With 34 high definition TVs and eight 10-foot projection screens, Buffalo Wild Wings is conveniently located at 12056 Southshore Pointe Drive in Midlothian. Wear your Kickers jersey and join your favorite players to watch this historic match up when it kicks off at 2:45 p.m.

• Click HERE for directions

The Kickers Viewing Party Series will continue on June 10th for the Spain versus Italy match at Buffalo Wild Wings 7801 W. Broad Street and will conclude on July 1st for the Euro 2012 Championship at Buffalo Wild Wings 1090 Virginia Center Parkway.
 

“Our long term goal is simple,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach and Director of Soccer.  “Improve each day, qualify for the playoffs then perform at our best when it matters. A strong performance on Friday is definitely needed if we are to accomplish that feat.”

The Kickers meet the Riverhounds for the first time this season, after posting a 2-1 record against their USL PRO rivals in 2011.  The two clubs last faced off in Pittsburgh on July 30, 2011 when the Riverhounds avenged two earlier season losses by shutting out the Kickers 2-0 on their home turf.  Notching a 2-1 victory at City Stadium early in the season, the Kickers later ousted the Riverhounds from the 2011 U.S. Open Cup.  Midfielder David Bulow and forward Matthew Delicâte each added a pair of goals to the 4-1 scoreline to send the Kickers through to the next round, en route to a historic Semifinals finish.

With an early season record of 1-2-3, the Kickers have posted three consecutive ties during regular season action.  Last time out, back to back goals on either side of the half saw the Kickers battle the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 2-2 draw.  The Kickers took an early lead when Delicâte and USL PRO Team of the Week honoree Christopher Agorsor teamed up in the 8th minute before conceding a goal to Harrisburg seconds later.  The teams went back and forth once more in the second half when Agorsor recorded his first goal of the season before City Islanders newcomer Yann Ekra notched the equalizer two minutes later.

Meanwhile, the Riverhounds are searching for their first win since a 2-0 victory over Dayton on April 21.  Dropping narrow losses to three of the league’s toughest teams on the road, Charleston, Wilmington and Orlando, the Riverhounds most recently conceded a 3-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Blues last weekend.  Prior to Friday’s match-up against the Kickers, the Riverhounds must first travel to Harrisburg on Wednesday, May 16.

Overall, the Kickers hold a 13-8-4 record over the Riverhounds, with a rivalry dating back to 1999 when the two franchises competed in the USL First Division.  Swapping home field advantage on Friday, July 13, the Kickers host the Riverhounds at 7 p.m. at Richmond City Stadium to conclude the two-game regular season series.

UEFA Champions League Final Viewing Party
The Richmond Kickers pro players, coaches and staff are pleased to host a Viewing Party at Buffalo Wild Wings on Saturday, May 19 to watch two of Europe’s greatest teams compete for club soccer’s biggest prize when Germany’s FC Bayern Munich host Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League Final.

With 34 high definition TVs and eight 10-foot projection screens, Buffalo Wild Wings is conveniently located at 12056 Southshore Pointe Drive in Midlothian. Fans and players are encouraged to wear a Kickers jersey and join the pro team to watch this historic match up when it kicks off at 2:45 p.m.

The Kickers Viewing Party Series will continue on June 10th for the Spain versus Italy match at Buffalo Wild Wings 7801 W. Broad Street and will conclude on July 1st for the Euro 2012 Championship at Buffalo Wild Wings 1090 Virginia Center Parkway.  Learn more at RichmondKickers.com. 

Saturday, May 12, 2012 Richmond City Stadium
Richmond Kickers                   2  (Delicate 8’, Agorsor 78’)                      
Harrisburg City Islanders      2   (Noone 9’, Ekra 80’)                      

RICHMOND, VA – Back to back goals on either side of the half saw the Richmond Kickers battle the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 2-2 draw Saturday night.  The Kickers took an early lead when forwards Matthew Delicate and Christopher Agorsor teamed up in the 8th minute before conceding a goal to Harrisburg forward J.T. Noone seconds later.  The teams went back and forth once more in the second half when Agorsor recorded his first goal of the season before City Islanders newcomer Yann Ekra notched the equalizer two minutes later.

