversee U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Residency Program from Bradenton, Fla., where the country’s elite players reside year-round and train in a professional environment.

"I’m excited about the opportunity to coach the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team and be with the players full-time in the Residency Program," Williams said. "It is a great responsibility as the players kick off the cycle toward the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but it is also an excellent platform for introducing them in more detail to the philosophies and style of play that are being integrated throughout the National Team programs."

Williams had previously been the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team and the Mid-Atlantic Region technical advisor for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, but will leave both positions to immediately take over the U-17 Residency Program full-time in Bradenton.

• 2012 Spring Semester Residency Roster

"Richie is an ideal candidate to guide the development of our young National Team players while also preparing the team during the next year to qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "His experience as a player and coach at the highest levels will allow him to continue to provide a professional environment for the players in our U-17 Residency Program."

Before joining U.S. Soccer, Williams spent five seasons with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls as an assistant coach. Williams began his coaching career in 2005 as an assistant coach for his alma mater, the University of Virginia.

As a player, Williams represented the U.S. Men’s National Team for five years from 1998-2002, compiling 20 appearances and 11 starts. During his professional career, he won three MLS Cups with D.C. United in 1996, 1997 and 1999.

The current crop of U.S. Under-17 players were born mostly in 1996, with three born in 1997, making all the players eligible for the upcoming CONCACAF qualifying tournament and FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 (2012 Spring Semester Roster). The U.S. Soccer Development Academy continues to have a growing influence on the U-17s, with 26 of the 31-player Residency roster stemming from Academy clubs. U.S. Soccer Technical Advisors continue to scour the country in search of the best players that are age eligible for the upcoming events in 2013.

The U-17 Residency Program has been a fixture of U.S. Soccer since 1999. The U.S. players live on campus at IMG Academies in Bradenton, and train in the morning before attending classes at St. Stephens Episcopal School. Along with training daily, the players regularly use IMG’s state-of-the-art strength-training facilities, and top-of-the-line soccer equipment and fields.

This setup has helped the U-17s with both individual player development and team development. Since its inception, more than 300 players have been through the Residency Program, and more than 100 of those players have moved on to MLS, or the professional leagues in Europe. A total of 24 players have also registered at least one cap with the full MNT.

The camp will take place Saturday, February 11 through Saturday, February 18 and will play an important role in the evaluation of players as this age group continues to progress through the U-15 Girls National Team cycle.  Cousins is a true U15 player, who currently plays an age group up with the Kickers U16 Girls Elite.

“We are thrilled with Katie’s selection into the U15 National training camp,” commented Rob Ukrop, Richmond Kickers U16 Girls Elite Coach.  “This is a tremendous honor for a young player who has worked hard over the last several years to develop her game.  Katie has a unique skill set that allows her to blend in with her teammates and make our team better in training and in games.”

Hosting the selected players for seven days of training and evaluation, the camp generally consists of training in the morning and matches in the afternoon. The evening includes programming designed to introduce the athletes to the National Team environment and how to prepare themselves for potential call-ups to national teams in the future.  The players for the training camp are selected by U.S. Soccer’s Technical Advisors and the national scouting network, a select group of scouts from throughout the United States.

Rivals since 1993, Richmond and Charleston, along with fellow USL PRO side Charlotte Eagles are the longest, continuously operating professional soccer clubs in the United States.  The Kickers first-ever league match against the Battery was on May 1, 1993 at Stoney Field in downtown Charleston.  The Battery claimed the 2-1 victory behind goals from Mario Lone and Nigel James, with Richmond’s current head coach Leigh Cowlishaw notching the lone goal for the Kickers. 

“I can still recall our first game against the Battery in 1993 and after countless challenges and obstacles, it is a testament to both clubs that twenty years later these two organizations are experiencing unprecedented success on and off the field,” commented Cowlishaw. 

“We are looking forward to kicking off our 2012 season against the Battery,” added Cowlishaw.  “There is no better feeling than beating them and I know their fans feel same way about beating the Kickers.  We are proud to have shared twenty memorable years with the Battery and expect a fiercely competitive set of matches to entertain the fans.”

