Kickers notes: Backup Murphy 'ready to be a No.1'

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: April 16, 2010

Backup Murphy 'ready to be a No.1'

Veteran goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale played every minute of every meaningful game for the Richmond Kickers in 2009. Don't expect Pascale, 33, to be asked to deliver another such performance this year.

Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw said backup goalkeeper Mark Murphy, three days shy of his 26th birthday, has performed well in preseason training. Cowlishaw said Murphy, whom the Kickers regard as the heir apparent to Pascale, "has been pushing Ronnie very hard in practice."

And while Pascale is expected to start tomorrow night's regular-season opener against Harrisburg, Cowlishaw said Murphy is "not only going to start some games, he's going to start some big games early in the season."

Murphy made only one appearance during last year's USL-2 championship season. He played all 90 minutes and made five saves - some of them sensational - in the Kickers' 1-0 victory over C.S.D. Comunicaciones, a touring club team from Guatemala.

Cowlishaw said Murphy has improved significantly the past 12 months.

"Last year, he didn't always play as well as he was capable. This year, his mindset is different. It's stronger. He's playing the best soccer of his career right now. Mentally, he's ready to be a No.1."

Breaking up is hard to do

The Kickers reluctantly parted with three of last year's key performers: forwards David Bulow and Joey Worthen and defender Kenny Cutler.

Bulow, who is recuperating from a recent foot injury; and Worthen, who signed recently with the Austin Aztex of USL-1, combined to score 12 goals last year. Said Cowlishaw: "They're extremely physical players who are capable of scoring a lot of goals. It's hard to find players like that. They're in great demand."

Cowlishaw said economics played a part in the Kickers' decision.

"You have to fit your players into a certain [salary] number," he said.

Veteran players such as Bulow and Worthen are "naturally going to feel like they need and deserve more. There comes a point when we, like all teams, have to invest in young players we think are capable of making an impact."

Cutler, a Richmond native, has signed for the 2010 season. But he seems unlikely to play because he is attending graduate school in Utah.

Said Cowlishaw: "If he comes home this summer and thinks he'd like to pick up a game, that'll be a nice luxury to have."

Making an impression

Former Thomas Dale High School and William and Mary standout Roger Bothe is performing solidly as a central defender, Cowlishaw said.

"He's accustomed to performing at a very high level and so far, that's what he's done with us," Cowlishaw said. "He's playing very well - despite the fact that he hasn't been here for every training session."

Bothe, a second-semester senior, is carrying a full academic load at W&M. He is on schedule to graduate next month.

Corner kicks

Kickers General Manager Shelley Sowers said she believes Wednesday night's game against Mexico's U-21 national team could draw a bigger crowd than last year's match against C.S.D. Communicaciones (2,192). Tickets are available at www.richmondkickers.com and at Mexico Restaurant franchises between Richmond and Fredericksburg. . . . Martin's Food Markets and the Kickers' pro and youth organizations have reached a sponsorship agreement for 2010. Said Sowers: "We're confident that this will be a great relationship for years to come." - Vic Dorr Jr.