Richmond Kickers News Release - www.richmondkickers.com
Thursday, November 29, 2007
RICHMOND, VA -- The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the return of three seasoned veterans to anchor the 2008 roster including midfielders Mike Burke and Sascha Görres, and goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale. The three have agreed to terms; however, specific details of the contracts were not disclosed.
Inking a new three-year contract, USL2 Most Valuable Player, Burke, returns to captain the squad in 2008. Entering his ninth season with the Kickers, Burke joined the Kickers in 2000 after splitting time with DC United and the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer. Last season’s USL2 Assist Leader, Burke garnered Supporter’s Choice MVP honors for the third consecutive year (2005, 2006, 2007). Assuming the role of captain upon the mid-season retirement of Kevin Knight, Burke finished the regular season tied for scoring on the team with three goals and nine assists for 15 points, earning USL2 First Team honors for the second straight season. Leading the team to two USL2 regular season titles and three consecutive Championship appearances (USL1-2005, USL2-2006, 2007), he garnered Most Valuable Player honors following the 2006 USL2 Championship game. In his eighth season with the Kickers, Burke eclipsed the all-time career assists leaders to hold the sole position in the franchise with 40 assists overall. He continues to reside in third place on the Kickers all-time career points list with 90 (26g, 40a).
A native of Flensburg, Germany, Görres returns to join Burke in the midfield for his fourth season. Drafted by the Kickers in 2005 out of the University of North Carolina – Pembroke, Görres broke into the starting lineup early during his rookie season and has since become an integral component of the Kickers’ midfield. A three-time USL2 Team of the Week honoree, Görres finished fifth on the squad in points with 10 on three goals and four assists during the 2007 regular season. His assist on the semifinal game-winning overtime goal boosted the Kickers to the USL2 Championship for the second consecutive season. After three seasons with the Kickers, Görres has made his way into seventh place on the Kickers all-time career assists list with 15 overall. Most notably, he set a franchise and US Open Cup modern era record with four assists during the Kickers 8-4 third round victory over the Ocean City Barons in 2005.
Signing on for his ninth season, seventh as starting goalkeeper, Pascale will continue to lead the Kickers’ defensive unit during the 2008 season after taking USL2 Goalkeeper of the Year honors last season for the second consecutive year. Named to the USL2 First Team in 2007, Pascale led the league in wins with 12 on the season, and was second in shutouts with nine. Additionally, he concluded the 2007 regular season with just 13 goals allowed in 19 games played, good for third in the league. Since his eight-year tenure with the Kickers, Pascale has been one of the top netminders in the league, finishing with a league-best GAA of 0.99 in 2006 and a career-low GAA 0.684 in 2007 en route to back-to-back USL2 Championships.
The 2008 season marks the 15th anniversary for the Richmond Kickers who have been a member of the United Soccer Leagues family since 1993. Over the past 15 seasons, Richmond has qualified for post-season play 12 times, including six Championship appearances. Most recently reaching the title match in 2007 for the fourth time in the past six seasons, the Kickers narrowly missed their second consecutive league title after nine rounds of penalties. Richmond’s five previous league Championship appearances (1995, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2006) include winning the Premier League title in 1995, a shoot-out loss to Seattle in the USL First Division final in 2005 and taking the USL Second Division crown in 2006.