Since their inception, the Kickers and the Battery have met 43 times over the past 19 seasons, with Charleston narrowly leading the all-time series record with 20 wins, 19 losses and four draws.  Most recently, both teams were successful on their home turf in 2011, as the clubs exchanged a 2-1 scoreline early in the season.  Despite combining for six league Championship titles (Charleston 1996, 2003, 2010; Richmond 1995, 2006, 2009), the two sides have only met in one high-stakes match, with the Battery stripping the Kickers of the USL Second Division crown in a heated 2-1 affair on August 28, 2010.  

Sharing more than just records and tradition, the Kickers and the Battery have seen several players on both sides of the pitch including Marco Ferruzzi, Mike Burke, Scott Cannon, Mac Cozier, Kevin Scott, Mario Lone, Greg Simmonds, Josh Henderson, Kelvin Jones, Luke Vercollone and Anthony Catalano.

Reserve your 2012 Season Passes and celebrate 20 years of professional soccer with the Richmond Kickers.  Richmond Kickers season passes offer unbeatable value, VIP benefits and incredibly low prices to all regular season home games.  Guaranteed to see 12 highly competitive USL PRO games for the best possible pricing, order a Family Pass ($129), All-Access Pass ($95) Adult Pro Pass ($60) or Youth Pro Pass ($30, ages 3-17). Individual tickets for regular season home games will remain $12/adults and $7/youth ages 3-17 for the fifth consecutive season.

“Our first season in USL PRO exceeded all expectations,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “We are looking forward to building upon that success and assembling a squad that can once again compete for a League Championship while making a strong run in the U.S. Open Cup.”

“It will no doubt be an exciting season for our fans,” added Cowlishaw.  “The level of play has never been better and with several events planned to celebrate our 20th season, it should prove to be a memorable year for the Kickers.”

Featuring six teams with more than a decade of operational experience, and more than 100 years of combined operational experience, USL PRO will field 11 teams playing a 24-game, primarily balanced schedule in a single-table format this season.  The Kickers will face all 10 opponents at Richmond City Stadium at least once this season including Antigua Barracuda FC, Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City Lions, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rochester Rhinos and Wilmington Hammerheads.  F.C. New York is no longer a member of USL PRO.

Richmond City Stadium, just off the Downtown Expressway, will once again serve as home base for the Kickers for the 2012 season.  Nine of the Kickers 12 regular season home games will be played on Saturdays with two matches taking place under the lights on Fridays, and a Tuesday, July 3 game rounding out the schedule.  The majority of home games will kick off at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of the home opener on April 7, which will begin at 5:00 p.m.  The Kickers home schedule will conclude with the fifth annual FAMILY FEST on Saturday, August 11 against the Harrisburg City Islanders before wrapping up the 2012 season one week later during a two-game road swing in Antigua.

The 2012 USL PRO Playoffs will include the top six finishers in the table, with the top two seeds receiving a first-round bye the weekend of August 24-26.  The semifinals featuring the four remaining teams will be played the following weekend, with the 2012 USL PRO Championship set for the weekend of September 7-9.  All playoff rounds will implement a single-game knockout format.

Established in 1993, the Richmond Kickers have consistently been one of the most successful professional soccer clubs in America.  Over the past 19 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 17 times, and reached the title match in 2010 for the sixth time in the past nine campaigns, falling just short of the Championship title.  Richmond’s seven previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009) 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 twice against Charlotte in 2006 and 2009. 

Tickets
Reserve your 2012 Season Passes and celebrate 20 years of professional soccer with the Richmond Kickers.  Richmond Kickers season passes offer unbeatable value, VIP benefits and incredibly low prices to all regular season home games.  Guaranteed to see 12 highly competitive USL PRO games for the best possible pricing, order a Family Pass ($129), All-Access Pass ($95) Adult Pro Pass ($60) or Youth Pro Pass ($30, ages 3-17). Individual tickets for regular season home games will remain $12/adults and $7/youth ages 3-17 for the fifth consecutive season. 

