UVa standout Neil Barlow joins Richmond Kickers in 2010

The Richmond Kickers have signed recent University of Virginia graduate, Neil Barlow, pending USSF approval.  Barlow is slated to make his professional debut against his Alma Mater in the Kickers Pro-Am Challenge on Saturday, April 3rd.
 
“Neil has impressed greatly over the last two years and was outstanding in UVa\'s 2009 National Championship run,” comments Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer and Head Coach.  “He is well suited to our style of play and has the versatility to play wide on either wing.  His winning experiences and mentality fit well with our current group of players. The signing brings us closer to our goal of building a 2010 squad that will surpass the success of last year\'s team.”
 
A native of Herndon, Virginia, Barlow concluded his collegiate career third on the team in scoring with five goals and six assists in 2009.  The 5’8” midfielder was one of four Cavaliers to garner All-ACC Second Team honors en route to the NCAA Championship.  Making 68 appearances over four seasons, Barlow accumulated eight goals and 16 assists for 32 points and was named to the VaSID All-State Second Team as a sophomore.
 
First Annual Pro-Am Challenge April 3rd
The Kickers welcome the University of Virginia men’s soccer team to open their 18th season in a unique Pro-Am Challenge pitting the USL Second Division Champions versus the NCAA Champions on Saturday, April 3rd.   Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium.
 
The Cavaliers captured their sixth NCAA Championship, and first since 1994, with a 3-2 penalty kick shootout win over Akron in the NCAA Championship final last December.  The Cavaliers (19-3-3) ended the season on a 16-game unbeaten streak.  Former Kickers youth player and Thomas Dale High School graduate Jordan Evans played an integral role in clinching the championship title for UVA.  Evans entered the game in the second half and played through two golden goal overtime periods.  With the score tied at 0-0, the game entered sudden death penalty kicks with the Cavaliers winning in dramatic fashion, 3-2.
 
Other local standouts include former Deep Run High School MVP Brian Ownby and Will Bates, a Thomas Dale High School graduate, who was recently named Soccer America’s Freshman of the Year.  Bates led the Cavaliers with 12 goals and an assist in 2009 and was a member of the ACC’s All-Freshman team.

 
#12 Neil Barlow     Midfielder      HT: 5’8”      WT: 165        Hometown: Herndon, VA
Club                             Year                 GP/GS              G          A          Pts
University of Virginia       2006                 3/0                    0          0          0
University of Virginia       2007                 20/20                3          5          11
University of Virginia       2008                 21/12                0          5          5
University of Virginia       2009                 24/24                5          6          16
Totals                                                      68/56                8          16         32