| 2022 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | 22 Holdings, LLC | |||
| Head coach | Darren Sawatzky | |||
| Stadium | City Stadium | |||
| USL League One | 1st | |||
| USL1 Playoffs | Semifinalist | |||
| U.S. Open Cup | Fourth round | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Terzaghi (18) All: Terzaghi (19) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 6,000 vs. GVL (October 15) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,011 vs. CHA (April 9) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 3,173 | |||
| Biggest win | 4–0 vs. TUC (April 2) | |||
| Biggest defeat | 1–5 vs. CLT (May 11, USOC) | |||
|
| ||||
The 2022 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 30th season of existence, their fourth season in USL League One, and their 18th season in the third tier of American soccer. The Kickers were led by third-year head coach, Darren Sawatzky. The USL League One season started on April 2 and concluded on October 15, 2022.
The Kickers had their strongest regular season showing since 2013, winning the USL League One regular season title. The Kickers finished 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.
Background
The Kickers began the 2021 season in April due to the ongoing issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the regular season had the Kickers routinely along the playoff line, before a six-match winning streak in September saw the club finish in fifth place, and qualify for the USL Playoffs, marking the first time since 2016 the Kickers qualified for the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Kickers were eliminated by FC Tucson in the opening round.
Striker Emiliano Terzaghi was the league's top scorer, scoring 18 goals.
Transfers
Transfers in
| Date | Position | No. | Name | From | Fee/notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 14, 2021 | MF | 8 | Loan option exercised | [1] | ||
| December 16, 2021 | FW | 9 | Free | [2] | ||
| January 20, 2022 | DF | 22 | Free | [3] | ||
| January 25, 2022 | DF | 5 | Free | [4] | ||
| February 3, 2022 | MF | 11 | Free | [5] | ||
| February 8, 2022 | MF | 27 | Free | [6] | ||
| February 9, 2022 | MF | 99 | Free | [7] | ||
| February 10, 2022 | DF | 2 | Free | [8] | ||
| February 15, 2022 | MF | 20 | Free | [9] | ||
| February 17, 2022 | GK | 29 | Academy contract | [10] | ||
| February 22, 2022 | MF | 4 | Free | [11] | ||
| March 31, 2022 | FW | 23 | Free | [12] |
Transfers out
| Date | Position | No. | Name | To | Fee/notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Position | No. | Name | Loan to | Until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2022 | GK | 31 | End of season | [13] |
Non-competitive
Preseason exhibitions
| February 12 | Loudoun United | 1–2 | Richmond Kickers | Leesburg, VA |
| 14:00 EDT | Liadi |
Report | Terzaghi Bentley |
Stadium: Segra Field Attendance: 0 |
| February 19 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Chowan Hawks | Wyndham, VA |
| 14:00 EST | Stadium: Striker Soccer Complex |
| February 24 | High Point Panthers | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | High Point, NC |
| 12:00 EST | Stadium: Vert Stadium Attendance: 192 |
| February 26 | Richmond Kickers | 0–0 | Loudoun United | Wyndham, VA |
| 14:00 EST | Stadium: Striker Soccer Complex Attendance: 0 |
| March 2 | Charleston Battery | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Buies Creek, NC |
| 12:00 EST | Williams |
Report | Terzaghi |
Stadium: Eakes Athletics Complex Attendance: 135 |
| March 5 | UNCG Spartans | 2–2 | Richmond Kickers | Greensboro, NC |
| 13:00 EST | Stadium: UNCG Soccer Stadium |
| March 9 | Richmond Kickers | 2–1 | William & Mary Tribe | Richmond, VA |
| 13:00 EST | Bolduc |
Report | Nwegbo |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 352 |
| March 18 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | VCU Rams | Richmond, VA |
| 14:00 EDT | Barnathan |
Report | McGann |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 492 |
| March 26 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | James Madison Dukes | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Crisler Bentley Terzaghi |
Report | Erhardt |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 0 |
Competitive
USL League One
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond Kickers (X) | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 54 | 35 | +19 | 51 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
| 2 | Greenville Triumph SC | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 46 | |
| 3 | Tormenta FC (C) | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 42 | 40 | +2 | 45 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 43 | |
| 5 | Union Omaha | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 43 |
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.
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season Champion
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: April 10, 2022.
