RICHMOND, VA – (Friday, September 23, 2016) – The Richmond Kickers (12-8-9) embark on their final regular season road trip when they take on the Wilmington Hammerheads (7-12-10) this Saturday, September 24. The match will be broadcast live from Legion Stadium through the league’s official Match Center, uslsoccer.com/match-center, at 7:00 p.m.
The Kickers return to Legion Stadium this Saturday after battling to a scoreless draw in Wilmington on April 1. A stalwart Kickers defense held their longtime rivals to just three shots to record their first of 12 shutouts this season.
The two clubs swapped home field advantage one month later when goalkeeper Matt Turner, on loan from New England Revolution, backstopped the Kickers to a 1-0 win at City Stadium. Scoreless through the first half, a Wilmington own goal gifted the Kickers the full free points after Braeden Troyer’s lofted cross struck the crossbar and deflected off a Hammerheads player.
The Kickers travel for their final regular season match after hosting the Charleston Battery in their home finale last week. Despite taking an early lead when Yudai Imura converted a first half penalty kick, the Kickers conceded a pair of second half goals to deny their chances of a top four finish.
Meanwhile, a 1-1 tie last week with the Harrisburg City Islanders on the road kept the Hammerheads’ hopes of qualifying for the USL Playoffs alive, putting them in position to leapfrog eighth place Orlando City B for the final postseason berth. Forward Austin Martz capitalized on a defensive mistake in the third minute to give Wilmington the advantage but the visitors could not hold onto the full three points, allowing the equalizer with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.
Saturday’s match marks the end of the 2016 Regular Season with the USL Playoffs kicking off one week later. The top eight teams in each conference will compete in a single elimination tournament to crown two conference champions who will advance to the 2016 USL Championship.
