2012 Richmond Kickers season

The 2012 Richmond Kickers season was the club's twentieth season of existence. It was the Kicker's sixth-consecutive year in the third-tier of American soccer, playing in the USL Professional Division for their second season.

Richmond Kickers
2012 season
OwnerUnited States Rob Ukrop
Head coachEngland Leigh Cowlishaw
StadiumCity Stadium
USL Pro4th
USL Pro PlayoffsFirst round
U.S. Open CupThird round
Highest home attendance5,014
vs. D.C. United (May 29
U.S. Open Cup)
Lowest home attendance2,273
vs. Harrisburg (May 12
USL Pro Regular Season)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 2,433
Playoffs: 1,441
Cup: 5,014

After a slow start for the first two-thirds of the regular season, a four-match winning streak catapulted the Kickers into the top half of the table, thus qualifying them for the playoffs, making it the ninth consecutive season that the Kickers made the playoffs of any league they were participating in. In the first round of the playoffs, Richmond lost 3–2 by the Wilmington Hammerheads thus ending their postseason ambitions.

Richmond also reached the third round of the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, where in extra time, they lost to Major League Soccer side, D.C. United.

Background

The 2011 campaign marked the Kickers' debut in the newly created USL Pro League, which assumed the role as the third division of American soccer. During the regular season, Richmond finished third in their division and third in the overall table, making it the first time since 2005 that the Kickers did not finish the regular season either as the regular season champion or finalist. In the playoffs, the Kickers were eliminated by Commissioner's Cup winners and eventual USL Pro champions, Orlando City.[1]

Outside of league play, Richmond made one of their deepest runs in the U.S. Open Cup, the domestic knockout cup competition.[2] The Kickers reached the semifinals of the tournament after knocking out two Major League Soccer clubs, Columbus Crew and Sporting Kansas City in the third round and quarterfinals, respectively.[3] The last time Richmond reached the semifinals of the Open Cup was in 1995, when the Kickers won their lone U.S. Open Cup title.[4]

Off the field, the Kicker organization posted their fourth highest average attendance in club history.

Review

Offseason

On December 6, 2011, the Kickers signed Pittsburgh Riverhounds' Jason Yeisley on a free transfer.[5]

From January 20–22, the Kickers hosted their fourteenth player combine and had open tryouts.[6]

On January 30, 2012, the club announced their preseason schedule, which included fixtures against several local college soccer teams.[7]

Preseason

The Kickers are expected to begin preseason training camp in February.

April

The Richmond Kickers opened the regular season with home and away fixtures against long-time rivals, Charleston Battery, and the defending USL Pro regular season and postseason champions, Orlando City, earning a win, a draw and two losses during the four-match span. Richmond's home opener was on April 7 against Charleston in front of a crowd of 5,009. The Kickers suffered a 2–1 home defeat to the Battery thanks to a pair of goals from Charleston's Jose Cuevas, who netted in the 41st and 67th minutes of the match. The Kickers lone goal came from Stanley Nyazamba, who tallied for the home side in the 65th minute. The following weekend, the Kickers traveled south to Charleston, South Carolina to play the Battery at their home venue, Blackbaud Stadium. In front of a sold-out crowd of 4,729, the Kickers earned a last-minute, 2–1 victory over the Battery thanks to a goal from longtime defender, Sascha Görres.[8] The Kickers' other goal came from Nyazamba, who netted his second of the campaign.

On April 21, the Kickers returned home to take on the defending USL Pro champions, Orlando City, who had been hot off a 2–0–0 start. In front of a crowd of 3,169; the Kickers were shutout at home by Orlando, as they suffered a second-straight home defeat, losing 2–0 in the process. City's two goals both came in the second half off a 61st-minute strike from Luke Boden, and an 89th minute penalty kick from Anthony Pulis. The return leg was the following weekend, where Richmond ended Orlando's six-matching winning streak (including last season), where the Kickers drew City 0–0 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.[9]