About USL PRO
USL PRO is the strongest, best operated and most experienced North American men’s professional soccer league below MLS, both on and off the field. Focused on franchise stability and longevity, USL PRO features an unprecedented six teams with more than a decade of operational experience. The league is focused on aggressive but deliberate growth by adding teams fully capable of meeting USL and USSF standards, which are located in markets that further promote regional league play. In addition to league play, USL PRO teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various domestic and international exhibitions. USL PRO is affiliated with the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Richmond Kickers 2012 Pro Schedule

HOME GAMES IN BOLD

This year’s U.S. Open Cup includes a 64-team field, which represents the largest in the modern era (1995 to present), eclipsing the previous record of 42 teams set in 2005 and 2006. It also is the largest expansion of teams (24) from a previous year in the competition’s recent history.

All Division I, II and III professional clubs will be participating in the tournament proper for the first time ever. The Division I field includes all 16 U.S.-based Major League Soccer teams, which is double the representation from the past five years and the first time since 2006 that all Division I teams will take part. Meanwhile, the Richmond Kickers will join all six U.S.-based North American Soccer League teams and nine fellow U.S.-based USL PRO teams to complete the balance of the 32 professional sides competing.

The amateur entries will feature 32 teams from various leagues affiliated with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association, including USASA regional qualifiers, the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League and US Club Soccer.

The Richmond Kickers enter the 2012 tournament in the second round on Tuesday, May 22 after making history with their remarkable run to the semifinals last season.  Becoming the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road, the Kickers ejected the Columbus Crew in the third round before handing Sporting Kansas City their first-ever loss at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in the quarterfinals.  Advancing to the semifinals for the second time in franchise history, the Kickers narrowly missed the Championship berth, conceding a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire last August.

“The team had a wonderful run in the competition last season and we are eager to replicate those historic events,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “The significant changes to the U.S. Open Cup competition place us one game away from MLS opposition with a fighting chance of hosting the game.  We are eager to take advantage of that situation and test ourselves against the best once more.”

• Read Cowlishaw's comments in US Soccer's Sidebar Article: Lower-Division Teams Relish Chance to Host Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Matches

Another revision heading into this year’s U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. This change gives each participating team with a venue meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting its possible opponent for these rounds.

All 2012 U.S. Open Cup matches until the final are scheduled for Tuesdays, with the championship taking place on either Tuesday, August 7, or Wednesday, August 8. In the first round, 32 amateur-level sides will be paired geographically, with the restriction that teams from the same qualifying pool (meaning USASA regional qualifiers, PDL and NPSL) cannot be paired. The first-round winners will face NASL or USL PRO clubs in the second round based on geographic proximity. Second-round winners play Major League Soccer clubs in the third round, matched on a geographic basis.

The opening portion of the U.S. Open Cup schedule will occur in rapid fashion as the first four rounds take place in back-to-back weeks from May 15 to June 5. The quarterfinals are set for June 26, the semifinals for July 10, and the final for August 7 or 8. The majority of the tournament will have only a minimal overlap with CONCACAF Champions League play.

The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, crowning a champion for 98 consecutive years beginning in 1914. Every winning team’s name is engraved on the base of the Dewar Challenge Trophy, which dates to the first year of the tournament and currently resides at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago.  The 2012 champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The top NASL, USL PRO and amateur clubs will each receive a $10,000 prize.

The 2012 season marks the 14th time the Richmond Kickers have qualified for the U.S. Open Cup over the past 20 seasons, with an overall record of 23-12 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 five times (1995, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2011) and the semifinal round twice (1995, 2011).  Ousting five Major League Soccer teams along the way, including Colorado Rapids in 2000, D.C. United in 2004, LA Galaxy in 2007 and Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in 2011, the Kickers became the first lower division team to defeat back-to-back MLS teams on the road.  With 77 total goals scored during the Open Cup, the Kickers have set several franchise records, as well as a Professional Era U.S. Open Cup record for most goals (12) during the 8-4 rout over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.  Most recently, Kickers midfielder David Bulow notched his 14th goal in U.S. Open Cup history against Sporting Kansas City in 2011, becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
April 29: Qualifying deadline
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
August 7 or 8: Final

Participating Professional Teams (32 total)
Major League Soccer (Division I – 16 teams): Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City.

North American Soccer League (Division II – 6 teams): Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies.

USL PRO (Division III – 10 teams): Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads.

Distribution of Amateur-Level Places (32 total)
U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers – 9 places: USASA regional qualifiers will increase their number of places in the tournament by one compared to 2011.

