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.
| 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 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
editThe 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
editTransfers in
edit| Date | Position | No. | Name | From | Fee/notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 14, 2021 | MF | 8 |  Ethan Bryant
|
San Antonio FC
|
Loan option exercised | [1] |
| December 16, 2021 | FW | 9 |  Matt Bentley
|
Leatherhead
|
Free | [2] |
| January 20, 2022 | DF | 22 | Stephen Payne
|
 Vilaverdense
|
Free | [3] |
| January 25, 2022 | DF | 5 | Stuart Ritchie
|
 Hannover 96
|
Free | [4] |
| February 3, 2022 | MF | 11 |  Leonardo Baima
|
Central Norte
|
Free | [5] |
| February 8, 2022 | MF | 27 | Chandler O'Dwyer
|
Christian Brothers Buccaneers
|
Free | [6] |
| February 9, 2022 | MF | 99 |  Vincenzo Candela
|
Tormenta
|
Free | [7] |
| February 10, 2022 | DF | 2 | Dakota Barnathan |
FC Tucson |
Free | [8] |
| February 15, 2022 | MF | 20 |  Christian Molina |
Union Omaha |
Free | [9] |
| February 17, 2022 | GK | 29 | Eli Mumford
|
Richmond Kickers Academy
|
Academy contract | [10] |
| February 22, 2022 | MF | 4 | Simon Fitch |
VCU Rams |
Free | [11] |
| March 31, 2022 | FW | 23 | David Olsen |
Tacoma Defiance |
Free | [12] |
Transfers out
edit| Date | Position | No. | Name | To | Fee/notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Position | No. | Name | Loan to | Until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2022 | GK | 31 | Eli Mumford
|
Grove Soccer United
|
End of season | [13] |
Non-competitive
editPreseason exhibitions
edit| February 12 | Loudoun United | 1–2 | Richmond Kickers | Leesburg, VA |
| 14:00 EDT | Liadi  66' |
Report | Terzaghi 34' Bentley 61' |
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 24' |
Report | Terzaghi 64' |
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 26', 63' |
Report | Nwegbo 8' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 352 |
Competitive
editUSL League One
editStandings
edit| 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 |
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.
(C) Champions; (X) Regular Season Champion
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
edit| 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
editUpdated to match(es) played on April 2022. Source: USL League One
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
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
edit| April 2 1 | Richmond Kickers | 4–0 | FC Tucson | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi 18' Aune  23'Vinyals 34', 60' 58'Payne 55'Barnathan 68'Bentley 81'Olsen 90+2' |
Report | Sunday 21' Allen 66'Moss  85' |
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 11' Aune 51'Terzaghi 55' 78'Bolduc 62' |
Report | Damm 16' Folla 23'Vanacore-Decker 37'Zayed 45'Ulysse 59'Desdunes 88' |
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 26' Espinoza 50', 75' Avilez 83' Hernández 90+6' |
Report | Morán 84' Aune 90+1' Terzaghi 90+5' |
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 37' Talboys 62'Mbuyu 69' |
Report | Terzaghi 6' 52' Baima 23'Bentley 55'Cole 71' |
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 33' Crisler 36' Vinyals 45+2' Aune 63' |
Report | Cassini 9' Jones 14' Murillo 19' Osmond 53' Crisler 67' (o.g.) Breno 90+1' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,135 Referee: Nickrod Fateh |
| May 14 6 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Union Omaha | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi 37' Gordon 41'Ritchie 45+6'Barnathan 59'Morán 69'Payne 86' |
Report | Meza 26' Touche 62'Bawa 75' |
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 36', 42' (pen.) Skelton 37' Fernandes 65' |
Report | Terzaghi 13' Bentley 28' Aune 35' Ritchie 64' |
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 17' Aune 35' Crisler 38' Baima 45+2', 80' Morán 58' |
Report | Bement 8' Benton 31' Cardona 77' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 2,011 Referee: John Matto |
| June 4 10 | Richmond Kickers | 2–2 | Tormenta | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Ritchie 27' Crisler 32' Payne 76' |
Report | Sharifi 22' Thorn 30' Billhardt 64' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,201 Referee: Anya Voigt |
| June 11 11 | Richmond Kickers | 4–0 | Charlotte Independence | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bryant 14', 45+4' Bentley 21', 74' Fitch 38' |
Report | Vint 44' Dutey 54' Ciss 67' Rocha 68' |
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 33', 42' Bentley 43' Terzaghi 45+2' Bolanos 76' Fitzgerald 90+4' |
Report | Vanacore-Decker 25' Norman 27'  29' Cornwall 52', 68' Folla 74', 88' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,099 Referee: Amiel Aleman |
| June 23 13 | Forward Madison | 2–1 | Richmond Kickers | Madison, WI |
| 20:00 EDT | Thiam 35' Streng 79' Cassini 82', 83' Dean 89' |
Report | Crisler 36' Vinyals 45+3' Gordon 65' Ritchie 76' Bentley 77' Morán 82' |
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 45+2' |
Report | Terzaghi 25' Bolanos 60' |
