RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, August 15, 2014) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the addition of former Orange County Blues midfielder Matheau Hall and Richmond United Academy midfielder, Lyndsey Moreland, prior to the USL PRO roster freeze deadline. Both players will be available for selection immediately.
“Matheau is a player we have admired and followed for the last 12 months,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer. “He has an abundance of pro experience in both USL PRO and NASL and will provide us with excellent options on the right side of our formation.”
A regular with the Orange County Blues for two seasons, Hall made 23 appearances and recorded a pair of assists in 2013. Following a preseason trial stint with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, the Virginia Beach, VA native signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League (NASL) for the 2014 season.
In 2005 and 2006, he played college soccer at Tyler Junior College, before transferring to Grand Canyon University for his junior and senior years where he tallied 18 assists in two seasons. While in college, Hall played for the Hampton Roads Piranhas in USL Premier Development League and later with Arizona Sahuaro of the NPSL. He also had stints with the Thunder Bay Chill, Vermont Voltage, and the Las Vegas Knights, drawing interest from MLS and Mexican clubs along the way, before signing a professional contract with the Blues.
Moreland joins fellow Richmond United teammates Drew Romig and Will Pulisic on this season’s roster, following in the footsteps of former Academy players Evan Fowler and Vaughn Fowler who both featured for the Kickers’ pro team in 2013. A rising senior at Spotsylvania High School, the 17-year old played five years on Kickers Elite and Academy teams before being selected to the Richmond United U18 Academy team for the 2014-15 season.
“Lyndsey has really come on over the last year, attracting a lot of interest from colleges across the region,” added Cowlishaw. “His inclusion in the squad is a just reward for his improved focus, maturity and desire to succeed.”
As of the 2013 season, expanded roster sizes allow teams to carry as many as five Academy players in USL PRO competition. To qualify for an Academy spot, players must be younger than 21 at the start of the current season; they can’t have competed collegiately; they must never have signed as a professional and the player must either be from a club’s region, an affiliate youth team or from an MLS affiliate.
The Richmond Kickers (13-1-9, 48 points) return to City Stadium this Saturday, August 16 to host the Dayton Dutch Lions (6-15-3, 21 points) and FAMILY FEST, presented by Union Bank. With a one-of-a-kind fun zone, presented by Bounce 2 The Moon, the fun begins when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. with inflatable games, train rides, live music, RVA food trucks, craft beer and fun for the whole family. Admission is just $10 for the whole family before 6:30 p.m.