The excitement began immediately out of the gates when the Kickers had the opportunity to break the ice in the 7th minute.  Shane Johnson stole the ball off his mark deep on the left wing and fed it to Delicate who played it quickly back to Stanley Nyazamba positioned 20 yards out.  With one touch, he served a perfectly placed cross to an awaiting Agorsor but his miss hit was forced wide of the far post.

Lining up the resulting corner kick, Sascha Görres played the ball back to Luke Vercollone who served an inswinger into the box.  Kickers defender William Yomby won the ball in the air but his determined header rattled the crossbar.

Not to be denied again, the Kickers opened scoring seconds later when Agorsor carried the ball to the top of the 18 and slotted it to Delicate just inside the box.  The big forward turned and fired a low driven ball inside the far post, just past the diving Harrisburg goalkeeper.

The home side’s lead was short-lived and their celebrations were cut short when the City Islanders leveled the score 30 seconds later.  A poor pass out of the back allowed Noone to pick up the ball unmarked 12 yards out and he one-timed a shot into the far left corner.

A high energy first half saw several missed chances as both teams attempted to take the lead before the break but it was not until the 78th minute that the Kickers broke through the Harrisburg defense.

Delicate and Agorsor teamed up once again when Ryan Heins delivered a cross into a crowded box.  Positioned at the far post, Delicate beat his mark and volleyed the ball against the inside of the post.  The rebounding ball slipped across the goalmouth and connected with an onrushing Agorsor who tapped it over the finish line.

Minutes later, the Kickers gave up their lead for the second time of the night when Jason Pelletier put a cross into the box where Ekra was waiting 8 yards out.  The second half substitute won the ball in the air and made no mistake when he headed it to the near post to bring the score level once more.

As the final whistle loomed near, the Kickers had one last attempt to take all three points when Görres’ cross found his target in the box, but Agorsor’s diving header sailed just over the crossbar.

Next up, the Richmond Kickers head north to take on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.  Previously scheduled to play on Saturday, the Kickers and the Riverhounds match has been rescheduled to Friday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Chartiers Valley Stadium.  The Kickers return to City Stadium one week later to host the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m.
  

Box Score      First Half     Second Half      Final
Richmond             1                     1                   2
Harrisburg           1                     1                   2

Scoring Summary
8th minute: Richmond: Matthew Delicate (Christopher Agorsor)
9th minute: Harrisburg: J.T. Noone
78th minute: Richmond: Christopher Agorsor (Matthew Delicate)
80th minute: Harrisburg: Yann Ekra (Jason Pelletier)

Lineups
Kickers: GK Ronnie Pascale, William Yomby (Edson Elcock – 72’), Henry Kalungi, Shane Johnson, Sascha Görres, Luke Vercollone, Stanley Nyazamba, Gerson Dos Santos, Ryan Heins (David Bulow – 87’), Christopher Agorsor, Matthew Delicate 
 
City Islanders: GK Nick Noble, Stephen Basso, Tommy Brandt, Andrew Marshall, Bilal Duckett, Jason Pelletier, Andrew Welker, J.T. Noone (Garrett Pettis – 81’), Morgan Langley (Yann Ekra – 61’), Brian Ombiji (Tom Mellor – 82’), Sainey Touray

Shots                           Saves                         Fouls                             Corners
City Islanders:    10     City Islanders:    3      City Islanders:   17        City Islanders:    3 
Kickers:               14     Kickers:               2      Kickers:             10         Kickers:  6

Cautions:
11th minute: Christopher Agorsor (Richmond)
44th minute: Jason Pelletier (Harrisburg) 
58th minute: Morgan Langley (Harrisburg)
89th minute: Andrew Welker (Harrisburg)

Ejections:
None

Referee:    Andrew Chapin
Assistant Referees:   JT Alunkonis, Ben Hichak
Fourth Official:    Jeff Skinker
Attendance:    2,273
Weather:    Sunny, 75º

The Footskills Camp is a camp for players that are looking to improve their technique. This camp is aimed at higher level recreational players and travel players, and the camp will follow the curriculum below:

Monday - turns
Tuesday - stops and starts
Wednesday - moves to beat a defender
Thursday - combinations of moves
Friday - recap

Each day will start at 9am with a technical warm up with the ball, followed by technical work and 1v1 activities related to the topic of the day.  This will be followed with progressively more challenging activities on the topic of the day until 11am. There will be a 15 minute snack break at 11am to allow the players to hydrate and cool down. The players will then participate in a small sided world cup tournament designed to encourage them to use the topic of the day. The afternoon session is an extension of the morning with more advanced technical work and many different game realistic situations to bring out the topic of the day.

