Tuesday, June 18, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – USL PRO named its Team of the Week for Week 13 of the season on Tuesday, with Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht earning Player of the Week honors after conceding just once in two games as the Rhinos took four points from the weekend’s action. Nicht, the 2012 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year, played a key role in both the Rhinos’ victory against Tampa Bay and a draw with Charleston.

Nicht put in a standout performance in the Rhinos’ 3-0 win against VSI Tampa Bay FC on Friday night, recording a five-save shutout to help his side take its second win of the season. Nicht made three second-half saves and commanded his penalty area well as VSI outshot Rochester 17-8 for the night, only to be denied. The 6-foot-5 German continued his outstanding form on Sunday, making five second-half saves to preserve a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery.

Joining Nicht in the Team of the Week is his teammate Tam McManus, who had a goal and an assist in the Rhinos’ victory against Tampa Bay. The Scottish forward made good runs throughout the game, and scored his third goal of the season in the 53rd minute to give Rochester a two-goal cushion. McManus then set up Blake Brettschneider for the Rhinos’ third goal, which capped a fine performance.

Joining McManus in the Team of the Week attack is Los Angeles’ Chris Cortez, who had a big impact as a substitute for the Blues as he scored the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy Reserves. Jose Angulo also earned a place as he scored the equalizer in a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery.

The Battery’s goal scorer in that contest, Jose Cuevas, leads the midfield selections, with his beautiful curling shot one of the standout moments of the weekend’s action. He is joined by Wilmington’s Daniel Steres, who scored the only goal as the Hammerheads defeated the New York Red Bulls Reserves, and Richmond’s Brian Ownby, whose two goals led the Kickers past Antigua on Friday night. Dayton’s Joel DeLass completes the quartet after a strong two-way performance in the Dutch Lions’ 2-1 win against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Charlotte’s Ben Newnam leads a trio of defenders that complete the team, with the rookie scoring the game-winning goal – his first as a professional – against the Chicago Fire Reserves. Harrisburg’s Stephen Basso also earned selection after a good performance in a 3-1 win against Antigua, as does Phoenix’s Devon Grousis, who featured strongly in the Wolves’ 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake Reserves.

The USL PRO season continues with four games on Friday night with the renewal of the Keystone Derby as the Harrisburg City Islanders host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Skyline Sports Complex at 7 p.m. ET. Also on Friday, the Charlotte Eagles host VSI Tampa Bay FC at Queens Sports Complex at 7 p.m. ET, while the Rochester Rhinos host Antigua Barracuda FC at 7:35 p.m. ET at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Dayton Dutch Lions and Phoenix FC cap the night’s action at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday night sees interleague action, with the Richmond Kickers playing host to the Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves at 7 p.m. at City Stadium. Tampa Bay completes its trip to the Carolinas with a visit to the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, while Charlotte moves on to face the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The weekend concludes on Sunday, with Antigua Barracuda FC visiting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium at 3 p.m. ET, and the Los Angeles Blues hosting the Dayton Dutch Lions at 7 p.m. ET at Titan Stadium. Every game of the USL PRO season can be seen on USLNation.com, with live updates also available via Twitter (@USLPRO), Facebook and Google+.

USL PRO Team of the Week

Honorable Mention: Antigua – Orlando Mitchum, Eugine Kirwan; Charleston – Shawn Ferguson, Odisnel Cooper; Charlotte – Christian Ramirez, Nate Thornton; Dayton – Tjeerd Westdijk, Matt Williams; Harrisburg – Morgan Langley, Yann Ekra; Los Angeles – Rodrigo Lopez, Mohammad Mohammadi; Phoenix – Donny Toia; Pittsburgh – Matt Dallman, Sterling Flunder; Richmond – Jason Yeisley, William Yomby; Rochester – Blake Brettschneider, Tyler Rosenlund; Tampa Bay – J.T. Noone; Wilmington – Troy Hernandez, Gareth Evans.

Monday, June 17, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer League is saddened to hear of the passing of Paul A. Heasley, the founder of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, who died at his home this past Saturday.

Heasley led the Riverhounds in the club’s inaugural season in the A-League in 1999, with the club’s current coach Justin Evans being the Riverhounds’ first-ever selection in the A-League Draft. Heasley’s support for soccer in Pittsburgh never diminished, even after the sale of the club to Sports Facility LLC in 2004, as it began its journey to the creation of Highmark Stadium.

“Paul will be remembered as one of the most positive figures in USL during his ownership of the Riverhounds,” USL President Tim Holt. “While we mourn his passing, his vision for the club was remarkable, and the work he began is continued today by Jason Kutney and the rest of the Riverhounds’ organization.”

In the club’s history, the Riverhounds have only retired one number, No. 99, in honor of Heasley and the year of the club’s establishment. 

DAYTON, Ohio -- The Dayton Dutch Lions took a 2-1 victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC on Sunday night at Beavercreek Stadium as goals by Remco Klaasse and Tjeerd Westdijk moved the Dutch Lions into seventh place in the USL PRO standings. Dayton jumped past the Charlotte Eagles, as it took its fifth victory of the USL PRO season and extended its undefeated streak in league play to six games.

Klaasse pounced on an early and untimely VSI Tampa Bay FC (7-5-1) mistake when a misplaced goalkick dropped to his feet 10 minutes into the match. Without hesitation, his sliding shot started the Dutch Lions (5-2-3) on their road to victory. 

Twenty minutes later, Westdijk took his turn on VSI Tampa’s second defensive breakdown and nailed another goal to put Dayton up 2-0. The opportunity came about when Tampa Bay goalkeeper Alex Horwath was challenged for possession in the penalty area, and the ball came loose to Westdijk to finish in the left side of the penalty area. Tampa’s determination was evident with increased intensity and stronger possession following the second goal. VSI hit back quickly as Sal Bundu nailed a header into Dayton’s goal from Shawn Chin’s corner to make the score 2-1. Dayton was able to maintain the lead as the teams left the field for the end of the first half.

Tampa Bay came out strongly in the second half, with several opportunities that the Dayton defense had to work to deny. But work is what Dayton’s Shintaro Harada and Gregory Preciado did, while managing to hold onto control in spite of constant pressure by Tampa’s Bundu and J.T. Noone. Dayton stayed organized and alert, with their heads up, keeping their possession-oriented style of play alive. Coach Patrick Bal was complimentary of VSI, citing their strength at midfield and their style, similar to the Dutch Lions.

“Today, they were better than us, making it harder, especially in the second half,” Bal said, “Normally it makes it easier for us, because if they want to play soccer in that style, then we get space to move the ball around. Today we couldn’t keep the ball, especially the second half. Especially after our first goal, it looked like we were sitting back. The second half was completely theirs.”

Tampa’s pressure on the Dayton defense had a streak of luck later in the second half when Tampa’s Sean Reynolds almost jammed a cross from Noone into Dayton’s goal but the ball skidded just outside the right post. Tampa’s Chin took a shot in the 85th minute which Matt Williams punched out, once again saving Dayton from a Tampa equalizer. Good field spacing by both teams provided little opportunity for advancement, in spite of the fresh legs that substitutions by Bal brought on late in the second half.

“All the guys who came in did exactly what was expected of them, and that says something about the team,” Bal said.

