Richmond Kicks Barons

Richmond Kicks Barons 1-0 In Open Cup Contest! Last Minute Luzak Goal Spoils Season Opener!

Evesham, NJ -- It took 89 minutes and 19 shots, but the Richmond Kickers finally found a goal against a determined South Jersey Barons team to win their U.S. Open Cup qualification game 1-0, Saturday night at Cherokee High School Stadium. Peter Luzak, a defensive replacement who came on with 13 minutes remaining, tucked it away after a scramble in front of Barons` goalkeeper Rob Vartughian.

South Jersey, a D3 Pro League team, found itself up against some stiff competition in Richmond. Richmond is one of two higher level A-League teams grouped with South Jersey in its cup qualification pool. The Barons approached the game with a defensive strategy in mind, hoping to pack things in in the back third of the field and look for scoring chances in transition. It nearly worked, as both clubs had scoring chances prior to Luzak`s tally at the end.

Richmond clearly carried the run of play, outshooting South Jersey 19 to four on the night. The Kickers came close to breaking the ice in the 42nd minute, when forward Rob Ukrop`s shot whizzed past Vartughian and caromed off the crossbar. South Jersey had two good opportunities, including a shot by forward Kevin Kelly which was saved off the line by defender Tony Williams in the 61st. Kickers` goalkeeper Mike McGinty was tested on his only required save in the 72nd on a shot to the left post by Kelly. Vartughian finished with seven saves on the night.

The game winning play started as a throw in to the left of the Barons net. Ukrop flicked the throw on towards midfielder Kevin Alvero, who slipped it to Luzak. Luzak`s shot just trickled through the pile-up of players in front of Vartughian, and into the net, disappointing the opening night crowd of 2149.

South Jersey will play its second Open Cup qualification game on Saturday, May 5 against another A-League team, the Long Island Rough Riders, at Cherokee High School Stadium. That game kicks off at 7:30 PM, following the first ever match for the Barons new sister team, the South Jersey Banshees. The Banshees will open their inaugural W-League season at 5:00 PM, against the New Jersey Wildcats. Tickets for the doubleheader ($6.50 for adults and $4.50 for youths age 12 and under) are available at the gate.

Cherokee High School is located on Willow Bend Road off Route 73. For more information, or for Barons/Banshees season tickets, fans can call (856) 753-7608. Fans can also follow the Barons and Banshees season on the web at www.sjbarons.com.

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Author: Pete Boggs