All players will receive a cool Richmond Kickers replica jersey t-shirt, team poster and a ticket to a Kickers home game. This is a fantastic camp - register now at RichmondKickers.com!

The Topdrawersoccer.com national player rankings are based on input from scouts, staff and coaches at various levels.  Check out the list of the top 150 players in the USA.

The Kickers stress the values of teamwork, fairness, and commitment. If you’re ready to join the club making a difference in our community one player at a time, come experience the Richmond Kickers!

REGISTER NOW!

State Cup Results - May 5, 2012
U12 Girls:  Richmond Kickers 2, Loudon Red 1
U12 Boys: Richmond Kickers Red 0, Loudon Red 3
U12 Boys: Richmond Kickers White 1, McLean MPS 0
U13 Girls: Richmond Kickers 3, SOCA 0
U13 Boys: Richmond Kickers 0, Arlington Attack 1
U14 Boys: Richmond Kickers 2, Richmond Strikers 1

The Kickers are nationally recognized for developing the best youth soccer players in the game, but did you also know that we are just as focused on developing our players off the field?

The Kickers stress the values of teamwork, fairness, and commitment. If you’re ready to join the club making a difference in our community one player at a time, come experience the Richmond Kickers!

REGISTER NOW!

The Richmond Kickers have an excellent tradition of developing goalkeepers under the tutelage and guidance of Kickers pro and three-time USL Goalkeeper of the Year Ronnie Pascale. Recent Academy players to graduate to Division I College programs include Andrew Wells, VCU and Anthony Groben, Towson University.

Meet the ‘keepers:

NAME: CHRISTIAN ALCORN
HEIGHT:  6’ 0"
WEIGHT:  185 lbs
DATE OF BIRTH:  09/19/94
HOMETOWN: Richmond, VA
HIGH SCHOOL:  St Christopher’s School
LAST TEAM:  Richmond Kickers U-18 Academy
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUB EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Richmond Kickers Elite Teams from U-10 to U-14
     2008 Super-Y North American Finals
     2010 ODP/Super-Y National ID Camp First Selection-1994 Boys
     2009/2010 -  Richmond Kickers U-16 Academy
     2010/2011 - Richmond Kickers U-16 Academy
     2011/2012 - Richmond Kickers U-18 Academy
     2012 - Assistant Coach for Kicker’s ADP
HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     St. Christopher’s School Varsity Soccer - 2011
     VISAA 2011 All-Prep and All State First Team for Division I - Keeper
ACADEMIC HONORS: Honor Roll 2009- 2012
PERSONAL HOBBIES:  Sailing, Hunting
FAVORITE PLAYER:  Tim Howard
FAVORITE TEAM:  Everton

NAME: RYAN ANDERSON
HEIGHT: 6’5”
WEIGHT: 180 lbs
DATE OF BIRTH: 02/21/96
HOMETOWN: Midlothian, VA
HIGH SCHOOL:  Manchester High School
LAST TEAM: Richmond Kickers U16 Academy
POSITION:  Goalkeeper
CLUB EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Richmond Kickers Classic Travel U10 - U13
     Richmond Kickers Elite Travel U14 - U15
     Richmond Kickers Pre Academy
     Richmond Kickers Academy U16
     Richmond Kickers Academy U18
HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Starting Varsity Goal Keeper Freshman and Sophomore Years
     Dominion District All Academic Team Freshman Year
     Varsity MVP Freshman Year
     Varsity Team Capt. Sophomore Year
ACADEMIC HONORS:  Dominion District All Academic Team; SMART Mentor
PERSONAL HOBBIES:  Travel, Golf, Watching any sport
FAVORITE PLAYER:  Tim Howard
FAVORITE TEAM:  Chelsea FC