Competitions

Preseason

February 25, 2012 Preseason 1 Richmond Kickers 3–0 James Madison Dukes Richmond, Virginia
18:30 EDT Stadium: Ukrop Park
March 3, 2012 Preseason 2 Richmond Kickers 1–2 VCU Rams Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Stadium: Ukrop Park
Attendance: 500
March 11, 2012 Preseason 3 Richmond Kickers 7–0 Richmond Kickers U-18 Richmond, Virginia
18:00 EDT Stadium: Ukrop Park
March 17, 2012 Preseason 4 Richmond Kickers 1–1 North Carolina Tar Heels Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Delicâte 47' Report Walters 34' Stadium: Ukrop Park
Attendance: 500
Referee: Mike Andrews
Note: 2012 Pro-Am Challenge
March 23, 2012 Preseason 5 Richmond Kickers 0–0 William & Mary Tribe Richmond, Virginia
17:00 EDT Report Stadium: Ukrop Park
Attendance: 500
March 25, 2012 Preseason 6 Richmond Kickers 4–0 Old Dominion Monarchs Richmond, Virginia
17:00 EDT Delicâte 6'
Nyazamba 23'
Foglesong 54'
MacKenzie 58'
Report Stadium: Ukrop Park
Attendance: 450
March 28, 2012 Preseason 7 Richmond Kickers 1–0 Longwood Lancers Richmond, Virginia
19:00pm EDT Nyazamba 36' Stadium: Ukrop Park
Note: Match abandoned in the 65th minute due to severe weather
March 31, 2012 Preseason 8 Richmond Kickers 0–2 Maryland Terrapins Richmond, Virginia
14:00 EDT Report Mullins 67', 76' Stadium: City Stadium

USL Pro regular season

Standings

Pos Team Pld W T L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Orlando City SC (C) 24 17 6 1 50 18 +32 57 Commissioner's Cup, Playoffs 1st round bye
2 Rochester Rhinos (A) 24 12 5 7 27 23 +4 41 Playoffs 1st round bye
3 Charleston Battery (A) 24 12 2 10 36 26 +10 38 Playoffs
4 Richmond Kickers (A) 24 11 5 8 31 27 +4 38
5 Wilmington Hammerheads (A) 24 10 7 7 34 32 +2 37
6 Harrisburg City Islanders (A) 24 10 7 7 34 29 +5 37
7 Charlotte Eagles 24 11 3 10 34 26 +8 36
8 Los Angeles Blues 24 9 3 12 26 29 3 30
9 Dayton Dutch Lions 24 4 10 10 20 29 9 22
10 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 24 4 5 15 20 39 19 17
11 Antigua Barracuda 24 5 1 18 16 50 34 16
Source: USL Pro official standings
Rules for classification: Points, then tiebreak: 1) Head-to-head record based on total points in League games, 2) Total wins in League games, 3) Goal difference in League games, 4) Goals scored in League games, etc.[10]
(A) Advances to USL Pro Playoffs; (C) Commissioner's Cup (best regular season record)