Source: USL League One
Results by matchday
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed
Notes: Positions show the situation at the end of the corresponding Game Weeks (GW); not the position at the conclusion of matches or game days
Match results
| April 2 1 | Richmond Kickers | 4–0 | FC Tucson | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi Aune Vinyals Payne Barnathan Bentley Olsen |
Report | Sunday Allen Moss |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,054 Referee: Danielle Chesky |
| April 9 2 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Morán Aune Terzaghi Bolduc |
Report | Damm Folla Vanacore-Decker Zayed Ulysse Desdunes |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,771 Referee: Matt Franz |
| April 16 3 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 1–0 | Richmond Kickers | Chattanooga, TN |
| 19:00 EDT | Capozucchi Espinoza Avilez Hernández |
Report | Morán Aune Terzaghi |
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,236 Referee: Joshua Belk |
| April 24 4 | Charlotte Independence | 1–2 | Richmond Kickers | Charlotte, NC |
| 16:00 EDT | Dutey Talboys Mbuyu |
Report | Terzaghi Baima Bentley Cole |
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,247 Referee: Alex Billeter |
| May 7 5 | Richmond Kickers | 0–1 | Forward Madison | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi Crisler Vinyals Aune |
Report | Cassini Jones Murillo Osmond Crisler Breno |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,135 Referee: Nickrod Fateh |
| May 14 6 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi Gordon Ritchie Barnathan Morán Payne |
Report | Meza Touche Bawa |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,579 Referee: Ben Meyer |
| May 28 8 | North Carolina FC | 2–1 | Richmond Kickers | Cary, NC |
| 19:00 EDT | McLaughlin Skelton Fernandes |
Report | Terzaghi Bentley Aune Ritchie |
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,128 Referee: Katherine McCormick |
| June 1 9 | Richmond Kickers | 3–0 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Candela Aune Crisler Baima Morán |
Report | Bement Benton Cardona |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,011 Referee: John Matto |
| June 4 10 | Richmond Kickers | 2–2 | Tormenta | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Ritchie Crisler Payne |
Report | Sharifi Thorn Billhardt |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,201 Referee: Anya Voigt |
| June 11 11 | Richmond Kickers | 4–0 | Charlotte Independence | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bryant Bentley Fitch |
Report | Vint Dutey Ciss Rocha |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,041 Referee: Nicholas Karnovsky |
| June 18 12 | Richmond Kickers | 3–2 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Vinyals Bentley Terzaghi Bolanos Fitzgerald |
Report | Vanacore-Decker Norman Cornwall Folla |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,099 Referee: Amiel Aleman |
| June 23 13 | Forward Madison | 2–1 | Richmond Kickers | Madison, WI |
| 20:00 EDT | Thiam Streng Cassini Dean |
Report | Crisler Vinyals Gordon Ritchie Bentley Morán |
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 4,082 Referee: Brian Wood |
| June 29 7 | FC Tucson | 0–1 | Richmond Kickers | Tucson, AZ |
| 22:00 EDT | Weir |
Report | Terzaghi Bolanos |
Stadium: Kino North Stadium Attendance: 1,688 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |
| Note: Match rescheduled from May 20 due to multiple COVID positives in the Kickers' organization.[14] | ||||
| July 2 14 | Richmond Kickers | 4–1 | North Carolina FC | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bentley Payne Terzaghi Bolanos Gordon |
Report | Young Anderson Sommersall |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,702 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| July 8 15 | Charlotte Independence | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Charlotte, NC |
| 19:00 EDT | Mbuyu Amaya Ibarra Rocha |
Report | Candela Bolanos Gordon |
Stadium: American Legion Memorial Stadium Attendance: 1,544 Referee: Kevin Broadley |
| July 16 16 | Richmond Kickers | 1–3 | Greenville Triumph | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Gordon Bryant Ritchie Bentley Barnathan Pavone |
Report | Labovitz Smart Gavilanes Pilato Fenton |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,143 Referee: Nickrod Fateh |
| July 23 17 | Central Valley Fuego | 3–1 | Richmond Kickers | Fresno, CA |
| 22:00 EDT | Falck Hornsby Partida Cerritos Strong |
Report | Payne Barnathan Aune Fitzgerald Candela |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,345 Referee: Adrian Gonzalez |
| July 27 18 | North Carolina FC | 2–3 | Richmond Kickers | Cary, NC |
| 19:00 EDT | Adams Flick |
Report | Molina Terzaghi Barnathan |
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 1,109 Referee: Josiah Parke |
| August 2 19 | Northern Colorado Hailstorm | 0–1 | Richmond Kickers | Windsor, CO |
| 21:00 EDT | Damm Rogers Nortey |
Report | Terzaghi Vinyals Fitzgerald |
Stadium: Future Legends Complex Attendance: 4,759 Referee: Kevin Fikar |
| August 6 20 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | FC Tucson | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Morán Vanacore-Decker Terzaghi |
Report | Machell Calixtro Garcia |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,170 Referee: John Matto |
