May 23, 2017 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Richmond Kickers game preview (from richmondkickers.com)

   
KICKERS TRAVEL TO TORONTO WEDNESDAY
Watch Live from Ontario Soccer Centre at 12PM on the USL Matchcenter
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RICHMOND, VA – (Tuesday, May 23, 2017) – The Richmond Kickers (2-4-3) continue their 
three-match road trip as they travel to face Toronto FC II (1-5-3) Wednesday, 
May 24 at 12PM. The match will be streamed live on the USL Matchcenter 
at USLsoccer.com/match-center.

Wednesday’s match marks the sixth meeting between Richmond and Toronto with
the Kickers holding a slight 3-2-0 edge. Both teams met on three occasions in 2016, 
twice in Richmond and once in Toronto. Richmond won both home meetings 
by a combined 4-0 score line, while they fell on the road at Toronto 0-1. 
Both of Richmond’s losses to Toronto have come on the road 
at the Ontario Soccer Centre. 

RELATED: ROCHESTER 1, RICHMOND 1

The Kickers enter Wednesday’s match coming off a 1-1 draw Sunday evening 
on the road at the Rochester Rhinos. A 32nd minute Rochester goal was negated 
in the 45th minute as Raul Gonzalez stepped up and found the inside of the near 
post on a free kick for his first professional goal. With the draw, the Kickers 
take an unbeaten streak of three league matches into Wednesday’s match 
against Toronto. This will be the second of three matches in six days for 
the Kickers, all on the road.  

Toronto FC II is looking to bounce back following a 1-3 home defeat to the 
Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 19. Luca Uccello gave the home side a 1-0 lead from 
a Sergio Camargo assist in the 10th minute. It would not be enough as the 
Rowdies scored three unanswered second half goals. Wednesday’s match against 
the Kickers will only be the fourth match played at home for Toronto in 2017, 
having played six games on the road. 

Richmond will conclude their road trip Saturday as they travel to take 
on Ottawa Fury FC Saturday, May 27 at 2pm. This match will be shown live 
on the main CBS 6 channel in the Richmond metro area found on Comcast 9 and 212 
and Verizon FiOS 6 and 506 and DirecTV. It will also be streamed live on the 
USL Matchcenter at USLsoccer.com/match-center. The Kickers return to City Stadium 
to host the defending USL Cup Champions New York Red Bulls II June 3 at 7pm. 
Tickets are on sale now at RichmondKickers.com.

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PLAYERS TO WATCH

Richmond: Midfielder Raul Gonzalez (#27) is coming off scoring his first professional 
goal Sunday at the Rochester Rhinos, after adding an assist earlier in the season 
against Pittsburgh. Signing just after the start of the 2017 season, Gonzalez 
comes to Richmond after a successful collegiate career at the University of Memphis, 
making 65 appearances, scoring 13 goals and adding 13 assists. 
Defender Mallan Roberts (#15) enters Wednesday’s match the only Kickers player 
to play every minute so far in the 2017 season, making nine appearances. The Canadian 
international signed with Richmond after spending the 2016 season on loan to the 
then-NASL Ottawa Fury FC where he made 22 appearances. Returning to the lineup after 
missing much of the beginning of the season due to injury, Yudai Imura (#14) made 
his third start of the season at Rochester. After signing with the team following 
a successful tryout performance in 2015, Imura burst onto the scene in 2016 scoring 
a team-high 11 goals and adding two assists in 30 appearances. 

Toronto: Midfielder Luca Uccello (#45) returns for his second season with Toronto FC II. 
Uccello notched his first goal of the season in the club’s last outing against the 
Tampa Bay Rowdies. Signing his first professional contract with TFCII in March 2015, 
the former Toronto Academy player made 20 appearances in 2016 scoring on three occasions. 
Goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo (#80) has played in all but two matches for Toronto in 2017, 
making 26 saves on 34 shots faced. Cavalluzzo extended his contract with Toronto after 
making five appearances in 2016. Defender Mitchell Taintor (#42) is in his second 
season with Toronto having played in seven matches during the beginning 
of the 2017 season. Selected by Toronto FC in the third round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, 
]the Rutgers product signed with TFCII scoring one goal and assisting on another 
in 22 matches during his rookie season. 
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© 2017 Richmond Kickers, 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 203, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804 644-5425   Fax: 804-591-2680
Email: publicrelations@richmondkickers.com  

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