United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League – 16 places: The PDL will have the largest increase in representation among the amateur leagues since 2011, growing from nine slots.

National Premier Soccer League – 6.5 places: The NPSL is a national amateur league affiliated with the USASA. In previous years, its teams participated via USASA regional qualifying.

US Club Soccer – 0.5 place: U.S. Club Soccer is an organization member of U.S. Soccer.

Note: One team from the National Premier Soccer League will face a US Club Soccer representative for the final place in the tournament.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Facts
• Largest field of teams (64) in tournament proper in competition’s modern era (1995 to present), eclipsing previous record of 42 (2005, 2006) 

• Largest expansion of teams (24) from previous year in competition’s modern era
 
• First time in modern era where all U.S.-based Division I, II and III professional clubs will participate in tournament proper 

• Home teams through quarterfinal round to be determined by random selection (change from sealed bid process) 

• Largest field of professional teams (32) in tournament proper in competition’s modern era, eclipsing previous record of 28 (2000, 2001) 

• Largest field of amateur teams (32) in tournament proper in competition’s modern era, eclipsing previous record of 21 (2011)

The US Soccer Development Academy’s primary focus is player development.  Academy players are provided with the best opportunity to achieve their potential as elite soccer players. Academy players train with the best players in the region and compete against the best players in the entire Nation. The USSF Academy League is widely considered the number one development program in the nation.

Academy players are coached by Professional coaches Leigh Cowlishaw and Jesse Myers. The coaching staff has over 25 years of professional coaching, youth coaching and ten years of college coaching experience.

• Leigh Cowlishaw - Pro Team Head Coach (USSF A License)
• Jesse Myers - Pro Team Assistant Coach (NSCAA Premier Coaching License/USSF B License)

Training and matches are played at Ukrop Park. Ukrop Park, home of the Richmond Kickers, has been identified as a potential team base camp to be included in the United States bid for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups™. The sports complex has been chosen as a possible training camp to host one of the 32 competing soccer nations, if the USA is awarded the honor to host either the 2018 or 2022 events. Team Base Camps will provide the visiting teams with a ‘home away from home’ and outstanding fitness and training facilities to help them in their final preparations for the biggest sporting event in the world.

During the Fall 2009 – Spring 2010 season, the Pre Academy pool of players participated in a U14 Pre Academy Showcase in Pennsylvania and friendly games in the month of January and February against Pre Academy teams from the following Academy Clubs - CASL (NC), Charlotte Soccer Academy (NC), North Meck Soccer Club (NC), South Carolina United (SC), VA Rush (VA) and Richmond Strikers (VA).  In addition to the friendly matches, players in the PreAcademy pool were part of a comprehensive training program in the months of December, January and February. Finally, select U14 Pre-Academy players were invited by the US Soccer Academy Scouts to participate in several one day Market Training Centers (a one day training session for the best players from various U14 Pre Academy teams) to be further evaluated by the US Soccer Development Academy Technical Staff.

To be considered for the PreAcademy in 2010 a player must be an elite level player from either the Richmond Kickers or an outside club. Players selected to participate in the Richmond Kickers U14 Pre-Academy program will be automatically placed on a Richmond Kickers Elite team in their respective age group for the Fall 2010 – Spring 2011 seasonal year.

Players who fit the criteria are encouraged to try out for the Pre-Academy team on March 20th from 9 am to 11 am at UkropPark. Go to www.richmondkickers.com to sign up now. If you have any further questions please contact our US Soccer Academy Director, Jesse Myers; jmyers@richmondkickers.com or 804.644.5425 ext. 306.

"Our coaching staff was pleased with the quality of play at our February tryout and we were delighted when three of the players identified agreed to sign with the club,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer and Head Coach.  “David, Charlie and Stephen are excellent additions and we foresee them playing a major role in our quest to repeat as USL Champions."

A native of Westport, CT, Reiter joins the Kickers after an outstanding collegiate career with the Davidson Wildcats. Reiter appeared in every game of his college career, and had a breakout senior season after moving from the midfield position to forward. Reiter finished 2009 ranking sixth nationally in points per game (1.78), eighth in goals per game (0.67) and 29th in assists per game (0.44). Voted Team MVP by his teammates, and the Southern Conference Player of the Year by the league’s coaches, Reiter was also named to the First Team All Southern Conference, NSCAA All South Region First Team, and North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State team.