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 25' Payne 38' Terzaghi 59', 79' Bolanos 63', 64' Gordon 75' |
Report | Young 33' Anderson 41', 42' Sommersall 65' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,702 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
| July 8 15 | Charlotte Independence | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Charlotte, NC |
| 19:00 EDT | Mbuyu 18' Amaya 58' Ibarra 65' (pen.) Rocha 88' |
Report | Candela 43' Bolanos 56' Gordon 68' |
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 42' Bryant 52' Ritchie 61' Bentley 72' Barnathan 87' Pavone 90+4' |
Report | Labovitz 23', 36', 89' Smart 69' Gavilanes 75' Pilato 82' Fenton 85' |
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 16', 35' Hornsby 45' Partida 53' Cerritos 58' Strong 63' |
Report | Payne 15' 19' Barnathan 45', 76' Aune 48' Fitzgerald 56' Candela 90+3' |
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 26' Flick 78' |
Report | Molina 59' (o.g.) Terzaghi 90+1' Barnathan 90+5' |
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 28' Rogers 39' Nortey 63' |
Report | Terzaghi 32', 47' Vinyals 85' Fitzgerald 90' |
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 26' Vanacore-Decker 45' Terzaghi 56', 64' |
Report | Machell 20' Calixtro 28' Garcia 76' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 3,170 Referee: John Matto |
| August 13 21 | Greenville Triumph | 1–0 | Richmond Kickers | Greenville, SC |
| 19:00 EDT | Brown 90' Polak 90+6' |
Report | Terzaghi 90+3' |
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 24' 32' Smith 36'Villarreal 57'North 60'Schenfeld 67' |
Report | Bolanos 38' Aune 57'Terzaghi 70' (pen.)Bentley 90+3' |
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 20' Payne 45+12'Vanacore-Decker 66'Terzaghi 70', 76' |
Report | Jiba 69' Meza 72'Doyle 72' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,886 Referee: Matthew Franz |
| September 7 24 | Richmond Kickers | 3–1 | Tormenta | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi 21', 55' Morán 68' Bolanos 72', 90+4' Aune 78' Candela 90+3' |
RIC Report Soccerway Rpt |
Billhardt  10' Dengler 23' Nembhard 23' Phelps 34' Adeniyi 82' Bush 90+5' |
Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Katherine McCormick |
| September 14 25 | Union Omaha | 2–3 | Richmond Kickers | Papillion, NE |
| 19:00 EDT | Scearce 49', 81' Gil 77'Touche 90+5'Doyle 90+7' |
Report | Vanacore-Decker 78' Gordon 80'Payne 89'Vinyals 90+7' |
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 35' Lombardi 49' 74' Navarro 68' Espinoza 69' Mehl 78', 84' Galindrez 90+3' |
Report | Bolanos 31' Ritchie 37' Terzaghi 43' Gordon 51' |
Stadium: CHI Memorial Stadium Referee: Alyssa Nichols |
| September 24 27 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Central Valley Fuego | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Bryant 36' Bolanos 58' Crisler 75' |
Report | Ramos 31' Schenfeld 43' Bijev 55' Crisler 69' (o.g.) S. Chavez 74' 80' |
Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
| October 2 28 | Tormenta | 1–1 | Richmond Kickers | Statesboro, GA |
| 19:00 EDT | Adeniyi 41', 67' Otieno 62' |
Report | Terzaghi 45+1' Aune 90+1' Barnathan 90+2' |
Stadium: Optim Health System Field Referee: Alefo Calume |
| October 8 29 | Forward Madison | 0–1 | Richmond Kickers | Madison, WI |
| 19:00 EDT | Report | Gordon 35' Fitch 87' |
Stadium: Breese Stevens Field Attendance: 4,492 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
| October 15 30 | Richmond Kickers | 1–1 | Greenville Triumph | Richmond, VA |
| 19:00 EDT | Terzaghi 21' Pavone 79' |
Report | Coutinho 19' Cox-Ashwood 87' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Mathew Corrigan |
USL1 Playoffs
edit| October 29 Semi Finals | Richmond Kickers | 0–1 | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Richmond, VA |
| 18:00 EDT | Fitch 33' Crisler 36' Morán 38' |
Report | Villalobos 17' Mehl 22' Texeira 39' Mentzingen 86', 87' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 5,526 Referee: Brad Jensen |
U.S. Open Cup
edit| April 6 Second round | Northern Virginia FC (USL2)  | 0–1 | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | Leesburg, VA |
| 20:00 EDT | Laghjibi 40' Campbell 45' |
Report | Olsen 34' Terzaghi 80' |
Stadium: Virginia Revolution Sportsplex Attendance: 575 Referee: Nicholas Karnovsky |
| April 20 Third round | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) |  North Carolina Fusion U23 (USL2) | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Aune 24' Olsen 37'Candela 44'Morán 48'Bryant 67'Terzaghi 118' |
Report | Marriott 5' Almubaslat 58'DiLuzio 116'João Silva 118'Campo 120+1'Tonon 120+3' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 1,219 Referee: Danielle Chesky |
| May 11 Fourth round | Richmond Kickers (USL1) | 1–5 | Charlotte FC (MLS) | Richmond, VA |
| 18:30 EDT | Morán 53' |
Report | Sobociński 4' Ríos 34'Reyna 54'Gaines 58', 61'Shinyashiki 86' |
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,621 Referee: Luis Arroyo |
References
edit- ^ "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.