One Final Kick

Two weeks, two wins. That's all that separates the Richmond Kickers from reclaiming the USL2 crown. It all starts this Saturday at 7 PM at the University of Richmond Stadium as the Kickers take on rival Harrisburg City Islanders in a semifinal match that is sure to be a tough and physical affair. Should the boys in red advance this Saturday, they'll take on the winner of Charlotte and Wilmington in the USL2 Championship on Saturday, August 29 at a host site to be determined. The championship match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel later that same night.

So, those are the details. It's a pretty straight forward task, but one that will take a great amount of talent, hard work, and a little bit of luck for sure. As you prepare to head to U of R stadium on Saturday to cheer the team on, be sure to chime in below for your choice for Supporter's Choice MVP. Official Ballots will also be available at the game this Saturday!

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Many Reasons to Celebrate this Saturday

As we are in the midst of our first real heat wave of the summer, it's hard to believe that we're already approaching the end of summer and the end of the Kickers season. But that doesn't mean we're winding down! In fact, it's quite the opposite, as the Kickers look to celebrate a home playoff game and a potential regular season championship this Saturday at U of R Stadium. This will be the team's final regular season match, and we're going out in style by hosting our Second Annual Family Fest starting at 4 PM! A full list of vendors and activities can be seen here on our official website. But here are some highlights that will surely make the Festival even better than last year:

BOUNCE 2 THE MOON - The Chesterfield-based inflatable and game company returns to U of R Stadium with a full slate of activities on the upper concourse. The ever popular Adrenaline Rush Extreme obstacle course returns along with a Sports Arena, Jumbo Castle, Rocky River Log Roll, and Home Run Derby game.

LONG BRANCH PETTING ZOO - Long Branch Petting Zoo out of Amelia County is bringing a wide variety of adorable animals from 5-7 PM. The Petting Zoo will feature miniature horses, pygmy goats, llamas, and much more!

U-TURN ON-FIELD GAMES - From 4 until 6 PM, U-Turn will be hosting a number of different mini games on the field for kids of all ages.

CONCESSIONS SPECIALS - The kids will surely be hungry and thirsty from the mini games and inflatable games, so we're offering a great dinner combo special at the concessions stands. $5 for a hamburger/hot dog, chips and a drink before 7 PM!

SALVATION ARMY BAND - The Salvation Army Band will be out in full force, with a performance before the game, a live playing of the National Anthem, and a half-time performance.

TRACKLESS TRAIN - Back by popular demand will be the trackless train, also courtesy of Bounce 2 the Moon. Train rides will be running all afternoon on the upper concourse for those who want to take a relaxing tour of all of the fun and games going on at the stadium.

SUMO SUIT SOCCER - Bounce 2 the Moon is also bringing back one of the most popular half-time games of the year, Sumo Suit Soccer! Two lucky contestants will battle it out at half-time for a great gift from Dr. Babik and Crossridge Dentistry. Be sure to check out what will surely be an epic battle for Sumo Suit domination!

KICKERS PRO GAME - Of course, what would a Richmond Kickers Family Fest be without the actual game versus the Wilmington Hammerheads at 7 PM? The stakes for this one are at their highest, with the winner taking home the regular season championship. Be sure to wear red and get ready to be loud!

Kickers aid Rebels for Street Soccer Cup

Soccer has long been recognized for its ability to bring people together, whether individuals or entire nations. For the Richmond Rebels, soccer represents an opportunity to be with friends, with family, at home.

Community involvement is one of the cornerstones of the Richmond Kickers organization, so when the club became aware of a local homeless squad with big aspirations, it jumped at the opportunity to help in any way possible. Working in conjunction with Street Soccer USA, The Daily Planet and a host of other volunteers, the Richmond Kickers have provided training gear and coaching assistance to the Richmond Rebels homeless soccer team since early June.

Former Kickers star Rob Ukrop and assistant coach Jesse Myers have been heavily involved in the development of the team, meeting with the squad twice a week for hour-long training sessions.

“It is a wonderful program designed to give the players an opportunity to get into regular training habits that will improve fitness and provide them the chance to be part of a team that represents our community,” Ukrop said.

“It’s great to be able to reach out to the community and offer what help we can,” Myers added.