The Dutch Lions head west for two games next weekend, starting with the Phoenix FC Wolves (2-9-4) on Friday night, and then traveling to Los Angeles to face the LA Blues (5-5-5) next Sunday.

Dayton returns home for a doubleheader, beginning with the club's W-League team (3-1-1) against the Atlanta Silverbacks (3-2-1) at 5:30, followed by the men’s Dutch Lions matchup with the Charlotte Eagles (3-2-5). For season and individual game tickets, visit the Dutch Lions website.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders improved to 4-1 in their last five games and moved firmly into second place after a 3-1 win over the Antigua Barracuda FC on Sunday at Skyline Sports Complex. The Islanders were able to bounce back from a loss last week to the Colorado Rapids Reserves with a strong showing against the Barracudas. Sainey Touray netted his seventh goal of the season, moving him to third in the league in scoring.

Antigua came out playing very defensively, keeping eight players behind the halfway line for the majority of the first half. The Islanders had a few early chances but were not able to get any quality chances on net.

The opening goal came in the 30th minute when Islanders’ forward Morgan Langley drove down the middle of the pitch after a pass from midfield opened up the field. Langley had team leading scorer, Touray, to his left but decided to keep it to him self and take the shot. The initial shot was saved by Antigua’s goalie, Molvin James, but he was not able to control it. The ball came right back to Langley’s feet, and he struck it into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

The next goal came off a botched play by the Antigua defense. The ball was punted high in the air to Touray, who controlled the ball off his chest, only for it to fall to the Barracudas' Karanja Mack. The Antigua defender tried to control the ball, but Touray slipped around the defense and tapped the ball that dribbled across the line for the second goal of the game and ultimately the game-winning goal.

Within the first two minutes of the second half the Barracudas cut the Islanders’ lead in half with a goal from Orlando Mitchum. The ball fell to Mitchum, who took a shot that deflected off Nick Noble into the air. Mitchum jumped and got his head on the ball, which then floated over Noble for Antigua’s first goal against the Islanders.

The pivotal point in the game came when Antigua's Eugine Kirwan came streaking down the field and put a shot through the goalmouth. The cross fell to Mitchum, who was unable to get his shot on target to keep the Islanders up by one.

The final goal of the game came off of a laser shot by Yann Ekra from a knifing pass from Lucky Mkosana, who redirected a pass to Ekra from the top of the penalty area; Ekra took one step and struck the ball hard and true, and the shot blew past the outstretched James, who never had a chance, and to the back of the net.

The Islanders next home match will be against their major league affiliate the Philadelphia Union in the annual Battle for the Capital friendly on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The next league game for the Islanders will come this Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium in the latest edition of the Keystone Derby.

For tickets and information about the Harrisburg City Islanders visit www.cityislanders.com or call (717)-441-GOAL.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos played to a 1-1 draw with the Charleston Battery in a USL PRO regular season match at Sahlen's Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Rhinos midfielder Lance Rozeboom opened the scoring off a corner kick from left back Danny Earls in the first half. The Battery found the equalizer in the second half when center back Shawn Ferguson finished off an assist from Amadou Sanyang.

Neither side was able to create many chances in the early going, with the first good chance for the Rhinos arriving in the 27th minute as JC Banks played a ball over the top of the Battery back four to Tyler Rosenlund. The midfielder took the ball down the right side of the Battery penalty area to the goal line where he was tackled by Ferguson. Rosenlund went to ground, but match referee Steve Montanino had a good look at the play, and ruled that it was a Rhinos corner kick. Earls hit an inswinging corner kick that the Battery were able to clear over the goal line for another corner. On his second effort, Earls played a his corner kick to the near post, and Rozeboom beat the Battery defenders to the near post and touched Earls' service past Charleston goalkeeper Kevin Klasila for the opening goal.

The Battery found the equalizer in the 47th minute. Quinton Griffith had the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out when Rhinos idfielder Ross LaBauex was ruled to have fouled him. Sanyang whipped the ensuing free kick into the back post where Rhinos center back Troy Roberts headed the ball away. Robert's clearance found Battery midfielder Michael Azira on the left flank, and Azira took a touch before he served the ball back into the Rhinos box. Azira's service found Sanyang, making a run at the back post, and his header back in front of goal came to Ferguson, who finished past Rochester goalkeeper Kristian Nicht from six yards out.

The draw leaves the Charleston Battery level on points with the Richmond Kickers for third place. The point leaves Rochester in sole possession of 11th place in the USL PRO table – four points behind the Dayton Dutch Lions for the eighth and final playoff spot. The Dutch Lions host fifth place VSI Tampa Bay FC on Sunday night.

The Rochester Rhinos will host Antigua Barracuda FC in their next home match on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium. Individual tickets are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets, group tickets and flex packages for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now.

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Wilmington Hammerheads midfielder Daniel Steres gave his side victory on Saturday night with his lone goal against the New York Red Bulls Reserves at Legion Stadium proving the difference in a 1-0 victory in front of 4,287 fans. The win was the Hammerheads’ fourth of the league season, moving them within two points of the eighth and final playoff place.

Wilmington maintained the majority of possession as the match kicked off and forward Kyle Greig kept up the intensity leading the team down the field with multiple attempts on goal. A hard shot over the crossbar in the 17th minute by Greig came close to opening the scoring, and Paul Nicholson closely followed Greig with an attempt from the top of the penalty area that nearly went below the crossbar for a chance to put the Hammerheads on the board.

New York’s Rafhinha had his side’s first good opportunity in the 34th minute as he attempted to get the ball off his foot for a shot in the penalty area, only for the ball to be taken away by Wilmington defender Shawn Nicklaw, giving the Hammerheads possession and further opportunities as he carried it down the sideline. With the first half coming to a close, a sequence of passes between Wilmington’s Cory Elenio and Daniel Steres made the perfect set up for Nicholson and midfielder Will Heaney to conjure a play that forced the Red Bulls to drop back in their territory and giving Nicholson another attempt at the back of the net, but goalkeeper Ryan Meara was on hand to save.

The lone goal of the night that would eventually give the Hammerheads victory at the final whistle came from Steres in the 57th minute off an assist by Gareth Evans. Shortly following his assist, Evans attempted a header on New York goalkeeper Santiago Castaño off a corner kick but the substitute goalkeeper answered as he deflected the shot away to safety.

After numerous attempts, Greig came close to giving the Hammerheads the insurance goal they needed but was called offside on a late call by the referee. Wilmington goalkeeper Troy Hernandez had his best save of the night as a shot from New York midfielder Marius Obekop forced him to leap in the air for an attempt that almost tucked into the top of the net in the 74th minute, and the goalkeeper again had to be sharp inside the final 10 minutes as the Red Bulls pushed for an equalizer. Wilmington was able to hold on as Hernandez finished with six saves to record the shutout.

The Wilmington Hammerheads will host the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday, June 22 at Legion Stadium. For further information regarding the Wilmington Hammerheads, please contact (910) 777-2111 or visit online at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com.

CARSON, Calif. -- The LA Blues remain undefeated at home as they took a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy Reserves on Saturday night at the StubHub Center. The Blues earned a point after an end-to-end match that saw a 90th-minute equalizer by Chris Cortez keep Los Angeles in sixth place in the USL PRO standings.

