PACO CRAIG VS. BRIAN SHRIVER
After making Team of the Week for the second time in four weeks, defender Paco Craig will be one of the team’s defenders assigned to keeping Richmond forward Brian Shriver at bay this Saturday night.
Scoring against Red Bulls II in their 1-1 draw last weekend, Shriver’s move from North Carolina FC to the Virginia-based club has proven successful in his short time. One of four goalscorers on the year, Shriver also leads the team in assists (2) and key passes (4).
Alongside Sean Totsch, Pat McMahon, and goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh, Crag has been a consistent part of the LouCity team that has kept three clean sheets in its three matches so far.
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CAMERON LANCASTER/LUKE SPENCER VS. TRAVIS WORRA
Whoever is tasked with leading the line for LouCity this weekend will likely face Kickers’ ‘keeper Travis Worra in the confines of Slugger Field.
In Richmond’s four matches so far, Worra has conceded a total of seven goals. However, a 4-1 loss at Bethlehem Steel FC to open the season has skewed that number as the Kickers have conceded just three in as many games since that point.
Meanwhile, both Cameron Lancaster and Luke Spencer have found their way on the scoresheet in 2018 as LouCity’s attacking ceiling has yet to be reached. Lancaster’s winner against FC Cincinnati last Saturday night marked his first of the year. Meanwhile, Spencer’s tally in the season opener against Nashville not only opened his account but was also LouCity’s first goal of the season.
KYLE SMITH VS. HEVIEL CORDOVES
One of the more versatile players on the LouCity roster, Kyle Smith has transformed from defender to holding midfielder early on for the “Boys in Purple”. Deployed alongside Paolo DelPiccolo, Smith saw his position change even within a match–like in last Saturday’s 0-1 win over FC Cincinnati. Starting out wide, Smith switched from that position to something more central, to eventually dropping deeper as a part of the dedicated backline.
On Saturday at 7:30p, he’ll go toe-to-toe with Kickers’ forward Heviel Cordoves, who sits second on the team in total duels (41) and leads the squad in aerial duels (19). While also assisting in keeping Shriver away from dangerous channels, Smith may also have the duty of forcing Cordoves away from opportunities that create chances for the visitors moving forward.
TICKETS: Black Out Night vs. Richmond Kickers
PAOLO DELPICCOLO VS YUDAI IMURA
Finally, captain Paolo DelPiccolo lines up against Kickers’ midfielder Yudai Imura this weekend as both players like to use their ability to distribute the ball as a sparkplug for success.
DelPiccolo has been outstanding in his three appearances so far, earning Team of the Week honors for his performance in LouCity’s 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Week 3. Last week in Cincinnati, DelPiccolo helped to contain a number of influential attacking options for FCC and was part of the defensive effort that kept a third straight clean sheet.
Meanwhile, Imura enters the weekend’s contest as one of the Kickers’ top passers–completing just shy of 80% of his attempts in four appearances. Like Shriver, Imura is one of few to have found the back of the net while also creating a chance for his side.
If LouCity is to control this match as well as their previous three, they will have to rely on DelPiccolo and the rest of the midfield contingent to shut down players like Imura when they look to break.