Match reports

April 7, 2012 Match 1 Richmond Kickers 1–2 Charleston Battery Richmond, Virginia
17:00 EDT Nyazamba 65'
Görres Yellow card 70'
Report Cuevas 41', 67'
Richter Yellow card 80'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,009
Referee: Moo Hackett
April 14, 2012 Match 2 Charleston Battery 1–2 Richmond Kickers Charleston, South Carolina
19:30 EDT Paterson 19'
Falvey Yellow card 61'
Report Nyazamba 61' Yellow card 79'
Callahan Yellow card 81'
Görres 90'
Stadium: Blackbaud Stadium
Attendance: 4,729 (SO)
Referee: Sky Arthur Benning
April 21, 2012 Match 3 Richmond Kickers 0–2 Orlando City Richmond, Virginia
17:00 EDT Callahan Yellow card 69' Report Molino Yellow card 31'
Boden 61'
Pulis 89' (pen.)
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,169
Referee: Mark Gorak
April 28, 2012 Match 4 Orlando City 0–0 Richmond Kickers Orlando, Florida
19:30 EDT Ustruck Yellow card 75' Report Kalungi Yellow card 49'
Bulow Yellow card 83'
Stadium: Citrus Bowl
Attendance: 7,899
Referee: Marcos C. Deoliveira
May 5, 2012 Match 5 Dayton Dutch Lions 1–1 Richmond Kickers Bellbrook, Ohio
19:30 EDT Bardsley 2'
Preciado Yellow card 29'
Bartels Yellow card 61'
Holloway Yellow card 75'
DeGroot Yellow card 90'
Report Hiroyama Yellow card 54'
Bulow 90' (pen.)
Stadium: Miami Valley South Stadium
Attendance: 1,012
Referee: Andrey Castel
May 12, 2012 Match 6 Richmond Kickers 2–2 Harrisburg City Islanders Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Delicâte 8'
Agorsor Yellow card 11' 78'
Report Noone 9'
Pelletier Yellow card 44'
Langley Yellow card 58'
Ekra 80'
Welker Yellow card 89'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,273
Referee: Andrew Chapin
May 26, 2012 Match 8 Richmond Kickers 3–1 Wilmington Hammerheads Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Bulow 69'
Agorsor 90'
Agorsor 90'
Report Budnyy 18' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,346
Referee: Matt Franz
June 1, 2012 Match 9 Harrisburg City Islanders 1–1 Richmond Kickers Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
19:00 EDT Brandt Yellow card 67'
Pettis 79'
Basso Yellow card 84'
Report Johnson 68' Yellow card 70' Stadium: Skyline Sports Complex
Referee: Michael Piercey
June 2, 2012 Match 10 Rochester Rhinos 0–1 Richmond Kickers Rochester, New York
19:05 EDT Kirk Yellow card 13'
Cost Yellow card 61'
Fernandez Yellow card 90'
Report Vercollone 5' Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 5,237
Referee: David Mon
June 9, 2012 Match 11 Richmond Kickers 1–0 Charlotte Eagles Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Bulow 90' Report Grousis Yellow card 90' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,193
Referee: Mark Gorak
June 15, 2012 Match 12 Wilmington Hammerheads 2–1 Richmond Kickers Wilmington, North Carolina
19:30 EDT Budnyy 16'
Evans Yellow card 23'
Hertzog 29'
Cole Yellow card 38'
Nicholson Yellow card 65'
Report Agorsor 6' Stadium: Legion Field
Attendance: 3,371
Referee: David McPhun
June 16, 2012 Match 13 Charlotte Eagles 4–1 Richmond Kickers Charlotte, North Carolina
20:00 EDT Thornton 24'
Kabwe 65'
Ferrer 86'
Meza 90+'
Report Agorsor 19'
Vercollone Yellow card 81'
Stadium: Charlotte Christian Stadium
Attendance: 1,447
Referee: Jordan Shaw
June 23, 2012 Match 14 Richmond Kickers 2–3 Rochester Rhinos Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Vercollone 8'
Callahan Yellow card 45'
Yeisley 81'
Pascale Yellow card 90'
Report Brito 27'
Earls Yellow card 42'
Tanke Yellow card 59'
Hoxie 85'
Banks 90'
Nicht Yellow card 90'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,365
Referee: Shawn Fitch
July 3, 2012 Match 15 Richmond Kickers 1–0 Los Angeles Blues Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Heins 66' Report Russell Yellow card 60'
Miller Yellow card 79'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1,424
Referee: Charles Carson
July 7, 2012 Match 16 Wilmington Hammerheads 1–0 Richmond Kickers Wilmington, North Carolina
19:30 EDT Parratt Yellow card 20'
Hertzog 66'
Musa Yellow card 73'
Report Heins Yellow card 23'
Kalungi Yellow card 45' Yellow-red card 86'
Delicâte Yellow card 73'
Stadium: Legion Field
Attendance: 3,909
Referee: United States Abbes Mansour-Hafifi
July 13, 2012 Match 17 Richmond Kickers 3–1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT William 37'
Calvano 45' (o.g.)
Delicâte Yellow card 73' 86' (pen.)
Report Kassel Yellow card 56' 90' (pen.)
Smith Yellow card 69'
Costanzo Yellow card 90+2'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1,641
July 21, 2012 Match 18 Richmond Kickers 2–0 Dayton Dutch Lions Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Heins 11'
Davies Yellow card 33'
Delicâte 90' (pen.)
Report Williams Yellow card 48'
DeLass Yellow card 85'
Bardsley Red card 90'
Jeff DeGroot Yellow card 90'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1,510
Referee: Jim Sadowski
July 27, 2012 Match 19 Charlotte Eagles 1–0 Richmond Kickers Charlotte, North Carolina
19:00 EDT Devon Grousis Yellow card 23'
Roberts Yellow card 52' 80'
Report Stadium: Charlotte Christian Stadium
Attendance: 581
Referee: Matt Jozaitis
July 28, 2012 Match 20 Richmond Kickers 2–1 Charlotte Eagles Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT William 13', 56'
Vercollone Yellow card 42'
Report Herrera 73' Yellow card 75' Stadium: City Stadium
Referee: Matthew Franz
August 3, 2012 Match 21 Richmond Kickers 2–0 Antigua Barracuda Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Gerson dos Santos 84'
Delicâte 90'
Report Blakely Yellow card 32' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1,907
Referee: Jeff Davis
August 11, 2012 Match 22 Richmond Kickers 2–1 Harrisburg City Islanders Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Nyazamba 13'
Agorsor Yellow card 44'
Kalungi Yellow card 56'
Yomby William 78'
Report Yomby William 15' (o.g.)
Welker Yellow card 86'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 2,922
Referee: Bill Dittmar
August 17, 2012 Match 23 Antigua Barracuda 0–1 Richmond Kickers Saint George Parish, Antigua and Barbuda
19:00 EDT Blakely Yellow card 47'
Christian Yellow card 71'
Report Bulow 61' Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Attendance: 400
Referee: Curtis Charles
August 19, 2012 Match 24 Antigua Barracuda 2–1 Richmond Kickers Saint George Parish, Antigua and Barbuda
19:00 EDT Griffith 1'
Burton 38'
Report Agorsor 90+2' Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Attendance: 381
Referee: Brian Willet

