RICHMOND, VA - (Tuesday, May 12, 2009) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host Faith & Family Night and the Charlotte Eagles this Friday, May 15th. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium. Faith groups can purchase discounted tickets in advance by calling 804-644-5425 x 304. Discounted tickets can also be purchased at the gate with the donation of new and gently used clothing and soccer equipment to benefit the children of Gulu, Northern Uganda. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive soccer stress balls and cups, courtesy of Sports Outreach Initiative.
The Kickers and the Eagles meet Friday for the first of three matches this season. Long-time rivals since the two clubs were both members of the USL First Division, the Kickers look to avenge last season’s 1-2-0 record against the Eagles. Despite both clubs finishing with 44 points at the top of the standings in 2008, Charlotte claimed the Regular Season title based on head-to-head matches, pushing the Kickers into a second-place finish. Perennial Championship contenders, Charlotte made their way back to the USL Second Division final in 2008. They narrowly missed taking the crown, suffering a 2-1 loss to the Cleveland City Stars.
The two teams swap home field advantage this season, playing in Richmond twice and in Charlotte once. Last season, the Kickers suffered a pair of losses at the hand of the Eagles while on the road. Richmond stole three points from the Eagles earlier in the season with a 1-0 decision to prevent them from taking the Regular Season title outright. Following Friday’s match-up, the Kickers head to Charlotte on June 20th before hosting them again on July 4th at the University of Richmond Stadium.
Overall, the Kickers lead the series 14-7-5 against the Eagles, with a rivalry dating back to the club’s inception in 1993. One year prior, Richmond faced Charlotte in the 2007 USL-2 Semifinals when the Kickers came away with a 2-1 overtime win, boosting Richmond to their third consecutive appearance in the finals. In 2006, the two clubs met in the Championship when the same scoreline fell to the home side, granting the Kickers their third league title in franchise history.
Last Time Out
Both the Kickers and the Eagles suffered shocking upsets last weekend. The Kickers were edged 1-0 by the Bermuda Hogges on the road while Charlotte dropped a 6-3 home decision to the Wilmington Hammerheads. With seven starters left behind due to injury and/or visa issues, the Kickers traveled to Bermuda with four loan players and Head Coach, Leigh Cowlishaw on the roster. Despite out-shooting the Hogges 21-10, the Kickers were unable to find the back of the net to come back from a 1-0 deficit early in the match. Meanwhile, the Eagles took an early lead when Diego Martins registered in the first minute of play, only to be answered by four consecutive Wilmington goals. With ten minutes remaining in regulation, Eagles forward Dustin Swinehart added a goal and an assist but it was not enough to counteract a pair of late goals by the Hammerheads. The Kickers (1-1-2, 5 points) and the Eagles (0-2-1, 1 point) are in dangerous position in the USL-2 Standings, residing in sixth and eighth place respectively.
Players to Watch
Kickers: Forward Matthew “Deli” Delicâte (#7) leads the Kickers in scoring with two goals and an assist during regular season play. Most recently, he added a goal in the Kickers 2-0 defeat over the Western Mass Pioneers two weeks ago. Joining him on the scoreboard in Western Mass, David Bulow (#10) resides one point behind with two goals. Bulow also added a pair of goals over the Bermuda U-23 National Team last weekend in a friendly that ended 4-0 in favor of the Kickers. Brazilian powerhouse, Gerson dos Santos (#18) is expected to return to the roster Friday after taking last weekend off due to visa issues. The rookie out of Virginia Commonwealth University notched his first professional assist on Bulow’s game-winner in Western Mass one week prior. A workhorse in the midfield, Luke Vercollone (#4) also added a goal to the final 4-0 scoreline over the Bermuda U-23’s.
Eagles: The Eagles signed Brazilian star midfield Diego Martins (#12) just prior to the 2009 season, making an immediate impact for Charlotte, posting a goal within the first minute of last weekend’s match against Wilmington. A member of eight Championship teams in Brazil, Martins joined the Eagles from Portuguese First Division Club Deportivo das Aves. The Eagles welcome the return of two-time USL-2 MVP, forward Jacob Coggins (#25) and defender Chris Lemons (#7). The two are reunited with Hall of Fame Coach Mark Steffens this season after spending the 2008 campaign with the Carolina RailHawks (USL-1). Both players were major contributors to the Eagles squads that went to three straight USL-2 Championship Finals in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and are welcome additions to the 2009 squad that looks to defend its 2008 Regular Season Title. Forward Dustin Swinehart (#18) made eight appearances on loan with the Kickers USL-1 Finalist squad during the 2005 season and tallied one assist for Richmond that year. The 2008 USL-2 MVP currently leads the Eagles and is ranked second in the league with three goals in as many games.
Free Youth Clinic
A free youth soccer clinic will be held on the field prior to the Kickers match at 5:00 pm, presented by Spring Run Presbyterian Church for children ages 6-14. Spring Run Presbyterian Church (www.springrunpc.org) is located in Midlothian and is active in the community. They will provide a free pizza party for all clinic participants at the stadium following the clinic. A special $3.00 ticket to the Kickers pro game can be purchased by clinic participants and their family members in advance. Clinic participants are encouraged to bring new and gently used clothing, uniforms and soccer equipment to benefit the children of Gulu. Limited to the first 100 registrants, click HERE to download a registration form. Registrations must be received by Thursday, May 15th. Game ticket required for stadium entry.
About Gifts For Gulu
Gifts For Gulu is sponsored by Sports Outreach Institute, Inc. a 501C non-profit, non-denominational organization based in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has been working in Uganda since 1987 and currently employs 28 full and part-time national staff in Uganda. The fundamental purpose of Sports Outreach Institute, Inc. is to identify and train committed Christian leadership in the effective use and understanding of sports ministry.
About The Conflict In Northern Uganda
For the past 20 years, the people of Northern Uganda have endured a conflict involving the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda. More than two million people (90% of the population) are now displaced and forced to live in squalid internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. These camps remain largely unprotected and vulnerable to LRA attacks and abductions. The LRA has kidnapped more than 30,000 children from their homes. An estimated 25,000 children, known as “Night Commuters,” throughout Northern Uganda, commute nightly to sleep in town centers or temporary shelters in order to avoid violence and abduction. For the displaced, life in the camps is extremely difficult as the overcrowding and poor sanitation condition found in the camps has led to massive health concerns. The protracted nature of this conflict has created a humanitarian crisis that is among the world’s worst. For more information about how to support these children in need, visit www.GiftsForGulu.com.
