2023 Richmond Kickers season
The 2023 Richmond Kickers season will be the club's 31st season of existence, their fifth season in USL League One, and their 19th season in the third tier of American soccer. The Kickers will be led by fourth-year head coach, Darren Sawatzky. The USL League One season will start on March 18, 2023.
| 2023 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | 22 Holdings, LLC | |||
| Head coach | Darren Sawatzky | |||
| Stadium | City Stadium | |||
| USL League One | 7th | |||
| USL1 Playoffs | To be determined | |||
| U.S. Open Cup | Third round | |||
| Bon Secours Cup | 1–0–0 | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Kharlton Belmar (1) All: Emiliano Terzaghi (2) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 6,000 vs Charlotte Independence (April 1, USL1) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 5,024 vs Northern Colorado Hailstorm (April 15, USL1) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 5,512 | |||
| Biggest win | 1–0 vs Greenville Triumph (March 21, USL1) 3–2 vs Cleveland SC (April 6, USOC) | |||
| Biggest defeat | 1–2 vs Charlotte Independence (April 1, USL1) | |||
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Background
The 2022 season' was the club's 30th season of existence, and their fourth season in USL League One. The Kickers were led by third-year head coach, Darren Sawatzky. The Kickers had their strongest regular season showing since 2013, winning the USL League One regular season title, finishing the season with 51 total points, five clear of second place, with 14 wins, seven losses, and nine draws. Striker, Emiliano Terzaghi, for the third season, led the Kickers and USL League One in goals with 18 goals.
Outside of USL League One, the Kickers participated in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, and the 2022 USL League One Playoffs, for their first-place finish during the regular season. The Kickers reached the fourth round of the Open Cup, before losing to Major League Soccer expansion side, Charlotte FC. The Kickers will begin the Playoffs in the semifinal round on October 29, where they were eliminated.
Transfers
Transfers in
| Date | Position | No. | Name | From | Fee/Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2022 | FW | — |  João Gomiero |  North Carolina Fusion | Free | [1] |
| December 15, 2022 | DF | — |  Michael Hornsby | Central Valley Fuego | Free | [2] |
| January 31, 2023 | FW | — | Justin Sukow | Forward Madison | Free | [3] |
| February 2, 2023 | DF | — | Beckett Howell | Richmond Kickers Academy | Free | [4] |
| MF | — | Gabe Cox | Richmond Kickers Academy | Free | [4] | |
| February 7, 2023 | DF | — | Jake Mecham | Denver Pioneers | Free | [5] |
| February 9, 2023 | FW | — |  Kharlton Belmar | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | Free | [6] |
Transfers out
| Date | Position | No. | Name | To | Fee/Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2021 | MF | 7 | Matt Bolduc | Option declined | [7] | |
| MF | 11 |  Leonardo Baima | Option declined | [7] | ||
| GK | 13 | Austin Causey | Option declined | [7] | ||
| MF | 20 |  Christian Molina | Option declined | [7] | ||
| December 13, 2022 | MF | 8 | Ethan Bryant | Sporting Kansas City | Undisclosed | [8] |
| January 4, 2023 | DF | 5 | Stuart Ritchie | Columbus Crew | Free | [9] |
| February 6, 2023 | MF | 17 | Jonathan Bolanos | Huntsville City | Free | [10] |
Non-competitive
Preseason exhibitions
| February 11 1 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Loudoun United | Midlothian, VA |
| 1:00 p.m. EDT | Gomiero  62' |
Report | Williamson 54' |
Stadium: River City Sportsplex Attendance: 100 |
| February 15 2 | Richmond Kickers | 3–3 | VCU Rams | Glen Allen, VA |
| 1:00 p.m. EDT | Terzaghi Pavone Gomiero |
Report | White Gallegos Toure |
Stadium: Strikers Soccer Complex Attendance: 50 |
| February 18 3 | VCU Rams | 2–3 | Richmond Kickers | Richmond, VA |
| 1:00 p.m. EDT | Stadium: Sports Backers Stadium |
| February 25 4 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | Old Dominion Monarchs | Richmond, VA |
| 11:00 a.m. EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| February 25 5 | Richmond Kickers | 4–2 | VCU Rams | Richmond, VA |
| 2:00 p.m. EDT | Report | Stadium: City Stadium |
| March 1 6 | Richmond Kickers | 2–0 | James Madison Dukes | Richmond, VA |
| 11:00 a.m. EDT | Sukow 21' Gomiero 41' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 350 |
| March 1 7 | Richmond Kickers | 2–2 | Old Dominion Monarchs | Richmond, VA |
| 2:00 p.m. EDT | Belmar 32', 54' |
Jenkins 45' Gallaway 68' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 350 |
| March 11 8 | Crown Legacy | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Matthews, NC |
| TBA EDT | Stadium: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex |
Competitions
USL League One
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Greenville Triumph SC | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 10 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 6 | Forward Madison FC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 10 | |
| 7 | Richmond Kickers | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 10 | |
| 8 | Union Omaha | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 9 | |
| 9 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 8 |
Updated to match(es) played on May 17, 2023. Source: USL League One
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 6) disciplinary points; 7) drawing of lots.