The Galaxy started off strongly from the get-go, with three chances within the first four minutes inside the Blues’ penalty area. In the fifth minute, the Blues’ Matt Hall made a run down the eft and crossed into the Galaxy penalty area looking for Aaron Horton, who met two Galaxy defenders and ended up colliding with goalkeeper Brian Perk, who sustained an injury and was replaced by Brian Rowe.

The Blues saw a couple of close chances in the 16th minute when a nicely laid cross on the left from Rodrigo Lopez ended up going unfinished. George Davis followed suit only seconds later with a similar play that was intercepted by Rowe. In the 22nd minute, Horton made another run toward Galaxy’s goal and almost collided with Rowe, who was able to stop the ball and deny the Blues.

The next 10 minutes were all Galaxy. The 25th minute saw a good chance for Chandler Hoffman from just outside the Blues’ penalty area, but it was stopped by Mohammad Mohammeni. Five minute later, Hoffman was able to craftily beat two Blues defenders and shot from inside the penalty area but the ball went just wide of the post. Only a few seconds later, Robbie Rogers fed Hoffman from the right and the former UCLA standout fired on target, but it was again saved by Mohammeni.

The Blues only had one solid chance for the remainder of the first half when Davis broke out on the attack with a nice run down the right, shooting from distance right into the arms of Rowe. Galaxy Reserves responded with heavy pressure but many of their shots went wide of the post. Finally, in the 42nd minute, a succession of misses came to an end as a resilient Rogers found Charlie Rugg up top. His first shot was stopped by Mohammeni, but it bounced right back into Rugg’s feet to finish, putting the Galaxy up 1-0 at halftime.

The second half was all pressure from LA Galaxy, but the Blues did everything they could to defend, and they did it well. A series of shots and misses was the theme for most the second half, and the Galaxy Reserves were issued two yellow cards for repeated fouls and a reckless tackle. There were eight substitutions between both teams inside 30 minutes, and finally Cortez was able to find the back of the net in the 90th minute, 11 minutes after coming on for Horton. Lopez fed Cortez the ball from close range and he was able to get his shot past Rowe, leveling the score and ensuring that the LA Blues remain undefeated at home this season.

Next up for the Blues is a home match against the Dayton Dutch Lions on Sunday, June 23rd at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium. Youth Sports Night is the theme for that match, and kids in their sports organization’s jerseys will get in free with a paid adult.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix FC Wolves gained some much-needed confidence following their 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake's reserve side Saturday night at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Phoenix FC outshot RSL 5-2 and played solid defensively, an area in which the club sought improvement after losing the past four matches. Goalkeeper Andrew Weber recorded his second clean sheet of the season and first since the home opener against VSI Tampa Bay FC.

Midfielder Scott Morrison had a good chance to give Phoenix FC a first half lead with his free kick in the 33rd minute that just didn't quite bend enough to find the net. Real Salt Lake cranked up its attack in the second half but Phoenix FC was the stronger side over the latter part of the half.

Defender Isaiah Schafer, forward Darren Mackie and midfielder Donny Toia, playing against the MLS club that developed him, played well for the Wolves. Toia, on a bad right leg that he later said was fine, made hustle play to save a ball from going out of bounds in the 84th minute that earned him a loud cheer from the 2,386 fans in attendance.

The crowd total was the second-highest home attendance in Phoenix FC's inaugural season, with only the home opener drawing more fans.

Real Salt Lake's side featured a number of key players from the main roster with Major League Soccer experience, including defender Lovel Palmer, former USL PRO MVP Yordany Alvarez, defender Carlos Salcedo and rising star forward Devon Sandoval. The two teams also played to 0-0 draw in a match marred by a fight on April 22 at Rio Tinto Stadium, but aside from a few yellow cards there were no reprisals from that meeting.

Phoenix FC is 2-9-4 on the season and seeks its first win across all competitions since April 28, but has earned a point from three draws in those seven weeks.

"It's a good way to go into the next game," Schafer said. The Wolves host the Dayton Dutch Lions on June 21 with seven of their final 11 USL PRO matches at home in the Arizona heat.

PITTSBURGH -- On a gorgeous night in Station Square, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the Charleston Battery finished tied in a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 3,464 at Highmark Stadium on Saturday. Jose Angulo’s second-half goal leveled the score against the defending USL PRO Champions, extending the Riverhounds' unbeaten streak to eight games.

From the opening whistle, the game was filled with excitement as both sides received multiple scoring opportunities throughout. The Riverhounds and Battery exchanged quality chances in the first five minutes, but neither side was able to find the back of the net.

The Riverhounds Seth C’deBaca rattled the crossbar when he struck a bouncing ball inside the Battery’s penalty area in the 17th minute. A combination between five Riverhounds players down the right flank found Kevin Kerr overlapping Matt Dallman. Kerr delivered a cross for a slashing Angulo at the near post, but his service deflected off of Angulo’s heel. Following the play at the near post, C’deBaca cleanly shot a right-footed half volley that whistled past Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper, but his attempt was denied by the woodwork.

Twenty minutes later, a wonder-strike by Jose Cuevas would provide the visitors with the lead. Battery captain Colin Falvey played a long-diagonal ball for Cuevas on the left flank. Taking a first touch inside past his closing marker, Cuevas provided himself with enough space to penetrate Riverhounds defensive third with speed. Picking his head up to gauge his range, Cuevas bent his shot perfectly around Riverhounds goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap and into the top-right corner of the goal.

Following the break, the Riverhounds elevated the pressure on the Battery, resulting in a flurry of chances. The pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute off back-to-back set pieces. Taking a corner from the left, Matt Dallman picked out a streaking Angulo at the near post. Beating Cooper to the ball, Angulo flicked the ball past the keeper into the back of the empty net. With the goal, Angulo raised his team-leading tallies to seven and Dallman raised his league-leading assist total to eight.

Both sides pushed forward to find the game-winner, but neither side could find the back of the net in the final 18 minutes.

The Riverhounds travel to Harrisburg next Friday night for the second-leg of the Keystone Derby. The game against the Harrisburg City Islanders is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick off at Skyline Sports Complex on City Island. The Battery travel overnight to meet the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Their game is slated for a 4:05 p.m. start.

The Riverhounds return to Highmark Stadium next on Sunday, June 23, when they host Antigua Barracuda FC for the second leg of the 2013 regular season. During the game, the Riverhounds are hosting the ‘Hounds Beach Bash’ to celebrate the start of summer. A variety of fun free activities will be available for kids in attendance. To purchase tickets, visit Riverhounds.com or call the Highmark Stadium Box Office at (412) 224-4900.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders will kick off a very special Father’s Day on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. as they host Antigua Barracuda FC, but that’s just the beginning of a great day on the Island.

After the second game of the season against the Barracudas, the City Islanders’ and their U23 Men’s team will host the Newtown Pride Men’s team at Skyline Sports Complex, the game is set for 6:30 p.m. The game is a benefit match to raise money and awareness for the Newtown Parent Connection, a group that has been supporting the Newtown community for more than 20 years. After the tragic events on December 14, 2012 there became an increased need for family and youth peer support for both mental health and substance use disorders.

A portion of all ticket sales will be given back to the Newtown Pride and the Newtown Parent Connection. Along with the ticket sales, there will be a limited edition Islander’s t-shirt on sale with all proceeds going to Newtown Parent Connection.