Reiter achieved on and off the field while at Davidson, and was recognized in 2009 as a CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine First-Team Academic All-American and a NSCAA/adidas First-Team Scholar All-American. Reiter finished his senior season with an astounding 12 goals and eight assists, tallying four game winning goals and 32 points overall.  Before Davidson, Reiter played at St. Stephen’s High School, and spent his senior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.  The 6’1” forward follows in the footsteps of Davidson graduate and former Kickers pro, Rob Ukrop, who now serves as the President of the Kickers Board of Directors.

Ugandan National Team midfielder Nsereko joins the Kickers pro team in 2010 upon graduating from Winthrop University.  Named All-Big South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2006, the three-time All-Big South First Team honoree made 69 appearances with the Eagles, notching five goals and adding 19 assists for 29 points over four seasons. 

A native of Holland, MI, Hertel made his professional debut with USL-2 rivals Real Maryland Monarchs on August 1st in Richmond against the Kickers, signing with Maryland following a standout career with the Michigan Bucks in the USL Premier Development League.  Named to the PDL All-League First Team in 2009, Hertel appeared in all 16 matches, breaking out as an offensive threat, notching eight goals and two assists. 

Hertel finished his college soccer career in the fall of 2008 at Michigan State University, leading the Spartans to Big Ten regular season and tournament championships, while being selected First Team All Big Ten.  He was protected by Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) and spent nearly a month training with the top club before cutting ties and heading back to East Lansing to finish his final credit hours to secure his college degree.

The defending USL Second Division Champions, Richmond Kickers are set to open their 2010 home season with a Pro-Am Challenge featuring NCAA Champions University of Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday, April 3. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM at the University of Richmond Stadium and tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

First Annual Pro-Am Challenge April 3rd
The Kickers welcome the University of Virginia men’s soccer team to open their 18th season in a unique Pro-Am Challenge pitting the USL Second Division Champions versus the NCAA Champions on Saturday, April 3rd.   Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. The Cavaliers captured their sixth NCAA Championship, and first since 1994, with a 3-2 penalty kick shootout win over Akron in the NCAA Championship final last December.  The Cavaliers (19-3-3) ended the season on a 16-game unbeaten streak.

Former Kickers youth player and Thomas Dale High School graduate Jordan Evans played an integral role in clinching the championship title for UVA.  Evans entered the game in the second half and played through two golden goal overtime periods.  With the score tied at 0-0, the game entered sudden death penalty kicks with the Cavaliers winning in dramatic fashion, 3-2.

Other local standouts include Will Bates, a Thomas Dale High School graduate, who was recently named Soccer America’s Freshman of the Year.  Bates led the Cavaliers with 12 goals and an assist in 2009 and was a member of the ACC’s All-Freshman team.  Other local talent slated to appear is former Deep Run High School Most Valuable Player, Brian Ownby. 

Regular Season Kicks Off April 17th
The defending champions Kickers will compete alongside USL-2 opponents Charlotte Eagles, Charleston Battery, Harrisburg City Islanders, Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Real Maryland Monarchs.  Former USL-2 foes Bermuda Hogges and Western Mass Pioneers have realigned with the Premier Development League for the 2010 campaign.  Playing a 20-game balanced schedule, the Kickers will face each team home and away twice.  In 2010, the regular season will run for 18 weeks, kicking off the weekend of April 17 and concluding August 14.

The Kickers will take home field advantage at the University of Richmond Stadium (just off the Downtown Expressway) for the entire 2010 home season, including the preseason exhibition featuring the University of Virginia.  Ten of the Kickers 11 home games will be played on Saturdays with the only exception being a match against the Charlotte Eagles on Friday, May 21st.

Established in 1993, the Richmond Kickers pro team has consistently been one of the most successful professional soccer clubs in America.  Over the past 17 seasons, Richmond has qualified for postseason play 15 times, and reached the title match in 2009 for the fifth time in the past eight campaigns, claiming their second

Championship crown in four seasons.  Richmond’s six previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007) 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 against Charlotte in 2006.  In addition to on-field success, the Kickers have taken United Soccer Leagues Organization of the Year honors on five occasions (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009).