USL Pro Playoffs

August 25, 2012 (2012-08-25) First round Richmond Kickers 2–3 Wilmington Hammerheads Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Yeisley 12'
Elcock 79'
Report
Report
Briggs Yellow card 57'
Chirishian 69'
Perry 72'
Guzman Yellow card 90'
Parratt 90+3'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1,441
Referee: Charles Carson

U.S. Open Cup

May 29, 2012 Third round Richmond Kickers Virginia 1–2 (a.e.t.) Washington, D.C. D.C. United Richmond, Virginia
19:00 EDT Nyazamba 45' (pen.) Report Salihi 24'
Saragosa 107'
Kitchen Yellow card 111'
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,014
Referee: Kai Goodrich

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalRegular Season[11]Playoffs[12]U.S. Open Cup[13][14]
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
0 GK United States USA Josh Pantazelos 00000000
1 GK England ENG Ryan Jones 00000000
2 DF Cameroon CMR Yomby William 2041841010
3 DF United States USA Shane Johnson 2211911020
4 DF United States USA Luke Vercollone 2722421020
5 MF United States USA Ryan Heins 2622321020
7 FW England ENG Matthew Delicâte 2151951010
8 MF Brazil BRA Gerson dos Santos 2622311021
9 MF Japan JPN Nozomi Hiroyama 2211901021
10 MF United States USA David Bulow 2041940010
11 MF United States USA Edson Elcock 2011801110
14 MF United States USA Bobby Foglesong 1301200010
15 MF United States USA Chris Agorsor 2482161022
16 FW Scotland SCO Ross MacKenzie 40400000
17 FW United States USA Jason Yeisley 2221911120
18 FW China CHN Long Tan 10100000
19 MF United States USA Michael Burke 80701000
20 MF Canada CAN Philippe Davies 60600000
21 MF United States USA Michael Callahan 1701600010
22 GK United States USA Ronnie Pascale 2702401020
23 DF Germany GER Sascha Görres 2712411020
24 DF United States USA Ethan White 60600000
25 DF Uganda UGA Henry Kalungi 1901701010
99 MF Zimbabwe ZIM Stanley Nyazamba 2141931011