Antigua comes into Skyline Sports Complex without a win and in last place in the league. The Barracuda have scored only five goals in 11 games and have allowed 45 goals. While the club appointed Adrian Whitbread this week to become its new coach, they fell 4-0 on Friday night against the Richmond Kickers.

The first match up between the clubs was a strong 4-0 win in the rain for the Islanders. The Islanders’ Sainey Touray scored twice and had an assist, while Leonardo Fernandes had the other goal just before the final whistle sounded.

Before the loss to the Colorado Rapids’ reserve team the Islanders were riding a three-game win streak, and the side will look to get back to its winning ways against Antigua. This is the third game in a six-game home stand for the Islanders, which includes a friendly match with the team's major league affiliate the Philadelphia Union.

Nick Noble currently sits in second place in saves on the season, trailing only the man who is expected to be his opposite number in goal on Sunday afternoon, Molvin James. The Antigua and Barbuda national team goalkeeper has made 58 saves in eight games. Noble sits in first place in goals against, allowing just over one goal a game.

The Islanders currently sit in third place in the league, but could regain second place with victory against Antigua on Sunday. The Islanders have made some progress in the rankings and sit only seven points behind the leader and have played one less game.

For more information on the Islanders and to order tickets visit www.cityislanders.com or call (717)-441-GOAL.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

DAYTON, Ohio – The Dayton Dutch Lions are unbeaten in their last five USL PRO games. They will look to capitalize on that momentum when they host VSI Tampa Bay FC on Sunday night. The Dutch Lions, though, will be tested by a Tampa Bay side which saw its five-game undefeated streak brought to an end on Friday night by the Rochester Rhinos.

The Dutch Lions’ stretch without a loss in USL PRO has included two wins and three draws, the most recent of which was a 4-4 barnburner against the Columbus Crew Reserves. The streak has pushed Dayton’s record to 4-2-3. With 15 points, Dayton sits in eighth place in the league standings. The top eight teams from the regular season will advance to the playoffs.

“Honestly, the unbeaten streak has not been a topic of conversation. I’ve not heard one person mention it,” said Dutch Lions Head Coach Patrick Bal. “We’ve approached every game individually with the intention to win that particular game. The result has been an unbeaten streak. We’ve learned that we’re a tough team to beat.”

This will be the final meeting between these two clubs in the regular season. When these two clubs faced each other in Plant City Stadium on April 26, the Dutch Lions walked away with a 1-0 victory and the three points. Dayton is the only USL PRO team that has defeated Tampa Bay on its home field.

With regard to the earlier match between the two teams, Bal said, “It was a story of two halves. I felt like we dominated the first half, but couldn’t find the end pass. They came out with more physicality, aggression, and pressure in the second half, which was difficult for us to handle. We were glad to leave with the points.”

Tampa Bay had not tasted defeat since that night in late April until Friday night, when it fell 3-0 against Rochester at Sahlen’s Stadium. The club from Florida has improved its record to 7-4-1 since the first meeting between the two teams, and sits comfortably in fifth position in the USL PRO table.

The game between the Dayton Dutch Lions and VSI Tampa Bay will take place on Sunday night at Beavercreek High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. This will be the last chance for Dayton fans to see the Dutch Lions in person until the team returns from a west-coast trip at the end of the month. For tickets, please visit www.daytondutchlionsfc.com.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos took a 3-0 victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC at Sahlen's Stadium on Friday night. Rhinos strikers Tam McManus and Blake Brettschneider both tallied a goal and an assist, while 2011 Rhinos MVP Tyler Rosenlund scored a goal and 2012 Rhinos MVP JC Banks added an assist.

The Rhinos opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Banks served a long ball into the VSI penalty area from the halfway line toward Brettschneider, who battled for the ball with VSI center back Kyle Hoffer before taking the ball to the goal line. Brettschneider laid the ball back to Rosenlund at the top of the six-yard box, and Rosenlund finished to give the Rhinos the lead.

Rochester doubled its advantage in the 53rd minute. Banks won a challenge 40 yards from VSI's goal, and he picked out McManus running into the VSI penalty area with a first-time pass. McManus broke in on goal and calmly finished over VSI's goalkeeper Dave Martin. It was McManus' third consecutive match in Sahlen's Stadium with a goal, while Banks' assist moved him into sole possession of eighth place on the Rochester Rhinos all-time assist list with 14 in only his 39th career start.

Brettschneider added the Rhinos' third in the 66th minute as he started the scoring sequence by winning possession in midfield. The ball popped loose to Rhinos center midfielder Lance Rozeboom, who was able to take a touch before playing a through ball to McManus down the right flank. McManus patiently took the ball to the goal line before he found Brettschneider making a run at the the top of VSI's six-yard box, and the tall striker volleyed home to complete the scoring.

Rochester Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht made five saves, including big saves in the first half from Tony Donatelli and late in the second from Sallieu Bundu to keep his fourth clean sheet of the season.

The victory moved Rochester into a tie for 10th place with the Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL PRO standings. The Rhinos are now five points behind the eighth-placed Dayton Dutch Lions for the final spot in the 2013 USL PRO Playoffs.

The Rochester Rhinos will host the defending USL PRO Charleston Battery in their next home match on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium. Individual tickets are currently available, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets, group tickets and flex packages for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles received two second-half goals to earn a comeback victory against the Chicago Fire Reserves on Friday night at the Queens Sports Complex. Chicago took a 1-0 advantage into halftime thanks to a Quincy Amarikwa header. Charlotte countered in the second half with more attacking pressure as Christian Ramirez and Ben Newnam scored to secure the victory.

The teams exchanged possession and free kicks in the opening 10 minutes but neither side could produce a goal. The first big chance of the game fell to Charlotte’s Jorge Herrera as he took a nice through-ball from Christian Ramirez but couldn’t beat Fire goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi on his first attempt, with his second attempt getting cleared off the line by a Fire defender, keeping the game scoreless in the 15th minute.

The Fire Reserves came close to opening the scoring in the 30th minute. First Wells Thompson got around the Eagles defense, but Eric Reed was able to come out and deflect his shot out of bounds. On the ensuing throw-in Amarikwa’s header hit the post and went out for a goal kick. Chicago created another chance a few minutes later as Yazid Atouba beat his mark and got to the endline, only to see his cross be denied by Fejiro Okiomah.

Chicago opened the scoring in the 42nd minute as Amarikwa’s header beat Eric Reed to put the Fire up 1-0 heading into halftime. 

Charlotte opened the second half pressing for the equalizer but were unable to find that final ball to unlock the Fire defense. Samuel Asante’s shot and Stephen Okai’s free kick were both covered by Tornaghi. The Eagles kept the offensive pressure up as a free kick by Herrera narrowly missed the top corner in the 59th minute, and four minutes later Drew Yates was unable to beat Tornaghi as the goalkeeper made a diving stop with his left foot.

The Eagles kept the pressure on the Fire but through the first 70 minutes but were unable to get a shot past the Fire goalkeeper until Samuel Asante’s through ball found Christian Ramirez, who slotted his finish past Tornaghi and into the left corner of the net to pull the Eagles even. The goal was Ramirez’s team-high fourth of the season.