In addition to the training sessions and equipment, the Kickers have provided the Rebels with a first-class ride in the pro team's sleeper bus as they travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the fourth annual Street Soccer USA Cup.

The Street Soccer USA Cup, which will take place from July 31st to August 2nd, brings together homeless squads from 16 cities throughout the nation and pits them against each other in a 4-on-4 tournament. The top 8 players throughout the tournament will be selected for the US homeless national team and will take part in the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy this September.

Regardless of their performances in the Street Soccer USA Cup, the Rebels can take comfort in the community of support awaiting their return to Richmond. With the assistance provided by the Kickers and the numerous other organizations that have volunteered their time and efforts, these homeless men have experienced the uniting spirit of soccer and found their place in the community.

The Kickers will be among the first to welcome them home.

To follow the Rebels and other teams in the Street Soccer USA Cup, follow the live stream here.

Qdoba Corporate Tent Promotion this weekend!

Just $5.00 gets you special entry into the Kickers corporate tent this Saturday for an exclusive buffet, provided by Qdoba Mexican Grill!

Qdoba Mexican Grill combines fresh ingredients with delicious salsas and marinates to create original flavors you won't find anywhere else. Check out the Kickers corporate tent this Saturday, August 1st and try out Qdoba's delicious burritos, nachos, chips and salsa for just $5.00!

Come out to University of Richmond Stadium and enjoy the festivities for our Free Youth Night, then watch the Kickers as they take on the Real Maryland Monarchs at 7 p.m. See you there!

Tickets available for purchase on game day. Game ticket required for entry.

Open practice this Friday

Head down to the University of Richmond Stadium this Friday, July 24th at 6 p.m. to see the Richmond Kickers and Guatemalan champions CSD Comunicaciones as they practice in advance of this Saturday's game.

Fans are invited to watch as both teams that will be in action this weekend prepare for their historic exhibition. Players will be available for photos and autographs around 6:45 p.m. Don't miss out on the opportunity to meet some of your favorite players and see how they prepare for the big games.

We hope to see you there and also at the game on Saturday. Show up at 4 p.m. and enjoy great food and music at our Hispanic Heritage Festival. Help us make this weekend a great experience for our guests and hopefully we can continue to host international exhibitions in the future!

Poll: Favorite Halftime Activity

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Destiny Notch First Win

Following a difficult opening half of the season, the Richmond Kickers Destiny recorded their first win Thursday, June 25, against the Northern Virginia Majestics. The victory came at a time when many teams would have thrown in the towel, but the Destiny showed remarkable strength of will to deliver an inspired all-around performance.

The Destiny came out strong in the first half, nearly scoring on multiple occasions. Becca Wann was particularly effective in front of goal in the first half. The striker from Cosby High School latched onto a cross early in the game, but her header missed just wide. Wann had the ball in the back of the net on 18 minutes after beating the Majestics keeper to a well-placed long ball from Kimmy Cummings. However, Wann was adjudged to have used her hand rather than her head and the goal was called back. Wann was shown a yellow card for her troubles.

The Destiny kept up the offensive pressure throughout the game, but the team’s defensive effort was also strong, leading to their first clean sheet of the season. Allie Albright was in inspired form between the posts for the Destiny, recording five saves on the night, including a stop on a second half Majestics breakaway.

The defensive pressure continued throughout the second half, with the Destiny forcing the Majestics into numerous turnovers. Their efforts paid off in the 70th minute when left back Sarah Hilt stripped possession from the Majestics and looked up field to find second-half substitute Colleen Schohl with a diagonal ball. Schohl settled the ball and beat a defender before firing a left-footed strike toward the Majestics goal. Majestics keeper Olivia Brown got her hands on it, but could not do enough to keep the ball out of the net.

The Majestics turned up the pressure after Schohl’s tally, but the Destiny met the challenge admirably, with Albright rising highest to claim a long ball played into a box full of Majestics players eager to tie the game. The Destiny (1-7-1, 4 pts.) moved out of last place in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with the win. The team will look to add to their points tally on the road against Tampa Bay Hellenic on Friday, July 3 before the return fixture at the University of Richmond Stadium on July 11.