Top scorers

Ranking Position Nation Number Name USL Pro U.S. Open Cup Playoffs Total
1 FW United States 15 Christopher Agorsor 6 2 0 8
2 FW England 7 Matthew Delicâte 5 0 0 5
3 DF Cameroon 2 Yomby William 4 0 0 4
MF United States 10 David Bulow 4 0 0 4
MF Zimbabwe 99 Stanley Nyazamba 3 1 0 4
4 DF United States 4 Luke Vercollone 2 0 0 2
MF United States 5 Ryan Heins 2 0 0 2
MF Brazil 8 Gerson dos Santos 1 1 0 2
FW United States 17 Jason Yeisley 1 0 1 2
5 DF United States 3 Shane Johnson 1 0 0 1
MF Japan 9 Nozomi Hiroyama 0 1 0 1
MF United States 11 Edson Elcock 0 0 1 1
DF Germany 23 Sascha Görres 1 0 0 1

Disciplinary record

Position Nation Number Name USL Pro USL Pro Playoffs Open Cup Total (USSF Total)
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
TOTALS

Transfers

In

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
17 FW United States Jason Yeisley United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds Free December 6, 2011 [5]
3 DF United States Shane Johnson United States Longwood Lancers Free March 9, 2012 [15]
15 FW United States Chris Agorsor United States Real Salt Lake Free April 26, 2012 [16]
20 MF Canada Philippe Davies Canada Vancouver Whitecaps Free July 13, 2012 [17]

Out

No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee/notes Date Source
12 MF Sierra Leone Shaka Bangura Anagennisi Dherynia Free January 12, 2012 [18]
12 MF United States Jamel Wallace Wilmington Hammerheads Free February 15, 2013 [19]
15 MF Canada Evan Harding Unattached
17 MF United States Dave Hertel Unattached

Loan in

No. Pos. Player Loaned from Start End Source
24 DF United States Ethan White United States D.C. United Loan June 14, 2012 [20]
18 FW China Long Tan United States D.C. United Loan July 13, 2012 [21]

Loan out

No. Pos. Player Loaned to Start End Source
25 DF Uganda Henry Kalungi Uganda Proline October 3, 2011 February 3, 2012 [22]

See also

References

  1. "Official Match Information: Richmond Kickers 0–3 Orlando City". United Soccer Leagues. USLPro.USLSoccer.com. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  2. Barnhart, Gerald (July 8, 2011). "2011 U.S. Open Cup: Richmond Kickers are 'The Last Men Standing'". TheCup.us. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  3. "Kickers surprise MLS foe in U.S. Open Cup third-round match". Richmond Times–Dispatch. June 28, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  4. Dorr, Jr., Vic (July 14, 2011). "Kickers show grit in victory". Richmond Times–Dispatch. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  5. "Kickers Land Yeisley: Former FC Dallas and USL PRO All-League Star Signs with Richmond". RichmondKickers.com. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  6. "Kickers Pro Tryouts Jan 20–22". RichmondKickers.com. September 30, 2011. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  7. "Preseason Schedule Announced: Local Favorites, NCAA Champions and ACC Powerhouse Featured". RichmondKickers.com. January 30, 2012. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  8. "Goerres' Late Goal Lifts Kickers". USL Pro. USLSoccer.com. April 14, 2012. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  9. "Draw with Richmond keeps Orlando City undefeated". WFTV 9 News. WFTV.com. April 30, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  10. See Rule 2.11 League Regulations
  11. "Richmond Kickers 2012 Statistics". uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  12. "Official Match Information Wilmington Hammerheads at Richmond Kickers". uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  13. LaRoue, Jimmy. "2012 US Open Cup Second Round: Richmond Kickers defeat Aegean Hawks 4-0 to earn rematch with DC United". thecup.us. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  14. "KICKERS FALL IN OPEN CUP". richmondkickers.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  15. "KICKERS BOLSTER DEFENSE". richmondkickers.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  16. "NEED FOR SPEED". richmondkickers.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  17. "KICKERS SIGN THREE". richmondkickers.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  18. "Δεύτερη μετεγγραφική περίοδος / ενημέρωση". sigmalive.com/. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  19. "Hammerheads Head to Turkey for Preseason Tour". wilmingtonhammerheads.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  20. "Ethan White loaned to the Richmond Kickers". dcunited.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  21. "Trio loaned out for weekend matches". dcunited.com. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  22. "Kalungi Goes On Loan To Proline". United Soccer Leagues. USLPro.USLSoccer.com. October 3, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
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