Charlotte continued to press, and five minutes later Newnam’s low, hard shot from 35 yards out beat Tornaghi again to double the Eagles lead to 2-1. Both sides continued to press in the final 15 minutes, but the Eagles were able to hold on to take their first win in the league since May 14 in the league and move up to seventh place in the USL PRO standings. 

The Eagles next game is at the Queens Sports Complex on Friday, June 21st at 7 pm against VSI Tampa Bay FC.

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games and leapfrogged into second place in the USL PRO standings with a 4-0 win against Antigua Barracuda FC on Friday night at City Stadium. Brian Ownby notched a pair of second-half goals and Nate Robinson contributed a goal and an assist before rookie midfielder Joseph Haboush rounded out the scoreline as the Kickers blanked the Barracuda.

After a goal was called offside in the first minute of play, the Kickers set the tone for the first half, peppering the Barracudas' penalty area with threatening chances. Increasing the pressure in the 11th minute, the Kickers nearly broke through when Robinson served a cross into the box from the right wing, finding Jason Yeisley in the penalty area. The Kickers forward stepped around his defender but mistimed his shot, allowing time for Barracuda defenders to swarm and clear the ball. Defender Sascha Görres stepped up to the rebound and launched a 25-yard rocket that dipped just over the crossbar.

Not to be denied for much longer, the Kickers opened scoring in the 24th minute when Yeisley received the ball at the end line. Cutting back and drawing the ‘keeper, he sliced the ball across the goalmouth to an awaiting Robinson at the back post. Taking two steps towards goal, the Kickers midfielder tapped home the first goal of the night.

Yeisley nearly doubled the score 10 minutes later when he received a cross from Ownby at the left post but his diving header glanced just wide of the far post.

Searching for the equalizer before the break, Barracuda midfielder Orlando Mitchum carried the ball down the left flank and attempted to center it for an onrushing Eugine Kirwan but he got tangled up by the Kickers defense before he could line up his shot in the 44th minute.

Picking up where they left off, Antigua nearly leveled the score seconds after the restart when Rolston Phoenix collected the ball at midfield and charged towards goal. Driving a low distance shot on frame, he forced Kickers goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra to leap to his right but his outstretched fingertips could not quite reach as the ball drifted just wide of the post.

The Kickers deflated the Antigua attack 10 minutes later when Yeisley played the ball to the top of the box, finding Robinson in the penalty area. The goalscorer turned playmaker as he settled the ball and fed it through to Ownby, who beat James as he came off his line to challenge and slotted it into an empty net.

Ownby was integral again in the 77th minute, scoring the Kickers' third goal of the night. Serving the ball into a crowded box from the left flank, Sascha Görres found Ownby through traffic at the six-yard box and the Richmond native turned and tucked his second goal of the night into the back of the net.

Hoping to pull a goal back in the 82nd minute, Antigua midfielder Tamorley Thomas battled for the ball 30 yards out and attempted a long-distance shot that soared wide of the target. Dykstra distributed the goal kick to midfield and Juan Arbelaez latched onto it, eluding defenders en route to Barracuda territory. He slotted a through ball to Joseph Ngwenya at the top of the penalty area but his one-time strike was smothered by a diving Molvin James.

In the waning minutes of regulation, the Kickers capped off the night when a cross from Görres from the left side found Ngwenya at the far post. His header fell back to an unmarked Haboush and the rookie midfielder made no mistake with a half volley from point blank range.

The Richmond Kickers conclude their early season home stand at City Stadium next Saturday, June 22 when they play host to Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps Reserves at 7 p.m.

Friday, June 14, 2013

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix FC Wolves return to Tempe this Saturday night after two weeks and four matches on the road to host the Real Salt Lake Reserves of Major League Soccer (MLS). This is a match that counts in the USL PRO League standings for the Wolves as well as the MLS Reserve League standings for Real Salt Lake, as determined in an agreement the two leagues reached earlier this year.

The first meeting of these two teams was highlighted by a first half brawl that earned three red cards: goalkeeper Andrew Weber and defender Renan Felipe Boufleur were ejected for Phoenix FC; and defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe for Real Salt Lake. Following a missed Real Salt Lake free kick attempt, a scuffle at the edge of Phoenix FC's box quickly turned into both teams fighting.

Phoenix FC was outmanned 10 - 9 for the remainder of the game. Real Salt Lake attacked furiously in the second half with the advantage, but Phoenix FC's defense made key stops when needed. Goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson, who was in for Andrew Weber, survived numerous wide shots and made some spectacular saves to keep Real Salt Lake from reaching the back of the net.

With time running down, Real Salt Lake pushed its side for one last offensive effort but came up empty after five minutes of stoppage play. Despite registering 24 shots to Phoenix FC's four shots, the match ended in a draw.

Phoenix FC is coming off of a winless road trip on the East Coast in which the Wolves played four matches in two weeks. It was a frustrating road trip that was highlighted by close games and missed opportunities, and the Wolves are hungry to get back home for a chance to earn some regular season points with a healthy roster and no major injuries.

The Real Salt Lake reserves team features a number of players who start for and have significant playing time with the club's MLS lineup, including defenders Abdoulie Mansally and Carlos Salcedo, midfielders John Stertzer and Sebastian Velasquez, and forwards Joao Plata and Robbie Findley.

Phoenix FC has started a number of different lineups in recent weeks, looking for the right on-field combination since the return of standout forward Darren Mackie to the lineup after an early season injury. Mackie has returned to playing form as of late and is beginning to jell with the team, and his presence and experience will be needed as the Wolves look to pick up some points against a solid Real Salt Lake squad.

This week's matchup will be played at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe, this Saturday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, and tickets can be purchased at www.phoenixfc.com.

Friday, June 14, 2013

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds welcome defending USL PRO Champions, the Charleston Battery, to Highmark Stadium on Saturday night for their final meeting of the regular season. Carrying a seven-game undefeated streak into the match against the third-place Battery, the eighth-placed Riverhounds enter Saturday night knowing that a win will continue their ascent up the USL PRO standings. The top eight teams in the league will advance to the USL PRO Playoffs, which commence in late August. The match will complete a six-game home stand for the Riverhounds and is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick off.

“This match brings us to the mid-point of the season and the team has played very well over the last month or so,” said Head Coach Justin Evans. “With the defending champions coming to town, this will be a good test for us.”

The two clubs met at Blackbaud Stadium in late April, seeing the Battery’s Mike Azira convert a goal in each half to defeat the Riverhounds 2-0. Since that loss to the Battery, the Riverhounds have maintained an undefeated record in USL PRO play.

The Battery opened Blackbaud Stadium in 1999 as the first-ever privately funded soccer stadium in North America and will travel to the Nation’s newest privately funded soccer stadium, in Highmark Stadium, during Father’s Day weekend. Not only do the two franchises share this accomplishment, but both, the Riverhounds Head Coach Justin Evans and CEO Jason Kutney played for the Battery in 2004 and 2005. With so many close ties between the clubs, Saturday night’s match-up will be tremendous for the history of soccer in North America.

“Charleston is where I learned to be a professional on and off the field, and Blackbaud Stadium inspired Highmark Stadium in many ways,” said Kutney. “The Battery is a first-class organization and they are defending champs and as such, a Riverhounds win on Saturday night would mean four points to me!”

