Wikipedia

2023 Richmond Kickers season

The 2023 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 31st season in 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 started on March 18, 2023.

Richmond Kickers
2023 season
Owner22 Holdings, LLC
Head coachDarren Sawatzky
StadiumCity Stadium
USL League One11th
U.S. Open CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Emiliano Terzaghi (10 goals)
All: Emiliano Terzaghi (12)
Highest home attendance6,000 (vs. Charlotte Independence – April 1)
6,000 (vs. Tormenta FC – September 30)
Lowest home attendance3,143 (vs. North Carolina FC – August 9)
Average home league attendance4,786
← 2022
2024 →

Background edit

Main article: 2022 Richmond Kickers season

The 2022 season was the club's 30th season of existence, their fourth season in USL League One, and third year under head coach Darren Sawatzky. The Kickers had their strongest regular season showing since 2013 and won the USL League One regular season title with 51 points; they amassed a record of 14 wins, seven losses, and nine draws. Striker Emiliano Terzaghi led the Kickers and USL League One in scoring with 18 goals.

Outside of USL League One, the Kickers participated in the U.S. Open Cup, and the league playoffs, which they qualified for with 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 began the Playoffs in the semifinal round on October 29, where they were eliminated.

Transfers edit

Transfers in edit

Date Position No. Name From Fee/notes Ref.
December 13, 2022 FW 8   João Gomiero   North Carolina Fusion Free [1]
December 15, 2022 DF 25   Michael Hornsby   Central Valley Fuego Free [2]
January 31, 2023 FW 19   Justin Sukow   Forward Madison Free [3]
February 2, 2023 DF 34   Beckett Howell   Richmond Kickers Academy Free [4]
MF 33   Gabe Cox   Richmond Kickers Academy Free [4]
February 7, 2023 DF 16   Jake Mecham   Denver Pioneers Free [5]
February 9, 2023 FW 99   Kharlton Belmar   Colorado Springs Switchbacks Free [6]

Transfers out edit

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   Lexington SC 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 edit

Preseason exhibitions edit

February 11, 2023 (2023-02-11) 1 Richmond Kickers 1–1 Loudoun United FC Midlothian, Virginia
1:00 p.m. EDT Gomiero   62' Report Williamson   54' Stadium: River City Sportsplex
Attendance: 100
February 15, 2023 (2023-02-15) 2 Richmond Kickers 3–3 VCU Rams Glen Allen, Virginia
1:00 p.m. EDT Terzaghi  
Pavone  
Gomiero  		 Report White  
Gallegos  
Toure  		 Stadium: Strikers Soccer Complex
Attendance: 50
February 18, 2023 (2023-02-18) 3 VCU Rams 2–3 Richmond Kickers Richmond, Virginia
1:00 p.m. EDT Stadium: Sports Backers Stadium
February 25, 2023 (2023-02-25) 4 Richmond Kickers 3–1 Old Dominion Monarchs Richmond, Virginia
11:00 a.m. EDT Stadium: City Stadium
February 25, 2023 (2023-02-25) 5 Richmond Kickers 4–2 VCU Rams Richmond, Virginia
2:00 p.m. EDT Report Stadium: City Stadium
March 1, 2023 (2023-03-01) 6 Richmond Kickers 2–0 James Madison Dukes Richmond, Virginia
11:00 a.m. EDT Sukow   21'
Gomiero   41'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 350
March 1, 2023 (2023-03-01) 7 Richmond Kickers 2–2 Old Dominion Monarchs Richmond, Virginia
2:00 p.m. EDT Belmar   32', 54' Jenkins   45'
Gallaway   68'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 350
March 11, 2023 (2023-03-11) 8 Crown Legacy FC 1–1 Richmond Kickers Matthews, North Carolina
Stadium: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex

Midseason friendly edit

July 18, 2023 (2023-07-18) Richmond Kickers 2–4   Comunicaciones Richmond, Virginia
7:30 p.m. EDT
Stadium: City Stadium

Competitions edit

USL League One edit

Main article: 2023 USL League One season

Table edit

Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
8 One Knoxville SC 32 9 12 11 36 39 −3 38
9 Lexington SC 32 7 14 11 46 57 −11 32
10 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 32 8 17 7 46 65 −19 31
11 Richmond Kickers 32 6 15 11 42 55 −13 29
12 Central Valley Fuego FC 32 6 21 5 36 61 −25 23
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.

Regular season edit

All times in Eastern Time Zone.

