Penalty kick slowed Kickers' momentum

The Richmond Kickers had a golden opportunity to beat Charlotte on Tuesday, since the first-place Eagles (6-1-1) were without forward Dustin Swinehart, the leading scorer in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division. But Charlotte scored on an early penalty kick and went on to edge the Kickers 2-1.

"We said that," Richmond coach Leigh Cowlishaw said. "We came out strong and I thought we dominated the initial part of the game. But to get a penalty called against us 10 minutes in was tough to take. Especially when it was such a debatable situation. I was extremely disappointed with the way it turned out, as far as the officiating, but that's the way it's going to go.

"We need to do more to make sure we don't have to rely on a penalty call either way. We didn't quite do that. We came on strong in the last 20 minutes but it was too little, too late."

The penalty was the second assessed against Richmond in three meetings with Charlotte this season. The Eagles' second goal in a 3-0 win on April 25 came via a penalty kick.

Swinehart had a slight hamstring pull, Charlotte coach Mark Steffens said, and was available if needed.

Richmond (4-3-0) continues a busy stretch with a date at the Harrisburg City Islanders tonight in a rematch of last year's USL2 title game.

Visa problems keeping Dawkins in Jamaica

Will Fabian Dawkins ever put on a Kickers' uniform? Cowlishaw still believes he will, but it could be next month before the Jamaican native arrives.

Dawkins, who signed a contract with Richmond prior to the season, has been unable to leave his home country because of visa problems.

"He's got an appointment [at the U.S. Embassy] on June 27, unless we can facilitate a speedier remedy to that," Cowlishaw said. "At this stage, I'm not expecting to see him until July."

Dawkins played two seasons with the Atlanta Silverbacks (USL1), scoring 16 goals and adding seven assists, but was limited by injuries last season with Montreal (USL1).

James River Cup reinstated for 2008

The James River Cup, which has been dormant since 2006, is back again, and this time it features a matchup between Premier Development League (PDL) and Women's League teams from Richmond and Hampton Roads.

The original format, which was used from 1996 through 2006, was a points competition between the Kickers and the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach Mariners, when the clubs were members of USL1. Richmond won seven times, and the Mariners took the trophy twice. (The competition wasn't held two years).

The 2008 winner will be the franchise that accumulates the most points in games between the PDL Richmond Future/Hampton Roads Piranhas and the W-League Richmond Destiny/Hampton Roads Piranhas.

Both the PDL and W-League are amateur leagues that feature current collegiate (and sometimes high school) players along with some veterans.

- John Packett