So that's what all the fuss was about.
The Richmond Kickers shook off the last vestiges of their April-May malaise and lived up to their self-imposed preseason expectations with a commanding 5-0 victory over the USL-2 leader Harrisburg City Islanders last night at University of Richmond Stadium.
Dominant from start to finish, the Kickers rang up their second consecutive shutout while scoring more goals (four; one was a Harrisburg own goal) than in their previous four contests combined.
"I think we proved some things to ourselves tonight," said Kickers defender Sascha Gorres. "If we lose this one, realistically, our backs are against the wall. But to come out and not only beat the top team but to do it 5-0 - I think this proves that we're good enough. For us, I think this was a statement."
The Kickers, 3-1-4 after a stuck-in-neutral start that produced four consecutive home-field ties, applied relentless offensive pressure for the second time in as many weeks. Forward David Bulow led the parade with his fourth and fifth goals of the season. Midfielder Mike Burke collected his third and fourth assists.
Impressive though they were in the attacking third, the Kickers might have been better on defense. Goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale was required to make but one save: a nice second-half stop of a header from deep in the box.
"That's the big difference: two clean sheets in a row. That's very encouraging," said Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw. "We're not giving up cheap goals, easy goals, like we were earlier" in the season. During the string of four home ties, Cowlishaw said, "we were giving up goals that allowed teams to stay in the game when frankly they shouldn't have been in the game."
Richmond, which led 2-0 at the break, put the contest under lock and key when Bulow scored twice in a span of two minutes early in the second half. His first goal was kissed by fortune. Bulow found teammate Matthew Delicate lurking near the left-hand goalpost and launched a long, looping cross from the right wing. The pass missed its intended target but found another: the top shelf of the Harrisburg goal.
Said Bulow: "As soon as it left my foot, I was disappointed. I said, 'Oh, man. I didn't hit it right.' But then I started to watch the ball. When it was about halfway there, I said, 'You know what? This might have a chance.' "
There was nothing chancy about Bulow's second goal. A lovely, sliding feed from Gorres set Bulow up for a 5-yard shot from directly in front of the net in the 56th minute. Said Gorres: "I've played with David for three years now, so I have a pretty good idea of what he's going to do. I didn't even have to look. I knew he'd be there."
The victory enabled Richmond to enter a grueling stretch of five consecutive road matches in a buoyant mood. The Kickers visit the Carolina RailHawks of USL-1 for Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup first-round match. Richmond returns to USL-2 play next Saturday when it visits Real Maryland.
Contact Vic Dorr Jr. at (804) 649-6442 or vdorr@timesdispatch.com.
Harrisburg ------------------------- 0
0 - 0
Richmond ------------------------- 2
3 - 5
Scoring: 1, Richmond, Bumbut 2 (Bulow), 16th minute; 2, Richmond, Harrisburg own goal, 37th minute; 3, Richmond, Bulow 4 (Burke), 54th; 4, Richmond, Bulow 5 (Gorres), 56th; 5, Richmond, MacKenzie 1 (Rosenbaum), 82nd
Shots: Richmond 12-4
Saves: Harrisburg, Chencinski 6; Richmond, Pascale 1
Corner kicks: Harrisburg 3-2
Offsides: Harrisburg 5-1
Fouls: Harrisburg 10-8
Yellow cards: Pelletier, H, 34th
Referee: Jim Sadowski
Attendance: 3,538
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