Richmond Kickers News Release -- www.richmondkickers.com

Friday, May 4, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers conclude a two-game road trip this Saturday night when they travel to take on the Dayton Dutch Lions at 7:30 p.m. The match will be broadcast live from Miami Valley South Stadium on USLNation.com.

The Kickers face the Dutch Lions this Saturday for the fifth time in history, and for the first time during the 2012 campaign. The two clubs met three times during 2011 regular season action and once during last season’s U.S. Open Cup tournament, with the Kickers sweeping the series 4-0. The Kickers last hosted the Dutch Lions at Richmond City Stadium on August 6, 2011 when the home side handed the then-USL PRO expansion franchise a 3-0 defeat.

The Kickers are coming off a grueling four-game gauntlet, battling two of the toughest teams in the league four times to open the 2012 campaign. Home and away series against the Charleston Battery and Orlando City left the Kickers with a 1-2-1 record and four points. Last time out, the Kickers snapped Orlando City’s win streak, earning a deserved point off the defending USL PRO Champions at the Florida Citrus Bowl with a scoreless draw. The Kickers led the attack with 11 shots to seven and veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale posted a pair of point blank saves to record his first shutout of the season.

"Our performance in Orlando was a step in the right direction,” said Richmond Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw. “To play so well and create so many chances against the league’s best team was a great confidence boost. The reality, however, is that we have four points from four games and will really need to produce against Dayton if we wish to stay in the hunt for a playoff position. Dayton is a much improved team from last season and by all accounts have played very well in their opening games. We will need to be at our very best to earn the result."

Meanwhile, the Dutch Lions are in search of their first win of the season, notching a 0-2-1 record after their first three matches. Most recently, Dayton dropped a 1-0 decision to the Rochester Rhinos during their home opener and will look to rebound at Miami Valley South Stadium this Saturday.

The Kickers and the Dutch Lions conclude their two-game series on Saturday, July 21 when the Kickers play host at Richmond City Stadium at 7 p.m.

U.S. Open Cup Second Round Pairings Announced

The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup first- and second-round pairings have been announced, with first-round matches kicking off Tuesday, May 15, and second-round games on Tuesday, May 22.

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,” said Cowlishaw. “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.

Next Home Game

The Richmond Kickers are proud to partner with the Richmond SPCA for the fifth annual Paws on the Pitch Night when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring their four-legged companions along with them to enjoy pet-friendly vendors, the SPCA Tail Wag’n adoption vehicle and professional soccer at Richmond City Stadium. Order tickets in advance at RichmondKickers.com.