NAME:  SAWYER GAFFNEY
HEIGHT:  5’8”
WEIGHT:  115 lbs
DATE OF BIRTH:  05/07/1997
HOMETOWN:  Chesterfield, VA
HIGH SCHOOL:  The Collegiate School
LAST TEAM:  Richmond Kickers U15 Boys Elite
POSITION:  Goalkeeper
CLUB EXPERIENCE & HONORS:
     Three consecutive years on a Richmond Kickers Elite team
OTHER EXPERIENCE & HONORS:       
     District and State ODP Teams 2011-2012
     Super Y-League 2008-2010
     Pre-Academy 2010-2012
ACADEMIC HONORS:  National Junior Honor Society; Straight A’s for two consecutive years
PERSONAL HOBBIES:  Basketball, Working out, Running, Goalkeeper Training, Refereeing, Paintball,  Hanging out with my twin  
FAVORITE PLAYER:  Peter Schmeichel
FAVORITE TEAM:  Manchester United

NAME:  ANDREW ROMIG
HEIGHT:  5’ 10”
WEIGHT:  145 lbs
DATE OF BIRTH:  03/25/98
HOMETOWN:  Midlothian, VA
HIGH SCHOOL:  St. Christopher’s School
LAST TEAM:  Richmond Kickers U15 Boys Elite
POSITION:  Goalkeeper
CLUB EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Richmond Kickers Travel U9 – U10, Richmond Kickers Elite U11 – U15
OTHER EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Virginia State ODP 2011/2012
     Region I ODP 2011/2012
     U.S. Soccer U14 National Development Pool
ACADEMIC HONORS:  Honor Roll
PERSONAL HOBBIES:  Soccer, Golf, Basketball, Church Youth Group
FAVORITE PLAYER:  Oliver Kahn, Tim Howard, Petr Cech
FAVORITE TEAM:  Barcelona FC, Everton

NAME:  JONATHAN WHYTE
HEIGHT:  5’ 9”
WEIGHT:  135 lbs
DATE OF BIRTH:  08/17/97
HOMETOWN:  Charlottesville, VA
HIGH SCHOOL:  The Covenant School
LAST TEAM:  SOCA U14 Elite
POSITION:  Goalkeeper
CLUB EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     Elite Team SOCA starting Keeper for four years
     VCCL age group champions for each of the four years
     SOCA Club Elite Team Captain
     Tournament MVP adidas Shootout, North Carolina 2010
OTHER EXPERIENCE AND HONORS: 
     National ID Camp Selection 2011
     VCCL Select Team Keeper Dallas Cup 2012
     ODP Virginia State Pool 2010/11 and 2011/12, selected to all tournament   team from pool
     Virginia State ODP team Keeper for Regional Tournament
     Starting Varsity Keeper for The Covenant School 2011 as an 8th grader leading team to State Quarterfinals for the first time in school history
ACADEMIC HONORS: Honors for each semester 2009, 2010, 2011 at The Covenant School, Leadership Award Nominee, Science Department Award for Excellence
PERSONAL HOBBIES:  Soccer, Baseball, Reading, History, Travel
FAVORITE PLAYER:  Manuel Neuer, German National Team and Bayern Munich Goalkeeper
FAVORITE TEAM:  Manchester United

Stay tuned to RichmondKickers.com for more Academy commitments in the upcoming weeks.

About Kickers Cost-Free Academy
The Richmond Kickers are searching for the most talented and dedicated soccer players in the state of Virginia to join their 2012-13 cost-free U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Designed for the serious soccer player born 1994-2000, seeking to reach his full potential by playing and training at the highest level, the Kickers Academy is committed to excellence on and off the field, playing with and against the best that U.S. Soccer offers. To be considered for a guaranteed position on the 2012-13 U16 or U18 team, please click HERE to register now.

In this year’s tournament, the Richmond Kickers will either face the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo or the USASA’s Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC in the second round on 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.”

The 99th edition of the 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.

All Division I, II and III professional clubs are 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, all six U.S.-based North American Soccer League teams (Division II) and all 10 U.S.-based USL PRO teams (Division III) complete the balance of the 32 professional sides competing (also a modern record). This 2012 competition marks the first year that clubs representing the NASL will participate in America’s oldest national soccer tournament.

The Kickers have the strongest U.S. Open Cup ties among this early-round field. The Kickers won the 1995 U.S. Open Cup when they were part of the USL’s Premier Development League, defeating the El Paso Patriots in a shootout following a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time

The amateur entries feature 32 teams from various leagues 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.