The Riverhounds return to Highmark Stadium next Sunday, June 23, when they host the Antigua Barracuda FC for the second leg of the 2013 regular season. During the game, the Riverhounds are hosting the ‘Hounds Beach Bash’ to celebrate the start of summer. A variety of fun free activities will be available for kids in attendance. To purchase tickets, visit Riverhounds.com or call the Highmark Stadium Box Office at (412) 224-4900.

Friday, June 14, 2013

FULLERTON, Calif. — The LA Blues host the LA Galaxy Reserves at the The StubHub Center on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. PT. This will be the second and final meeting between the two teams, and will be considered a Blues home game. Admission and parking at what was formerly known as the Home Depot Center are free.

The two teams previously met on May 7 at the Track and Field Stadium at The Home Depot Center, where the Galaxy were able to hold off a late rally by the Blues. The Galaxy took a four-goal lead before the Blues came back and scored three goals of their own.

Gyasi Zardes put the Galaxy up in the fifth minute, and then set up the next two goals by Chandler Hoffman and Hector Jimenez as the Galaxy went into the half up 3-0. Early in the second half, the Galaxy were award a penalty kick, and Jimenez was able to knock that past the Blues’ keeper Steve Gonzalez.

The Blues first goal of the game was an own goal as Rafael Garcia headed a Blues free kick into his own net past Brian Perk. The Blues then cut the lead to 4-2 in the 72nd minute when a pass from Jimmy Turner found Shay Spitz inside the box, allowing the midfielder to slip a shot past Perk. Just 10 minutes later, the lead was down to one as the Galaxy were called for a foul inside the box, leading to a penalty kick that Blues’ captain Allan Russell stepped up and converted, but the Blues were unable to find an equalizer as the Galaxy held on to win 4-3.

The Blues, who are 5-5-2, recently came off a two-game road trip. The team wasn’t able to hold off the Rochester Rhinos on May 31, allowing Tam McManus score the late equalizer in a 2-2 draw. Los Angeles had a quick turnaround as they travelled down to face the Dayton Dutch Lions two days later, but the Blues were able to earn another point after a 0-0 draw.

The Galaxy Reserves last match was against the Blues back in May.

The Blues are currently on a three-game unbeaten streak, and seem to find the back of the net more away from Titan Stadium. They have scored 14 goals away from Titan Stadium as opposed to 11 at home. They are, on the other hand, undefeated in league play at Titan and have shutout every USL PRO opponent at the stadium.

Friday, June 14, 2013

WILMINGTON N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads will welcome Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls Reserves to Legion Stadium on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Hammerheads will be looking to build off a victory against Phoenix FC in its last game at Legion as the club tries to make its way back up the USL PRO standings.

Saturday’s game will be regarded as a regular season match for Wilmington, with the result counting toward the USL PRO standings. The match is a product of the recent affiliation between Major League Soccer and USL PRO that was confirmed earlier this year having each USL PRO team play home and away against an MLS Reserves team during the 2013 season.

The Hammerheads are scheduled to travel to Red Bull Arena on Sunday, June 30 for the second game in the home-and-home series. The Red Bulls (2-2-0) will play the Hammerheads (3-8-1) back-to-back in their reserves schedule.

The Hammerheads and Red Bulls have had previously dealings, with forward Corey Hertzog arriving in Wilmington on loan from the MLS side in 2012. Hertzog made an instant impact to the squad following his addition halfway through the USL PRO season. Hertzog went on to become the Hammerheads’ leading scorer last season with nine goals in 17 matches, while also tallying five assists, as he earned All-USL PRO First Team honors.

Wilmington’s Steven Perry recently earned the team’s first point on the road this season in a 1-1 draw with the Richmond Kickers last Saturday night. Richmond’s Philippe Davies took the first goal of the evening in the 78th minute of play, only to be followed by Perry’s equalizer in the 79th minute.

For tickets to the Saturday night's match versus New York Red Bulls Reserves, contact (910) 777-2111 or purchase them online at www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Legion Stadium.

Friday, June 14, 2013

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Charleston Battery (7-3-2) are on the road this weekend as they continue USL PRO play with matches against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-4-5) and the Rochester Rhinos (1-7-4).

The Battery will play Pittsburgh on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. On Sunday afternoon the Battery will take on the Rhinos at 4:05 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y.

The Battery are coming off of a 5-2 loss to Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night. Charleston gained a two-goal advantage behind Dane Kelly’s finish in the 16th minute and Nicki Paterson’s goal just two minutes later, but they were unable to hold the lead for 90 minutes.

In the 66th minute, RSL’s Devon Sandoval headed the ball home, bringing the deficit to one. Salt Lake converted a penalty kick just 10 minutes later to tie things up and Sandoval struck again in extra time to make it 3-2 in favor of Salt Lake. RSL continued to add insult to injury with two more goals in extra time.

This weekend's games will be the second of two meetings between the Battery and both Pittsburgh and Rochester for the 2013 USL PRO regular season. The Battery has already defeated Pittsburgh once this season in late April and has tied with the Rhinos in late May.

Viewing Party

There will be viewing parties for both Saturday and Sunday’s matches at Molly Darcy’s Irish Pub located at 235 East Bay Street, downtown Charleston. The games will also be broadcast live on SportsRadio1450 AM presented by the Angie Gainey Bailey Real Estate Team and will be streamed live at www.USLNation.com.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles are looking to get build off a last-minute draw against the Charleston Battery when the Chicago Fire Reserves come to town on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET for the first in a two-game series between the two teams this season. 

Drew Yates scored in stoppage time to tie the game at 2-2 on June 5th against longtime rival Charleston. Stephen Okai opened the scoring with a chip over goalkeeper Odisnal Cooper to give the Eagles an early lead, but the Battery scored twice in the second half to take the lead. Yates salvaged a point for the Eagles in the last minute of stoppage time as he put home the equalizer at the left post.

Charlotte is looking to get back in the win column, after getting off to a fast start with a 3-0-4 record, they only have one point in their last three league matches. With his late game goal Drew Yates became the ninth different Eagles player to score this year.

Friday night's matchup is the first of two games against the Fire Reserves thanks to a partnership that was struck between major League Soccer and USL PRO back in January. Every player on the Fire's first team roster, along with the club's Developmental Academy and guest players, are eligible for 2013 MLS Reserve League play, so fans should expect to see at least a few of the players that the Fire brought down for the previous meeting between the two teams last month in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round at Winthrop. The Fire Reserves are led by First Team assistant Leo Percovich.

The Fire Reserves last played on May 14th against the Houston Dynamo Reserves, and fell 2-0. Chicago's first team is coming off a fourth-round victory in the U.S. Open Cup on Thursday afternoon against the Columbus Crew, but will still provide a formidable challenge for the Eagles as Charlotte looks to bolster its playoff chances.

For more details or to buy tickets for the Fire match CLICK HERE.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Rhinos host VSI Tampa Bay FC at Sahlen's Stadium on Friday night at 7:35 p.m., and the defending USL PRO Champion Charleston Battery on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Rhinos enter the weekend seven points behind the Charlotte Eagles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the USL PRO table.

The Rhinos bolstered their attack on Tuesday as they agreed to terms with forward Andrew Hoxie for the remainder of the 2013 USL PRO season. Hoxie played with the Rhinos from 2010 to 2012 when he scored 14 goals and added eight assists in 60 appearances. However, Hoxie never started more than ten matches or played over 1,000 minutes in a season. He was most effective for Rochester coming off the bench in the second half of a match to provide a timely goal or an assist. Hoxie's inclusion in the line-up for this weekend's matches is still contingent on contractual approval from USL PRO and the USSF.

