The Richmond Kickers' back line will return intact for the 2012 USL PRO soccer season.
Central defenders William Yomby and Henry Kalungi, and midfielder/outside defender Luke Vercollone have agreed to new contracts, Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw said Friday. Each started at least 30 games as the Kickers reached the USL PRO and U.S. Open Cup semifinals in 2011. Yomby and Kalungi signed multiyear contracts.
Securing the trio "gives us a very nice foundation" for the upcoming season, said Cowlishaw. "We're talking about three very influential players who know and understand the system and consistently perform at a high level."
Cowlishaw said the level of achievement to which the Kickers have become accustomed has made player retention a challenging endeavor.
"It's tricky," he said. "As you succeed, player values go up and other teams with superior resources become interested."
The Kickers rang up 12 shutouts and surrendered 21 goals in the regular season, the second-best performance in USL PRO, last season. They did not allow a goal in regulation in a five-match streak near the end of the 2011 campaign.
Yomby and Kalungi are returning for their fourth seasons in Richmond. They have started in tandem in 77 of the Kickers' past 78 matches. Vercollone has started all but three matches since joining the Kickers before the 2008 season.
Yomby contributed three goals and an assist to Richmond's attack in 2011. Vercollone scored one goal and assisted on two others.
Veteran defender Sascha Gorres already is under contract for the upcoming season.
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