| March 18 1 | Charlotte Independence | 0–0 | Richmond Kickers | Charlotte, NC |
| 14:00 EDT | Dutey  43' |
Report | Morán 7' Hornsby 31'Sukow 75'Terzaghi 90+5' |
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,947 Referee: Danielle Chesky |
| March 25 2 | Greenville Triumph | 0–1 | Richmond Kickers | Greenville, SC |
| 19:00 EDT | Labovitz 90+5' |
Report | Belmar 12' Fitch 46'Vinyals 82'Pavone 90+4' |
Stadium: Paladin Stadium Attendance: 2,879 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
| April 1 3 | Richmond Kickers | 1–2 | Charlotte Independence | Richmond, VA |
| 15:00 EDT | Gordon 25' 90+7' Belmar 58'Vinyals 75' |
Report | Dimick 13' Ciss 51'Hornsby 62' (o.g.)Spielman 77'Johnson 79'Bennett 88'Pack 90+2' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: John Matto |
| April 15 4 | Richmond Kickers | 0–0 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm | Richmond, VA |
| 15:00 EDT | Aune 81' |
Report | Lukić 18' Rendón 65' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 5,024 Referee: Gary Gutierrez |
| April 29 5 | Tormenta | v | Richmond Kickers | Statesboro, GA |
| 16:30 EDT | Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field |
| May 5 6 | Richmond Kickers | v | Union Omaha | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| May 13 7 | Greenville Triumph | v | Richmond Kickers | Greenville, SC |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: Paladin Stadium |
| May 17 8 | North Carolina FC | v | Richmond Kickers | Cary, NC |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park |
| May 20 9 | Richmond Kickers | v | Lexington SC | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| May 27 10 | Tormenta | v | Richmond Kickers | Statesboro, GA |
| 19:30 EDT | Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field |
| June 3 11 | Richmond Kickers | v | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| June 7 12 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm | v | Richmond Kickers | Windsor, CO |
| 21:00 EDT | Stadium: TicketSmarter Stadium |
| June 10 13 | Central Valley Fuego | v | Richmond Kickers | Fresno, CA |
| 22:00 EDT | Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium |
| June 17 14 | Richmond Kickers | v | Forward Madison | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| June 24 15 | Richmond Kickers | v | One Knoxville | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| July 1 16 | Richmond Kickers | v | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| July 8 17 | Union Omaha | v | Richmond Kickers | Papillion, NE |
| 20:00 EDT | Stadium: Werner Park |
| July 15 18 | Richmond Kickers | v | Charlotte Independence | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| July 29 19 | Lexington SC | v | Richmond Kickers | Lexington, KY |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: Bell Soccer Complex |
| August 5 20 | Richmond Kickers | v | Forward Madison | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| August 9 21 | Richmond Kickers | v | North Carolina FC | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| August 12 22 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | v | Richmond Kickers | East Ridge, TN |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium |
| August 19 23 | Richmond Kickers | v | North Carolina FC | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: City Stadium |
| August 26 24 | Lexington SC | v | Richmond Kickers | Lexington, KY |
| 19:00 EDT | Stadium: Bell Soccer Complex |
U.S. Open Cup
| April 6 Second round | Richmond Kickers (USL1)  | 3–2 |  Cleveland SC (NPSL) | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EST | Barnathan 11' 79' Terzaghi 31', 59'Gomiero 34'Fitch 55' |
Report | Beck 80' Harter 86' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 1,013 Referee: Christian Centeno |
| April 26 Third round | D.C. United (MLS)  | v | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | Washington, DC |
| 19:30 EST | Stadium: Audi Field |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
- As of April 12, 2023. Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | USL1 | USL1 Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK |  JPN |
Akira Fitzgerald | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA |
Dakota Barnathan | 5 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | USA |
Chris Cole | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | USA |
Simon Fitch | 4 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | ARG |
Zacarías Morán | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | USA |
Ethan Vanacore-Decker | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | BRA |
João Gomiero | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  ENG |
Matt Bentley | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF |  ESP |
Nil Vinyals | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | USA |
David Olsen | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | USA |
Luke Pavone | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | USA |
Jake Mecham | 4 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | USA |
Justin Sukow | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | USA |
Nathan Aune | 5 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | GER |
Michael Hornsby | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG |
Chandler O'Dwyer | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | USA |
Will Palmquist | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | USA |
Eli Mumford | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | USA |
Otavio Zerbini | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 32 | FW | ARG |
Emiliano Terzaghi | 5 | 2 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 2 |
| 33 | MF | USA |
Gabe Cox | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | USA |
Beckett Howell | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 91 | FW |  JAM |
Owayne Gordon | 3 | 1 | 1+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 99 | FW | GRN |
Kharlton Belmar | 4 | 1 | 4+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
References
- Heintschel, Nathan (December 13, 2022). "Kickers Sign Standout USL League Two Midfielder João Gomiero". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- "Kickers Sign Versatile German Defender Michael Hornsby". richmondkickers.com. December 15, 2022.
- Heintschel, Nathan (January 31, 2023). "Creative Forward Justin Sukow Joins the Kickers". richmondkickers.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- Heintschel, Nathan (February 2, 2023). "Kickers Announce 4 Academy Signings for the 2023 Season". richmondkickers.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- "Dynamic Fullback Jake Mecham Begins His Professional Career On The Richmond Backline". richmondkickers.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- "Former VCU Standout and Virginia Beach Native Kharlton Belmar Joins the Kickers".
- "Kickers Announce Initial Contract Decisions for 2023". Richmond Kickers. December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- Heintschel, Nathan (December 13, 2022). "Kickers transfer USL League One Young Player of the Year Ethan Bryant to Sporting Kansas City". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- "Columbus Crew signs defender Stuart Ritchie". columbuscrew.com. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
- Turner, Scott (February 6, 2023). "Huntsville City Football Club a mixture of pro league, college players". The Huntsville Times. al.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
External links
| Teams |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Future teams |
| |
| Former teams | ||
| Seasons | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||
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