Playoffs
The top three teams advance to the postseason with the regular season champion playing host to the league championship. The second and third seeds will meet the weekend of August 21 to determine the other finalist for the championship game the following weekend.

Tickets
General admission tickets for the Pro-Am Challenge, featuring the University of Virginia are $12/adults and $7/youth and are on sale now via RichmondKickers.com.

Regular season home games will remain $12/adults and $7/youth ages 3-17 for the third consecutive season.  Order tickets in advance via RichmondKickers.com and receive a $2.00 off discount per ticket. 

Back by popular demand, the Kickers will continue to offer an affordable and convenient single season pass, which includes admission to every 2010 regular season home game.  Enjoy all of the Kickers Pro regular season home games for the best possible pricing with a 2010 Family Pass ($119), All-Access Pass ($90) Adult Pro Pass ($55) or Youth Pro Pass ($20, ages 3-17). 

Order your 2010 Season Pass by February 5th and purchase tickets to the UVA exhibition for just $7.00!  Please note: Adult Pro Passes, Youth Pro Passes, Family Passes, Coach Passes and Flexi-Tickets will not be accepted at the UVA exhibition on April 3rd.      

About Richmond Kickers Soccer Club
Today over 6,000 soccer players participate in programs sponsored by the Richmond Kickers and partner clubs, including Midlothian Youth Soccer League, Ashland Youth Soccer League, City of Richmond Parks and Rec., Goochland United Soccer Association and little KICKS. The Kickers travel program consists of 64 teams and over 900 players who compete in the US Soccer Academy Program, Super Y-League, VCCL and ADSL.  The club was recently named as one of only 30 adidas Sports Marketing Clubs in the U.S. The Richmond Kickers Soccer Club provides opportunities for all players of all abilities and unites soccer in the Central Virginia community.  Benefits include economy of scale, consistency of coaching philosophy, professional administrative and coaching staff expertise, positive role models for youth players and a clear pathway from youth to pro for aspiring young players.

2010 Richmond Kickers Pro Soccer Schedule

Home Games in Bold.
*Exhibition
 

The 2010 camp program opens April 5th with the First Kicks and Academy Spring Break Camps at the Kickers state-of-the-art sports complex, Ukrop Park.  For your youngest soccer player, ages 4-6, the First Kicks camp is a great introduction to soccer and the fundamental skills of the game.  For experienced players ages 6-14, sign up for the Academy Spring Break Camp.  This camp includes a variety of activities such as technical ball skills, 1v1 activities, 4v4 tournaments, shoot outs and fun competitions. 
Back by popular demand is the second annual Richmond Kickers Pro Camp, to be held July 5-9.  Train and play like the pros at the University of Richmond Stadium, Richmond’s home of pro soccer.  Players age 8-16 will receive instruction by Kickers pro players all week, 9:00am-12:00pm, and can also be dropped off early to watch the pro team train. 

New in 2010 is the Street Soccer Camp, July 12-16 at Ukrop Park, which introduces innovative coaching techniques to develop exciting skills for the modern game leading to increased ball mastery and creativity. Players will develop an improved technical proficiency and confidence on the ball and enjoy the passionate yet relaxed street soccer learning environment. 

The Richmond Kickers camp staff is comprised of professional players and nationally licensed coaches who serve as role models to the youth community.  Camp participants will be grouped by age and ability, receiving age-appropriate instruction.  For a complete camp schedule or to register online, visit RichmondKickers.com.  For a free consultation about which camp is the right camp for your child, please contact Andy McIntosh, Director of Soccer Camps at 804-644-5425 x 309 or amcintosh@richmondkickers.com for more information. 

• 2010 Camp Schedule
• Don’t delay!  Register now!

First Annual Pro-Am Challenge April 3rd
The Kickers welcome the University of Virginia men’s soccer team to open their 18th season in a unique Pro-Am Challenge pitting the USL Second Division Champions versus the NCAA Champions on Saturday, April 3rd.   Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. The Cavaliers captured their sixth NCAA Championship, and first since 1994, with a 3-2 penalty kick shootout win over Akron in the NCAA Championship final last December.  The Cavaliers (19-3-3) ended the season on a 16-game unbeaten streak.