March 18, 2023 (2023-03-18) 1 Charlotte Independence 0–0 Richmond Kickers Charlotte, North Carolina
5:00 p.m. 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, 2023 (2023-03-25) 2 Greenville Triumph SC 0–1 Richmond Kickers Greenville, South Carolina
7:00 p.m. Labovitz   90+5' Report Belmar   12'
Fitch   46'
Vinyals   82'
Pavone   90+4'		 Stadium: Paladin Stadium
Attendance: 2,879
Referee: Abdou Ndiaye
April 1, 2023 (2023-04-01) 3 Richmond Kickers 1–2 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m. 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, 2023 (2023-04-15) 4 Richmond Kickers 0–0 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m. Aune   81' Report Lukić   18'
Rendón   65'		 Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,024
Referee: Gary Gutierrez
April 29, 2023 (2023-04-29) 5 Tormenta FC 1–3 Richmond Kickers Statesboro, Georgia
7:30 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Tormenta Stadium
Attendance: 1,263
Referee: Luis Arroyo
May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) 6 Richmond Kickers 0–0 Union Omaha Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m. Report Dos Santos   67' Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,418
Referee: John Matto
May 13, 2023 (2023-05-13) 7 Greenville Triumph SC 2–2 Richmond Kickers Greenville, South Carolina
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Paladin Stadium
Attendance: 2,023
Referee: Olvin Oliva
May 17, 2023 (2023-05-17) 8 North Carolina FC 3–2 Richmond Kickers Cary, North Carolina
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 1,377
Referee: José Carlos Rivero
May 20, 2023 (2023-05-20) 9 Richmond Kickers 2–1 Lexington SC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,252
Referee: Adam Brzozowiec
May 27, 2023 (2023-05-27) 10 Tormenta FC 1–1 Richmond Kickers Statesboro, Georgia
7:30 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Optim Sports Medicine Field
Attendance: 1,104
Referee: Aleksandar Zhelyazkov
June 3, 2023 (2023-06-03) 11 Richmond Kickers 1–0 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,276
Referee: Gabriele Ciampi
June 7, 2023 (2023-06-07) 12 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 2–0 Richmond Kickers Windsor, Colorado
9:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Future Legends Complex
Referee: Velimir Stefanovic
June 10, 2023 (2023-06-10) 13 Central Valley Fuego FC 1–2 Richmond Kickers Fresno, California
10:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Fresno State Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 810
Referee: Turan Ozdemir
June 17, 2023 (2023-06-17) 14 Richmond Kickers 0–1 Forward Madison FC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 4,902
Referee: Donovan Eubank
June 24, 2023 (2023-06-24) 15 Richmond Kickers 2–2 One Knoxville SC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,863
Referee: Madzid Coric
July 1, 2023 (2023-07-01) 16 Richmond Kickers 2–0 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,858
Referee: Edgar Garcia
July 8, 2023 (2023-07-08) 17 Union Omaha 4–1 Richmond Kickers Papillion, Nebraska
8:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Werner Park
Attendance: 3,524
Referee: Kevin Fikar
July 15, 2023 (2023-07-15) 18 Richmond Kickers 2–2 Charlotte Independence Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 4,951
Referee: Olvin Oliva
July 22, 2023 (2023-07-22) 19 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC 3–1 Richmond Kickers Windsor, Colorado
9:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Future Legends Complex
Attendance: 1,511
Referee: Turan Ozdemir
July 29, 2023 (2023-07-29) 20 Lexington SC 2–2 Richmond Kickers Georgetown, Kentucky
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 2,105
Referee: Drew Klemp
August 5, 2023 (2023-08-05) 21 Richmond Kickers 1–2 Forward Madison FC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m. Barnathan   87' (pen.) Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 4,336
Referee: Cristian Campo
August 9, 2023 (2023-08-09) 22 Richmond Kickers 2–2 North Carolina FC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,143
Referee: Gary Gutierrez
August 12, 2023 (2023-08-12) 23 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 3–2 Richmond Kickers East Ridge, Tennessee
7:30 p.m.
Report
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,433
Referee: Alejo Calume
August 19, 2023 (2023-08-19) 24 Richmond Kickers 1–3 North Carolina FC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 5,570
Referee: Gabriele Ciampi
August 26, 2023 (2023-08-26) 25 Lexington SC 1–0 Richmond Kickers Georgetown, Kentucky
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 2,145
Referee: Richonne Clark
August 30, 2023 (2023-08-30) 26 Richmond Kickers 3–3 Central Valley Fuego FC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,479
Referee: Gabriele Giusti
September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09) 27 Union Omaha 2–1 Richmond Kickers Papillion, Nebraska
8:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Werner Park
Attendance: 4,046
Referee: Velimir Stefanovic
September 14, 2023 (2023-09-14) 28 Forward Madison FC 2–0 Richmond Kickers Madison, Wisconsin
8:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field
Attendance: 3,878
Referee: Olvin Oliva
September 24, 2023 (2023-09-24) 29 Richmond Kickers 1–2 Greenville Triumph SC Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 3,470
Referee: Gary Gutierrez
September 30, 2023 (2023-09-30) 30 Richmond Kickers 0–1 Tormenta FC Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Richonne Clark
October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06) 31 One Knoxville SC 2–2 Richmond Kickers Knoxville, Tennessee
7:30 p.m.
Report
Stadium: Regal Stadium
Attendance: 1,925
Referee: Cristian Campo
October 14, 2023 (2023-10-14) 32 Richmond Kickers 4–5 Central Valley Fuego FC Richmond, Virginia
6:00 p.m.
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 4,035
Referee: Amin Hadzic

