Kickers
Kickers Face Independence – Preview
The third game in a four-game home series. So far the Kickers have a win and a draw.
Opponent: Charlotte Independence (4 – 3 – 2)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 11th, 6:30 PM
Last Result: Kickers 2 – Tormenta 2
Weather Forecast from Weatherbug.com
The weather looks like a typical roll-the-dice Virginia summer evening.
Three Things to Kick About
- Packed – The schedulers at USL1 headquarters are a twisted, demented bunch. So many games at home then on the road for basically a month. This is not unique to the Kickers but something to consider when your favorite players are looking a bit tired and run down. The Kickers had a game on May 28th, June 1st, and June 4th. That’s enough to wear anyone down.
- Who’s Going to Score? – I don’t mean that in a desperate kind of way. I’m genuinely curious who will be the next player to get his first goal for the Kickers. Last Saturday it was Stuart Ritchie getting his first as a Kickers and the previous week Nathan Aune, Jalen Crisler, and Leonardo Baima scored their first goals as Kickers to deliver the 3-0 win. That’s a whole mess of defenders scoring. Crisler even notched his second last Saturday. If I was a real data geek I’d figure out who is left on the team that hasn’t scored beside goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. Whoever it is I’m betting they score.
- Parity – Some season there is an early break-away leader from the pack and nobody ever catches up. In USL1 9 games in and there is no such leader. Only 4 points separate 9th place from 1st place. The Kickers currently in 5th are only 2 points (those points left on the table from last week’s draw I’ll point out) from 1st. Sometimes cliches are there for a reason and on any given night anybody could win has never been more true than this season.
Prediction
It is of questionable worth that I do this section because nine times out of ten I’m picking the Kickers. Counterpoint as mentioned above this league is so close I’m not making wild guesses. The Kickers still have the best goal differential with +5 and at home so I’m giving them the edge once again.
Kickers 2 Independence 0
