USL Preview: Richmond Kickers vs. Harrisburg City Islanders

Two longtime rivals kick off the season at City Stadium

RICHMOND, Va. – Two longtime rivals meet to open the new USL season as the Richmond Kickers host the Harrisburg City Islanders at City Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET.

Richmond Kickers news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0 points
• The Kickers have reached the USL Playoffs in each of the league’s previous five seasons, but enter the new season looking to return to the top of the conference after falling in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals a season ago.
• Richmond’s roster features Jason Yeisley, who scored a team-leading 13 goals in 2015, and veteran Matthew Delicate, who is No. 2 on the all-time goal-scoring list with 41 – second only to the Swope Park Rangers’ Dane Kelly (42).
• The Kickers will need to find a way to replace the production of George Davis IV, however, after the three-time USL All-League selection headed to Louisville City FC this offseason.
• Richmond will be without defender Alex Lee, who was selected by Guam for its pair of World Cup Qualifiers this weekend.

Harrisburg City Islanders news and notes

• Current record: 0-0-0, 0 points
• After four consecutive playoff berths, the City Islanders missed out last season as consistency proved an issue at home and on the road.
• The City Islanders’ Nick Noble, who returns for his fifth season with the club this year, was the only USL goalkeeper to appear in all 28 regular-season games in 2015.
• Jamaican forward Craig Foster will be looked at to lead the attack after scoring eight goals and adding two assists a season ago after joining the club midseason.
• The City Islanders will be without defender Dante Leverock, who was selected by Bermuda for its international contests this weekend.

Team leaders last season

• Goals: Richmond – Jason Yeisley, 13; Harrisburg – Jason Plumhoff, 10
• Assists: Richmond – Fred Owusu Sekyere, 5; Harrisburg – Jose Barril 7

Series notes

The teams finished all square with one win apiece last season. Richmond took a 4-2 win at City Stadium, before Harrisburg won 3-2 at Skyline Sports Complex a week later. The teams then drew 1-1 to conclude the season series in Harrisburg.

Officials

• REF: Mark Gorak
• AR1: John Jr Griggs
• AR2: Karl Klummer
• 4TH: A. Max Smith

Game hashtag

• #RICvHAR