Richmond Kickers News Release - www.richmondkickers.com
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
RICHMOND, VA -- The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the recent addition of two former Virginia Commonwealth University players, with the signing of Gerson Dos Santos and the return of Pat Viray, pending USL, USSF and visa approval.
“These are two great additions to our squad,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Head Coach. “Gerson is a quality player with the skills, composure and presence to be a major force in USL. Pat has the speed, power and now the experience and we expect him to have a very productive year for the team.”
A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dos Santos made 45 appearances with the Rams over three seasons. Adding strength to the defensive unit his first season (2006), he helped lead the team to two shutouts while holding seven other opponents to just one goal. One year later, he finished fourth on the team in scoring, notching seven goals and two assists for 16 points, earning All-CAA First Team honors. The skillful midfielder was named Preseason CAA Co-Player of the Year leading into the 2008 campaign where he finished second in scoring with three goals and five assists, despite having only made eight appearances due to injury.
Viray returns for his sophomore season with the Kickers after making 14 appearances during his rookie campaign. The 5’11” forward notched his first professional goal with a last-second game-winner over the Wilmington Hammerheads on August 1, 2008.
The native of Reston, Virginia signed with the Kickers upon the conclusion of his collegiate career, where he tallied 15 goals and eight assists over four seasons at VCU. Viray finished third on the team in scoring his senior year with six goals and five assists for 17 points, earning seven starts in 20 appearances, after leading the Rams with six goals and 12 points his sophomore year. As a senior at South Lakes High School, Viray was named First Team All-District.
Ukrop Park State-Of-The-Art Sports Complex Set To Open This June
The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club officially unveiled the name of its new home, tagging the 34.5-acre sports complex Ukrop Park. The environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art park features six lighted athletic fields and a full-scale aquatics center. Ukrop Park is conveniently located in Chesterfield County at the intersection of Chippenham Parkway and Route 10.
The $8.5 million Ukrop Park is slated to open in June 2009 due to aggressive fundraising efforts. The park was named in honor of the Ukrop family, which donated to the project and owns a store adjacent to the site. Plans for the park include six fields, two with an artificial surface and four with natural grass.
“We are excited to have a state-of-the-art home for the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, the area’s first soccer family, that brings people together from the across the metropolitan area,” comments Rob Ukrop, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club President
Ukrop Park will serve as the home of the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club’s 64 travel teams and 900 recreational players and will also host major regional soccer tournaments. The park will provide a valuable resource for RKYSC partners, including Midlothian Youth Soccer League, Ashland Youth Soccer League, Goochland United Soccer Association, Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association and the Central Virginia Soccer Association. Furthermore, the Park will function as the training facility for the Richmond Kickers USL-2 and W-League teams.
In addition to Ukrop Park, Chesterfield County plans to develop two soccer fields and parking at the adjacent Stratton Park site, along the Falling Creek near Ridgedale Parkway and Jessup Road. Up to four miles of trails for hiking, biking and picnicking will eventually be built on the 178 acres that make up Stratton Park.
“We’ve been doing the due diligence and behind-the-scenes work for almost two years trying to get this thing up,” added Ukrop. “I believe this will facility will drive tourism and have a positive impact on our community.”