All 2012 U.S. Open Cup matches until the final are scheduled for Tuesdays, with the championship taking place on either Tuesday, Aug. 7, or Wednesday, Aug. 8. In the first round, 32 amateur-level sides are 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 face Division II or Division III clubs in the second round based on geographic proximity. Second-round winners play Division I 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 Aug. 7 or 8. The majority of the tournament will have only a minimal overlap with CONCACAF Champions League play.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
FIRST ROUND - Tuesday, May 15
Jacksonville United (NPSL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at FC Sonic (NPSL): Ulrich Sports Complex, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, Pa.; 7:05 p.m. ET

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Jersey Shore Boca (USASA) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL): Memorial Field, Deering High School; Portland, Maine; 8 p.m. ET

N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA) at Reading United AC (PDL): TBD

Croatian Eagles (USASA) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT

Des Moines Menace (PDL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT

ASC New Stars (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL): Texas A&M International University; Laredo, Texas; 8:15 p.m. CT

K.C. Athletics (USASA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL): Shea Stadium; Littleton, Colo.; 7 p.m. MT

NTX Rayados (USASA) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer): Academica Fields; Turlock, Calif.; 7 p.m. PT

USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:10 p.m. PT

USASA Region IV Club (TBD) at Kitsap Pumas (PDL): Bremerton Memorial Stadium; Bremerton, Wash.; 7:15 p.m. PT

Ventura County Fusion (PDL) vs. Fullerton Rangers (NPSL): TBD

SECOND ROUND- Tuesday, May 22
Jersey Shore Boca (USASA)/Michigan Bucks (PDL) Winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO): Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)/FC Sonic (NPSL) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET

USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Kitsap Pumas (PDL) Winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO): Legion Sports Complex; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET

USASA Region IV Club (TBD)/Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET

Fresno Fuego (PDL)/Stanislaus United Turlock Express (US Club Soccer) Winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL): Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

K.C. Athletics (USASA)/Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET

N.Y. Greek Americans (USASA)/Reading United AC (PDL) Winner at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Brooklyn Italians (NPSL)/GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) Winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO): Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL): Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City U-23s (PDL): Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 1 p.m. ET

Carolina Dynamo (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET

OR

Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA): Maryland SportsPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET

Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL): RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

OR

Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET

ASC New Stars (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL): Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 6 p.m. CT

OR

Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) vs. Croatian Eagles (USASA): TBD

Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL): Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 7:30 p.m. CT

OR

Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Milwaukee Bavarians (NPSL): Bavarian Soccer Park; Glendale, Wis.; 7 p.m. CT

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at NTX Rayados (USASA): Richland College; Dallas, Texas; 8 p.m. CT

OR

Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL): Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 8 p.m. MT

Ventura County Fusion (PDL)/Fullerton Rangers (NPSL) Winner at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO): Titan Stadium, Cal-State Fullerton; Fullerton, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule (Per Round)
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
Aug. 7 or 8: Final

Register Now!

“We are excited to add 3v3 Live to our Kickers Tournament Series,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer.  “This will be a unique tournament where friends, teammates and neighbors can create their own team and assign their own coach.  The event is sure to be action packed with music and a festival atmosphere at one of the best complexes on the East Coast.”

The 3v3 format offers fast-paced, skill building, fun soccer that involves every player constantly touching the ball.  Teams may have up to six players and can be organized by parents or coaches.  Guaranteed a minimum of four 20-minute games, each player will receive an official 3v3 Live Tour t-shirt and medals will be awarded to the players on the top three teams in each division, while the top four teams in each division automatically qualify for the Premier division at any 3v3 Live Regional event. 

“The most attractive component to the 3v3 Live tournament is that our entire Kickers membership can participate,” added Cowlishaw.  “The tournament is open to all ages and levels of play and it will be a great day to have all our players and families experience this fun-filled event.”

To cap off the event in style, each tournament participate will receive a ticket to see two of the best professional teams outside Major League Soccer as the Richmond Kickers battle USL PRO rivals Rochester Rhinos later that evening at City Stadium.

Tournament fees are $190 per team before June 3 and $210 after the early registration deadline.  Register now at RichmondKickers.com.