Left back Tyler Polak and winger Gabe Latigue are expected to return to the Rhinos roster for this weekend's matches after they were recalled to Major League Soccer earlier this week. Polak and Latigue are both on season-long loans to Rochester from New England for the USL PRO season, but both players were in the Revs starting line-up and played 90 minutes in New England's 4-2 victory against the New York Red Bulls in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night. New England's next match in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be against D.C. United in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, June 26th at the Maryland Soccer Complex in Boyds, Md.

VSI Tampa Bay FC enters Friday night's match with the Rochester Rhinos in fourth place in the USL PRO table. VSI is second in the league in goals scored (25), goals conceded (11), and goal differential (14). VSI's leading scorer is Rochester Lancers (MISL) forward Mauricio Salles, who is second in the league in goals (8) and third in the league in points (18). Five of Salles' eight goals came in VSI's 8-0 victory over Antigua Barracuda FC last Friday night. Salles is on a season long loan to VSI from the Lancers. \

The Rhinos lost 3-0 to Tampa Bay on April 13th at Plant City Stadium in the only previous meeting between the two clubs. VSI striker Karamba Janneh scored the game winning goal for the home side in first half stoppage time, and Douglas Dos Santos and Andriy Budnyy added second half strikes for VSI. Alex Horwath kept the clean sheet for VSI, and Salles had one assist in the match.

The defending USL PRO champion Charleston Battery will make their only appearance in Sahlen's Stadium this season against the Rochester Rhinos on Sunday afternoon. The Battery enter the weekend in third place in the USL PRO table. Charleston is tied for the third-best defensive record in the league. The Rhinos and Charleston Battery played to a 0-0 draw in their first meeting of the season at Blackbaud Stadium. Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper made two saves to keep the clean sheet for the home side, and Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht made six saves to keep the clean sheet for the visitors. The last time the Battery traveled to Sahlen's Stadium they eliminated the Rochester Rhinos from the 2012 USL PRO Playoffs on penalties in the semifinals last August 31st.

Individual tickets are currently available for both of this weekend's contests, and they can be purchased by calling (585)454-KICK (5425), by visiting the MVP Health Care Box Office at Sahlen's Stadium, or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets, group tickets and flex packages for the 2013 USL PRO season are also on sale now.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to host Antigua Barracuda FC this Friday night at 7 p.m. Gates open at City Stadium at 6 p.m. with live music from 2G Band, happy hour in the Kickers outdoor bar, food trucks and Family Zone and the first 500 fans will receive sunglasses, courtesy of nTelos Wireless. The Kickers’ third annual Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award will be presented to a youth soccer player during halftime and tickets are just $7.00 in advance at RichmondKickers.com, using promo code AVERY.

Undefeated through their first 10 regular season games, the Kickers extended their unbeaten streak at City Stadium last Saturday through a 1-1 draw with the Wilmington Hammerheads. Scoreless through the first 75 minutes, the match took a dramatic turn when a pair of late goals broke the ice in rapid fire succession. Kickers midfielder Philippe Davies notched his first goal in a Kickers uniform to give the home side a short-lived lead before Wilmington leveled the score thirty seconds later.

Meanwhile, Antigua travels to Richmond following a grueling back-to-back road trip to Tampa and Orlando, conceding a combined 10 goals on the weekend. VSI Tampa Bay FC forward Mauricio Salles set a single-game USL PRO record with five goals within the first 30 minutes as Tampa took an 8-0 win against Antigua at Plant City Stadium. Forty-eight hours later, Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James held the league-leading Orlando City scoreless at the Citrus Bowl until the 87th minute when Orlando earned a penalty with three minutes remaining in regulation.

Richmond and Antigua conclude their two-game series this Friday, having previously met at City Stadium on May 11 when midfielder Joseph Ngwenya posted a first half hat trick and midfielder Nate Robinson notched three assists to lead the Kickers to a 4-1 win. Antigua midfielder Tamorley Thomas recorded his second goal of the season to avoid the shutout before the Kickers rounded out the scoreline with a Luke Vercollone tally early in the second half.

The two clubs met three times during the 2012 campaign, with the Kickers holding a slight 2-1 edge over their Caribbean rivals. After claiming a 2-0 win in Richmond and narrowly edging the Barracuda 1-0 in Antigua, the Kickers dropped their final regular season match, 2-1.

Players to Watch
Kickers: Midfielder Philippe Davies recorded his first-ever goal in a Kickers uniform last week with a 25-yard blast against Wilmington. Earning his first full cap with the Canadian National team during the offseason, the 2012 mid-season edition made 29 appearances with the Vancouver Whitecaps (USL-1/USSF D2) over two seasons, before signing as the first-ever homegrown and Canadian player with the Major League Soccer side in 2010.

Local product Joseph Haboush signed with the Kickers after a standout collegiate career at Virginia Commonwealth University and has since made six appearances with the pro team during his rookie campaign. A native of Richmond, VA, the midfielder spent two seasons with the Richmond Strikers U16 Elite and U18 Academy teams.

Doubling as an offensive threat and a defensive force, Jason Yeisley earned USL PRO Team of the Week honors for his solid defensive efforts against Wilmington last week while filling in at center back while Henry Kalungi is on national team duty. The former FC Dallas and USL PRO All-League Player has made six appearances as a forward this season, recording one goal.

Barracuda: Following a string of shutouts to start the season, Tamorley Thomas notched the Barracudas’ first goal of the 2013 campaign with an 8th minute tally over VSI Tampa Bay FC. Adding a second goal against the Kickers at City Stadium last month, the Antigua & Barbuda National Team midfielder leads the Barracuda in scoring with four points on the season.

Antigua and Barbuda National Team goalkeeper Molvin James produced a standout performance last week, holding the league-leading Orlando City scoreless through 87 minutes. The veteran goalkeeper backstopped the Barracuda to three wins during the 2012 season, posting 56 saves in 15 appearances. He signed with the Barracudas in 2011 after spending four seasons in the Antiguan First Division.

Anchoring the club’s defense since the inaugural season in 2011, defender George Dublin has appeared in all but one match for the Barracuda this season. He made his debut for Antigua and Barbuda in an April 2000 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bermuda and has earned over 30 caps since. He played in nine World Cup qualification games and was part of the Antigua squad which took part in the final stages of the 2010 Caribbean Championship.

Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award

The Richmond Kickers will present the third annual Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award to a youth soccer player during the Kickers’ USL PRO game against Antigua Barracuda FC this Friday night. The Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award was established in memory of Kickers youth player, Avery Spence, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on May 1, 2011. In honor of Avery’s No. 7 jersey, admission to the Kickers pro game will be $7 per person, in advance at RichmondKickers.com, using promo code AVERY.

Avery’s former coach and Richmond Kickers President, Board of Directors, Rob Ukrop, presented the inaugural award to the Spence family on July 8, 2011, to honor Avery’s commitment to the Richmond community. A longstanding member of the Richmond Kickers youth club, she started with the Kickers rec program when she was nine years old, progressing with arguably the best girls team in the Kickers Elite girls program over the past seven seasons. A committed volunteer since the age of 13, Avery donated countless hours throughout the Richmond community, participating in over 50 youth soccer clinics, Meals on Wheels, caroling to senior citizens, as well as working with the Kickers ADP program for six and seven year olds. She was in the academic top ten in her class at Manchester High School and was heading to Virginia Tech in the fall to pursue a career in dentistry. Avery had a love for life, sharing her time and talent with kids of all ages.

