Kickers Support Virginia Tech, Exhibition Tomorrow

RICHMOND, VA - (Monday, April 30, 2007) - In response to the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, the Richmond Kickers will host the Virginia Tech Men's soccer team in an exhibition match to be held at the University of Richmond Stadium (just off the downtown expressway) tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1st at 7:00 p.m. All proceeds from the gate will be donated to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. General admission tickets are $5.00 (youth and adult) and can be purchased in advance until noon tomorrow via RichmondKickers.com or at the gate. Fans are encouraged to wear maroon and orange to show Hokie Spirit.

"I think it will be a tremendous opportunity for Hokie fans, soccer fans, and non-soccer and non-Hokie fans in central Virginia to join both teams in honoring the victims of the recent tragedy on our campus" comments Virginia Tech Head Coach Oliver Weiss. "It speaks volumes for the Kickers organization to do this on such a short notice. It is our hope to bring people together who want to feel connected to our Virginia Tech world. Why not through a soccer match on a Tuesday night in Richmond?"

During the 2006 campaign, Weiss and the Hokies compiled an 11-8-1 record while earning an NCAA Tournament berth for the third time in the past four seasons. The Hokies ranked fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 2.35 goals per game. Additionally, Virginia Tech was honored with the Atlantic Coast Conference 2006 Fall Sportsmanship Award, awarded to teams who conducted themselves with a high degree of character and good sportsmanship, as determined by a vote of the league's players and coaches.

The Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund was established to remember and honor the victims of the tragic events to aid the healing process. The Fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to assistance to victims and their families, grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses and comfort expenses

Dynamo proud to help Virginia Tech

HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo might have lost to the Chicago Fire 1-0 Sunday night at Robertson Stadium, but the MLS Cup champions were proud of themselves for something they did off the field.

Dynamo raised more than $16,000 for the Virginia Tech University's Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund through an online fundraiser and auction of the maroon jerseys the Dynamo wore during the match with Chicago.

Virginia Tech head men's soccer coach Oliver Weiss was at the game as an honorary Dynamo captain. Houston defender Eddie Robinson was a member of the University of North Carolina soccer team when Weiss was an assistant at UNC, and before the match, he gave Weiss a hug.

"It's fantastic to raise that much money," said Robinson. "I knew (Weiss) really well, so to be able to contribute to that in anyway whether you knew someone who was effected by it or not was something that hits home, and to be able to contribute meant a lot to us.

"It's fantastic to have Weiss here. For him to get away and be here was fantastic. The team and the front office, to do what they could to make sure that he got here and do the presentation before the game showed good class on behalf of the front office."

All of the proceeds raised will go directly to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

"I told the guys after the game how great it was to contribute to the Virginia Tech Fund," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "After the game, I told them that if I was going to say one thing to them, it's thank you for doing this. I think it's nice that coach Oliver Weiss was here tonight.

"We might not all have a personal connection to that, but we are all Americans and we've all gone through college and probably all have had loved ones pass away, so we know how that feeling is. I think anything you can do to help, you have to do. I think it was a great idea by our front office. I told them that's why I think that locker room is a special locker room."