| August 13 21 | Greenville Triumph | 1–0 | Richmond Kickers | Greenville, SC |
| 19:00 EDT | Brown Polak |
Report | Terzaghi |
Stadium: Legacy Early College Field Attendance: 2,924 Referee: Kyle Johnston |
| August 20 22 | Central Valley Fuego | 2–2 | Richmond Kickers | Fresno, CA |
| 19:00 EDT | Falck Smith Villarreal North Schenfeld |
Report | Bolanos Aune Terzaghi Bentley |
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,193 Referee: Robert Vincze |
| August 27 23 | Richmond Kickers | 3–0 | Union Omaha | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bolanos Payne Vanacore-Decker Terzaghi |
Report | Jiba Meza Doyle |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,886 Referee: Matthew Franz |
| September 7 24 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | Tormenta | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi Morán Bolanos Aune Candela |
RIC Report Soccerway Rpt |
Billhardt Dengler Nembhard Phelps Adeniyi Bush |
Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Katherine McCormick |
| September 14 25 | Union Omaha | 2–3 | Richmond Kickers | Papillion, NE |
| 19:00 EDT | Scearce Gil Touche Doyle |
Report | Vanacore-Decker Gordon Payne Vinyals |
Stadium: Werner Park Attendance: 2,610 Referee: Gerald Flores |
| September 17 26 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | 2–2 | Richmond Kickers | Chattanooga, TN |
| 19:00 EDT | Tejera Lombardi Navarro Espinoza Mehl Galindrez |
Report | Bolanos Ritchie Terzaghi Gordon |
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
| September 24 27 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Central Valley Fuego | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bryant Bolanos Crisler |
Report | Ramos Schenfeld Bijev Crisler S. Chavez |
Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| October 2 28 | Tormenta | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Statesboro, GA |
| 19:00 EDT | Adeniyi Otieno |
Report | Terzaghi Aune Barnathan |
Stadium: Optim Health System Field Referee: Alefo Calume |
USL1 Playoffs
| October 29 Semi Finals | Richmond Kickers | 0–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Richmond, VA |
| 18:00 EDT | Fitch Crisler Morán |
Report | Villalobos Mehl Texeira Mentzingen |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 5,526 Referee: Brad Jensen |
U.S. Open Cup
| April 6 Second round | Northern Virginia FC (USL2) | 0–1 | | Leesburg, VA |
| 20:00 EDT | Laghjibi Campbell |
Report | Olsen Terzaghi |
Stadium: Virginia Revolution Sportsplex Attendance: 575 Referee: Nicholas Karnovsky |
| April 20 Third round | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Aune Olsen Candela Morán Bryant Terzaghi |
Report | Marriott Almubaslat DiLuzio João Silva Campo Tonon |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 1,219 Referee: Danielle Chesky |
| May 11 Fourth round | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | 1–5 | | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Morán |
Report | Sobociński Ríos Reyna Gaines Shinyashiki |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,621 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
References
- ↑ "Kickers Bring Aboard Ethan Bryant After Successful Loan Stint". USL League One. December 14, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Matt Bentley Joins the Richmond Forward Line". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (January 20, 2022). "Stephen Payne Brings European Experience to Richmond's Backline". USL League One. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Former US Youth National Team Player Stuart Ritchie Joins The Richmond Backline". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Argentine Midfielder Leonardo Baima Set To Create For Richmond". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Dynamic Midfielder Chandler O'Dwyer Signs First Professional Contract With Richmond". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "USL Veteran Vincenzo Candela Brings Experience to the Kickers' Engine Room". OurSports Central. February 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Former VCU Standout and USL Veteran Dakota Barnathan Joins the Richmond Defense". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (February 15, 2022). "Christian Molina Joins the Richmond Kickers". USL League One. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ USLLeagueOne com Staff (February 17, 2022). "Kickers Sign Goalkeeper Eli Mumford to Academy Contract". USL League One. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ "Homegrown Richmond Talent Simon Fitch Returns to the Kickers". OurSports Central. February 22, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ Heintschel, Nathan. "David Olsen Brings More Goal-Scoring Prowess To Richmond's Front Line". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ↑ Heintschel, Nathan (February 2, 2023). "Kickers Announce 4 Academy Signings for the 2023 Season". richmondkickers.com. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
Mumford joins for a second season with the Kickers after spending the entire 2022 season working with the team and goalkeeping coach Akira Fitzgerald. While not appearing in a USL League One match last season, Mumford played between the pipes on loan at NPSL side Grove Soccer United which also played its home matches at City Stadium.
- ↑ "FC Tucson vs. Richmond Kickers Rescheduled". USL. May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.