Exceptional Coaching Staff
From its inception 12 years ago, the Kickers committed unparalleled resources to our girls program and our Nationally Licensed coaching staff has been practically unchanged. Ihor Dotsenko, Technical Director, Mike Burke and Andy McIntosh, Assistant Technical Directors, Rob Ukrop, Sean Kastetter, Lenny Carlson and Summers Hambrick have been providing consistent, quality coaching to our girls for the past eight years, sharing the same vision and philosophy and making a difference in the girls’ development, one player at a time.

Proven Player Development
Our philosophy and curriculum has been in place for over 10 years.  Our teams always play attractive, highly-skilled, possession soccer. Yet, while our team results have been impressive over the last few years, our individual girl’s accomplishments have been even more so. Katie Cousins has been regularly called up into the U15 National team, Payton Cook and Alyson Brown are a constant presence on the 1996 and 1995 Region 1 teams, Seeley Yoo has been invited to participate in the id2 National identification program and 18 different girls have been invited to participate in the US Soccer Training Centers conducted by the US Soccer National team staff.

College Commitments
In the next two years the Kickers will graduate over 15 players to Collegiate Division I Schools as well as countless Division II and III Schools. The Class of 2012 will graduate Morgan Conklin to Virginia Tech, Meghan Musgrove to William & Mary, Ashley Riefner to University of Richmond, Megan Weast to Christopher Newport University, Elizabeth Weast and Michelle Gibbons to University of Mary Washington, Katie Cersley to Troy University and Caroline Gill to Milligan College. Continuing this tradition, 50% of the players on the current U17 Girls Elite team (Class of 2013) have already verbally committed to Division 1 programs, including Virginia Tech, NC State, James Madison University, Longwood University and Radford University.

Winning Tradition
A winning mentality is important especially when playing the style of soccer we require of our players.  Just over the last five years, the Richmond Kickers Girls have been crowned VCCL Champions 10 consecutive times,  have won three State Cup Championships, were Super Y-League National Finalists twice and our U13 Girls Elite team finished second in last year’s Regional competition.

Facilities
We own and operate two of the best facilities on the East Coast, Ukrop Park and Hensley Park for a combined 125-acres and 16 beautiful natural grass and synthetic turf fields. In addition, we have access to SportsQuest, Collegiate Robins Campus, City Stadium and Bryan Park.

Join the Club
The Kickers are nationally recognized for developing the best youth soccer players in the game, but did you also know that we are just as focused on developing our players off the field?

The Kickers stress the values of teamwork, fairness, and commitment. If you’re ready to join the club making a difference in our community one player at a time, come experience the Richmond Kickers!  Register now!

Richmond, VA – (Monday, March 19, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the restructuring and enhancement of all existing travel programs for the 2012-2013 season.  After careful consideration of the ever-changing youth soccer market, the Kickers have added significant value to each program with all improvements consistent with the club’s philosophy to create the best environment possible for player development.  All Kickers travel programs will provide greater emphasis on training, following U.S. Soccer guidelines on player development while continuing to provide unparalleled value for all segments of the club’s travel programs.

The significant changes include summer preseason training to replace the former Super Y-League program, an all-inclusive travel fee which provides year-round training opportunities for each program, additional winter training practices and an overall focus and emphasis on training and coaching expertise.  Additionally, two full-time staff members will be added to the technical staff with the directive to oversee and enhance all aspects of the club’s nationally recognized travel program, effective June 15.

The travel tryout schedule will be posted online at RichmondKickers.com by April 1, while Coaching Assignments for all travel teams will be posted mid-April.

For a detailed overview of each Kickers Travel Program please review below:  
 
Academy Teams: (U16-U18 Boys)
With the move to a 10-month season, the Kickers’ unrivalled cost-free Academy program will now provide players with an opportunity to have a balanced, uninterrupted schedule of both practices and games from August to June.  The teams will start their preseason training in August with numerous Academy training sessions taking place immediately prior to or after the Kickers professional team’s training, allowing selected Academy players to train with one of the top clubs outside of MLS.  This exclusive training environment is second to none for Virginia’s best players and is only available to Academy players in the Richmond Kickers Academy program.

Pre-Academy Program: (U14 Boys)
The best boys players in the club, born in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and who are not on the Academy team, will have an opportunity to add a fourth training session per week during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 seasons with one of the club’s Technical Staff coaches, including Ihor Dotsenko, Leigh Cowlishaw, Andy McIntosh and/or Mike Burke. The Pre-Academy players will continue to train and play through the winter months and may participate in additional select events as determined by the club’s Technical Director.