U.S. Open Cup edit

Main article: 2023 U.S. Open Cup
April 6, 2023 (2023-04-06) Second round Richmond Kickers   3–2   Cleveland SC Richmond, Virginia
7:00 p.m. 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, 2023 (2023-04-26) Third round D.C. United   1–0   Richmond Kickers Washington, D.C.
7:30 p.m.
Report Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 8,686
Referee: John Griggs

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

As of October 14, 2023. Numbers after plus–sign (+) denote appearances as a substitute.[11]
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 22 0 22+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
2 DF   USA Dakota Barnathan 23 2 21+1 1 0+0 0 1+0 1
3 DF   USA Chris Cole 15 0 8+7 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
4 DF   USA Simon Fitch 32 2 32+0 2 0+0 0 0+0 0
6 MF   ARG Zacarías Morán 31 0 30+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
7 FW   USA Ethan Vanacore-Decker 3 0 0+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
8 FW   BRA João Gomiero 28 4 21+6 4 0+0 0 1+0 0
9 FW   ENG Matt Bentley 30 1 17+12 1 0+0 0 1+0 0
10 MF   ESP Nil Vinyals 28 6 26+1 6 0+0 0 1+0 0
11 FW   USA David Olsen 5 0 0+5 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
14 DF   USA Luke Pavone 13 1 2+10 1 0+0 0 1+0 0
16 DF   USA Jake Mecham 22 0 4+17 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
17 FW   USA Ryan Sierakowski 21 4 16+5 4 0+0 0 0+0 0
19 FW   USA Justin Sukow 31 2 26+4 2 0+0 0 0+1 0
24 DF   USA Nathan Aune 32 2 31+0 2 0+0 0 1+0 0
25 DF   GER Michael Hornsby 28 1 28+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
27 MF   ENG Chandler O'Dwyer 24 2 10+14 2 0+0 0 0+0 0
29 GK   USA Will Palmquist 12 0 10+1 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 24 12 23+0 10 0+0 0 1+0 2
33 MF   USA Gabe Cox 6 0 0+6 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
34 DF   USA Beckett Howell 13 0 4+8 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
36 MF   USA Landon Johnson 11 0 3+8 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
37 MF   JAM Nicholas Simmonds 7 1 0+7 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
91 FW   JAM Owayne Gordon 19 1 4+15 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
99 FW   GRN Kharlton Belmar 21 2 17+4 2 0+0 0 0+0 0

References edit

  1. ^ Heintschel, Nathan (December 13, 2022). "Kickers Sign Standout USL League Two Midfielder João Gomiero". Richmond Kickers. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kickers Sign Versatile German Defender Michael Hornsby". richmondkickers.com. December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Heintschel, Nathan (January 31, 2023). "Creative Forward Justin Sukow Joins the Kickers". richmondkickers.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Heintschel, Nathan (February 2, 2023). "Kickers Announce 4 Academy Signings for the 2023 Season". richmondkickers.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dynamic Fullback Jake Mecham Begins His Professional Career On The Richmond Backline". richmondkickers.com. February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Former VCU Standout and Virginia Beach Native Kharlton Belmar Joins the Kickers".
  7. ^ a b c d "Kickers Announce Initial Contract Decisions for 2023". Richmond Kickers. December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Columbus Crew signs defender Stuart Ritchie". columbuscrew.com. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Richmond Kickers Player Stats". USL League One. October 18, 2023. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

External links edit

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