Past award recipients include former Kickers player and current University of Richmond midfielder, Ashley Riefner, who was presented with the award by the Spence family on July 21, 2012.

Each year, the Richmond Kickers will present the Avery Spence Youth Community Service Award to the Kickers youth player that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the youth community in Richmond. Criteria are based on volunteer involvement, commitment, leadership and athletic and academic achievements.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua -- Antigua Barracuda FC will look to make an impression this weekend as they take on the Richmond Kickers on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET at City Stadium. The Cudas will then make the journey to Pennsylvania and face the Harrisburg City Islanders on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.

The big news coming from the Barracuda camp is the appointment of a new coach Adrian Whitbread for the remainder of the season. Whitbread brings massive amounts of coaching experience to the Cudas. A former player in England, Whitbread broke into the coaching ranks in England as an assistant for teams like Brentford and Leicester City.

Whitbread also has a proven record coaching in the Caribbean region, having been an assistant and head coach during his time with the Puerto Rico Islanders from 2008 to 2012. Last season the Islanders finished third in the league, and finished second in their group in the CONCACAF Champions League, finishing second to Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy.

Antiguan fans hope the new coach will bring a winning mentality to the club as the team’s record is 0-11-0, with the side having scored only five goals so far this season. The Cudas’ visit to Richmond is their second of the season, with the Kickers having taken a 4-1 win in the first meeting as former D.C. United hit man Joseph Ngwenya scored a hat trick. The Barracudas must improve their backline if they are to gather any points from the Kickers as they stand in fifth place and are undefeated in 10 games to start the USL PRO season.

The second-placed City Islanders will be another tough test over the Father’s Day weekend, having taken a 4-0 win against the Cudas earlier this season. An affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, the Harrisburg has been led by Gambian forward Sainey Touray, who has scored six goals and added four assists to sit fourth in the league with 16 points.

All the action this weekend in USL PRO can be viewed on www.uslnation.com, don’t miss any of the action from across the country. 

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — A quick goal by forward Long Tan was all Orlando City SC needed on Wednesday night at Sporting Park to defeat Major League Soccer affiliate Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The win advances Orlando to the quarterfinals of the Open Cup, the first time the Lions have done so in franchise history.

“It’s a really big result and something the players can be proud of,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “All of a sudden we are a couple games from something really special. I’m looking forward to playing the next round opponent.”

Orlando didn’t take very long to take the lead, with Tan capitalizing on a well-played takeaway from midfielder Adama Mbengue. In only the second minute, the former Orlando City U23s star took possession away from the Sporting KC backline and found the Chinese forward in stride behind the Sporting defense. The former D.C. United striker slotted it past SKC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg in the bottom-left corner to give the Lions a 1-0 advantage.

Orlando continued to move men forward against the MLS side, who responded with chances of their own throughout the latter part of the half. Sporting KC, holding a 6-5-4 record in MLS regular season play coming into the match, began to produce opportunities as the game went on, whipping in dangerous corners and crosses that kept the Lions humble moving forward. Despite the increasing chances, Orlando weathered the storm to go into the locker room on top 1-0.

Looking for a spark, Sporting subbed in Forward C.J. Sapong at the start of the second half. Sapong led the team in goals with nine last year, pushing the Lions’ backline as they held the 1-0 lead. 

Despite the added pressure, Lions’ Goalkeeper and Team Captain Miguel Gallardo held steady – making key saves in succession in the 60th minute to keep the Lions ahead. The 2011 USL PRO Goalkeeper of the Year came up big as Sporting continued to push forward, leading an Orlando backline that featured second-time starter Justin Clark and veteran Rob Valentino.

Last-minute chances by Sporting Kansas City in the five minutes of added time kept the game close, but ultimately Orlando prevailed 1-0 over its MLS affiliate.

The win marked the club’s first win against Sporting KC, and a place in the quarterfinal round of the Open Cup. The quarterfinal opponent will be the winner of the Chicago Fire vs. Columbus Crew match, which was postponed until Thursday due to weather. The match will be held on Wednesday, June 26, in either Chicago or Columbus. The four Sporting loanees, including Dom Dwyer, Christian Duke, Yann Songo’o and Jon Kempin will be eligible barring a call-up from Kansas City.

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States and is open to United States Soccer Federation (USSF) affiliated teams. The Open Cup was first held in 1913, with this year marking the centennial edition of the tournament. This year’s field consisted of 68 teams, the largest field in US Open Cup history.

SANDY, Utah -- The Charleston Battery saw a two goal lead slip as they lost 5-2 after extra time to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. Dane Kelly and Nicki Paterson scored first-half goals as the Battery jumped out to a two-goal halftime lead, but RSL fought back to take the game into extra time, where the MLS side scored three unanswered goals to jump past Charleston into the quarterfinals.

Kelly opened the scoring in the 16th minute, tucking the ball past RSL goalkeeper Josh Saunders after an excellent through-ball from defender John Wilson. The hosts appeared shell-shocked to have gone behind, and the Battery doubled their lead two minutes later after Quinton Griffith smacked a shot off the post. The ball bounced into the path of Paterson, who finished from close range with a right-foot volley.

Charleston held the lead until the 66th minute when Devon Sandoval headed RSL back into contention. Ten minutes later Salt Lake were level after substitute forward Joao Plata converted a penalty kick after being brought down in the area. 

The Battery withstood sustained pressure to take the game into extra time but any thoughts of victory were swept aside as RSL scored three times in the first 15 minute period. Sandoval headed the home side in front in the 97th minute and then Khari Stephenson added a fourth goal in the 104th minute. Javier Morales put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time at the end of the first half of extra time, converting a penalty-kick.

The Battery return to USL PRO action on Saturday night as they visit the the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff (Sports Radio 1450 AM WQNT/www.uslnation.com).

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua Barracuda FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrian Whitbread as the club’s new head coach. Whitbread will be in place for the club’s upcoming games this weekend as it visits the Richmond Kickers and Harrisburg City Islanders.

“I am very pleased to take over the Barracudas for the remainder of the season,” Whitbread said. “I see great potential in the players that I have trained with over the past two days, and I am excited to get the team back on a winning track quickly."

A native of Epping, England, Whitbread brings extensive coaching experience within Carribean soccer to the Barracudas. After beginning his coaching career in England as an assistant coach for clubs including Leicester City, Whitbread was hired as an assistant coach to Colin Clarke for the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2008. Upon Clarke’s departure, Whitbread became the Islanders’ head coach in 2012, leading the side to a third-place finish in the league.

Whitbread also led the Islanders past his new club in the CFU Club Championship last year, earning a spot in the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League. Puerto Rico finished second in its group as it took victory against El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan and earned a draw against eventual group winner the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

As a player, Whitbread made more than 100 appearances for both Portsmouth and Leyton Orient before a knee injury brought his career to an end in 2003. The Barracudas are delighted to welcome him as he brings his experience and organizational skill to lead the club to future success.