Elite Teams: (U10-U18 Boys and Girls)
A preseason summer training program will become an integral part of the overall yearly training plan for the Kickers Elite teams.  After a six-week rest period (June 1 to July 8), Elite teams will begin summer training the week of July 9, 2012.  Summer training will consist of two practices per week, and will be led by their designated regular season coach or the club’s elite Technical Staff, allowing a quality period of preseason training to focus on technical, tactical, conditioning and team building exercises. 

ADSL and U9 Teams: (U9-U12 Boys and Girls)
The Kickers ADSL and U9 teams will follow the Elite teams’ training model, also adopting a summer training program.  After a six-week rest period (June 1 to July 8), ADSL and U9 players will be invited to train twice per week at the Kickers state-of-the-art facility, Ukrop Park.  The summer training program will be led by Kickers Assistant Technical Director Mike Burke as well as numerous Kickers professional players including Luke Vercollone, Sascha Görres, Matthew Delicâte and David Bulow.

Classic Teams: (U13-U18 Boys and Girls)
The Kickers will now provide preseason training camps for all of the U13-U18 Classic teams in preparation for the fall season.  The team camps will be held July 9 through August 17 at Ukrop Park or Poor Farm Park and will be coached by Kickers technical staff as well as current and former Kickers professional soccer players.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our classic players to be exposed to some of the best youth coaches in the area,” commented Andy McIntosh, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer Camps, “and the team camp is the perfect environment to positively prepare our teams for the fall season.”

Numerous benefits of the Classic team camp program include coaching of the highest quality, a mix of training and competitive 11-a-side scrimmages, training at one of the best soccer facilities in the region, Ukrop Park, and excellent preparation for the preseason tournaments in August and September. 

Winter Training
In addition, all Kickers travel players (Elite, Classic and U9) will have access to additional winter instruction included as part of the year round fee. Depending on the age and level of play, this additional training will consist of Pre-Academy training, age group pool training, team training and goalkeeper training conducted during January and February 2013. More specific details about Winter Training will be released to all Richmond Kickers travel players in the fall 2012.

• To be considered for a guaranteed position on the 2012-13 U16 or U18 team, please click HERE to register now.   

Designed for the serious soccer player born 1994-2000, seeking to reach his full potential by playing and training at the highest level, the Kickers Academy is committed to excellence on and off the field, playing with and against the best that U.S. Soccer offers. 

Guaranteed Academy roster spots for the 2012-13 squads will be awarded to select players on an ongoing basis.  Additionally, six Discovery Player roster spots are available to players who wish to join the Kickers Academy for the current season.

The Richmond Kickers U16 and U18 Academy players will not be required to pay traditional player fees, and all hotel, flight and ground transportation expenses associated with league travel will be covered by the club, courtesy of The Computer Solution Company, Proseal America, Inc. and multiple donors.  Valued at over $20,000 for a four-year player, the Kickers cost-free Academy eliminates the most significant barrier for talented soccer players to compete in U.S. Soccer’s world-class program.  Unprecedented in the state of Virginia, the Kickers join 17 other Academy clubs who offer fully funded programs, including the majority of professional clubs in Major League Soccer.

With the move to a 10-month season, the Kickers unrivalled cost-free Academy program will now provide their players with an opportunity to have a balanced, uninterrupted schedule of both practices and games from August to June.  The teams will start preseason training in the month of August with Academy training sessions taking place immediately prior to or after the Kickers professional team’s training.  Selected Academy players will be invited to train with one of the top clubs outside of Major League Soccer.  This training environment is second to none for Virginia’s best players and is only available to players in the Richmond Kickers Academy program.

The Kickers Academy teams will be led by USSF “A” Licensed coaches Leigh Cowlishaw and Ihor Dotsenko, and Goalkeeper Coach, Ronnie Pascale, who bring a combined 50 years of professional playing and coaching experience to the club staff.  Competing in the Atlantic Division, the Kickers will play league matches against many of the top teams in the nation including D.C. United, CASL, Baltimore Bays, North Carolina Fusion as well as two national showcase events annually.

About the U.S. Soccer Development Academy
U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player. The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players.

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.