RICHMOND, Va. – (Monday, February 15, 2021) – The Richmond Kickers have signed goalkeeper Austin Aviza for the 2021 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
“Austin is a young goalkeeper with a huge upside,” said Darren Sawatzky, Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach. “We liked his progression in 2020 and we see him playing games for us in Richmond as he continues to grow as the backspot for our club. It is always a great position to be in when you have two goalkeepers on your roster that have started consistently at the professional level. Austin’s character and work ethic made him a great choice for us and we look forward to getting him in the locker room.”
Selected 44th overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City, Aviza spent his first professional season with Orlando City B. Immediately making his presence known around the league, the Medway, MA, native led USL League One in saves made (50), sharing the top spot with his new Kickers team mate, Akira Fitzgerald. With an excellent 89% pass completion rate in his first year as a pro, Aviza adds quality to the team both on and off the ball.
“Darren was clear with me that the goal every year is to win the championship and develop his team where every player is consistently and fully playing to their maximum potential,” Aviza said. “His energy and commitment to the program caught my attention straight away. His eagerness to have me join the team was contagious as I always want to be a part of a culture where the staff and players are like-minded in the drive for success and to always get better. As a goalkeeper, I found it super attractive to have the opportunity to work with Akira, who has a ton of experience playing professionally. I really felt that I can learn a tremendous amount from him. I am also aware of the rich history of this club and the fan base is one of the best in the country. I look forward to representing Richmond and giving back to the community.”
Starting his collegiate career at Syracuse University in 2015, Aviza played in nine matches for the Orange and had a .97 goals against average. He transferred to the University of Connecticut in 2017, redshirting his junior year, before enjoying a standout senior season with a GAA of 1.03 through 14 matches for the Huskies. This earned him a spot on the All-Big East Third team in 2018. A graduate transfer for a fifth collegiate season, Aviza played at Providence College, making 23 appearances. He continued his strong performance in goal, posting a 1.00 GAA and recording nine individual and two shared shutouts.
