Kickers forward David Bulow reacts during the second half of Saturday night’s USL-2 championship game against Charlotte. Bulow had a goal and an assist as Richmond won 3-1. The Richmond Kickers carried lofty expectations throughout the 2009 USL-2 season. Kickers forward David Bulow did the same when he entered Saturday night’s championship match against the Charlotte Eagles.

The Richmond Kickers didn’t bring cherry bombs or ladyfingers to their Fourth of July matinee with the Charlotte Eagles. They did, however, bring the next best thing: forward David Bulow. Bulow, hotter than a proverbial firecracker, scored a pair of first-half goals to carry the Kickers to a 3-0 victory over Charlotte yesterday at University of Richmond Stadium. Bulow’s goals, his sixth and seventh of the USL-2 season, lifted Richmond into sole possession of second place in the USL-2 standings. The Kickers (6-2-5, 23 points) trail front-running Harrisburg by only three points.

LUDLOW, Mass. - This time, there would be no tie. The Richmond Kickers made certain of that. David Bulow scored before the game was six minutes old and Matthew Delicate delivered another goal in the first minute of the second half to lift the Kickers to a 2-0 victory over the Western Mass Pioneers in last night’s USL-2 soccer match in Lusitano Stadium. Richmond (1-0-2) earned unfulfilling ties in its first two games.

Nine of the 20 players on the Richmond Kickers’ roster were competing elsewhere in 2008. Introductions are still being performed. Well, in a manner of speaking. That the Kickers are a conspicuously talented group is readily apparent, said coach Leigh Cowlishaw. But until they successfully blend new instincts and abilities with old, Cowlishaw said, on-field success could prove elusive. Richmond needed a penalty kick in the 50th minute to earn a 2-2 tie with Harrisburg in last weekend’s USL2 opener.

Midfielder/defender Aziz Souare, signed late last week, has joined the Richmond Kickers’ roster and is expected to be available for Saturday night’s USL-2 home game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Souare, a native of Morocco who grew up in Paris and calls Guinea home, did not dress for last week’s game against Harrisburg while awaiting international clearance.

Disappointed but not discouraged. That was the Richmond Kickers’ mood after last night’s 2-2 tie with the Harrisburg City Islanders in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division opener for both teams. “We go away knowing that we’ve got a good team—no, a very good team—and that we’re going to get a lot better,“ said Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw.