Richmond kicks off its unprecedented 30th consecutive season in front of the City Stadium faithful
Match Information:
USL League One Regular Season
Richmond Kickers vs FC Tucson
City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia
Saturday, April 2nd at 6:30 p.m.
Broadcast Information:
Internet: ESPN+
TV (Local): WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206/Verizon FiOS 466)
RICHMOND, Va. — On April 2, 2022, the Richmond Kickers kick off their unprecedented 30th consecutive season of operation as a professional soccer team. In a season that will be marked by nostalgia for the club, the team begins its season against one of their modern rivals when they host FC Tucson at City Stadium, Saturday night. The Kickers’ home opener is presented by Guerra Sáenz, PL — Immigration Attorneys.
The two sides faced off three times including the USL League One Playoff Quarterfinals during the 2021 season. Tucson earned a 1-0 victory over the Kickers in the quarterfinals down in the desert despite the Kickers effectively dominating the matchup.
The Roos registered double the amount of shots to Tucson while placing five shots on target to Tucson’s one shot on target. However, it was Tucson’s one shot on target that proved to be the game winner in the 87th minute.
Despite the disappointing end, the 2021 season proved to be another step in the right direction for the club helmed by Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky. The Kickers made the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season and had their second-straight winning season after not having a winning season since 2016.
Adding to the excitement of the season starting will be the debut of the Kickers’ new ’93 Legacy Green Jersey by Adidas. The jersey was designed to pay homage to the original green tops worn by the 1993 inaugural season team. Famous for wearing Red, the club is changing up this year with a modern take that features dark green pinstripes paired with white shorts.
The Kickers return back-to-back USL League One MVP and Golden Boot winner Emiliano Terzaghi along with USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year Akira Fitzgerald. The two League One First teamers lead a group that returned 12 total players. Amongst the returners also include key contributors like Jonathan Bolanos, Nil Vinyals, Matt Bolduc, Zaca Moran, and Jalen Crisler who all played significant minutes and factored heavily into the starting lineup for the club.
A dressing room that features a core of players with at least two and three years experience with the club, the Kickers are looking to reload with 12 new players that look to be key additions in making contributions and soldifying the team’s depth.
RICvTUC Media Availability Presented by WTVR CBS6
New to the group looking to factor heavily are outside backs Stuart Ritchie and Stephen Payne who both bring Youth National Team and European experience to the Richmond flanks. Adding to the attack are international newcomers Leonardo Baima and Matthew Bentley. Baima is a Boca Juniors academy product who has already registered several assists during the preseason and is building a strong relationship with Terzaghi. Bentley aims to shoulder some of the goal-scoring load for Terzaghi, as the striker/winger hybrid proved to be a top goal-scorer with USL League Two side Lionsbridge FC and at the collegiate level.
The Kickers will hit the ground running in 2022 as they open their season with three matches in seven days. Following the match against Tucson, the Roos will travel up to Leesburg, Va. to face NoVa FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round. The Kickers return home on April 9 to host USL League One newcomers Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC on College Night.
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