The 27-year-old led USL League One in assists in 2020
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the acquisition of USL veteran forward and 2021 USL League One Champion Ethan Vanacore-Decker from fellow USL League One club Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in exchange for an international roster spot for the remainder of the 2022 season, pending league and federation approval.
“We are always evaluating our team and looking to improve and add new quality pieces,” Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. “We had an opportunity to add a very good player to our team at the midpoint of the season and we jumped at it.
“Ethan gives us a dynamic attacking player with a history of creating chances and winning. We look forward to adding him to the locker room as we continue to grow the winning culture at our club.”
Vanacore-Decker joins the Kickers with a decorated USL League One background as a member of Union Omaha during their inaugural 2020 season and their 2021 championship season before joining Hailstorm FC in Spring 2022. During Union Omaha’s inaugural season in which it finished as League One finalists in the COVID-shortened season, Vanacore-Decker led the league with 6 assists and scored the second-most team goals on the team (3) while finishing All-League Second Team. The forward started 7 of 11 matches during Omaha’s championship run before injury cut his season short.
In the first-ever matchup between Richmond and Northern Colorado at City Stadium on April 9, the Manahawkin, N.J. native earned the distinction as the first-ever goalscorer for the 2022 USL League One debutants when he netted the opening goal. The moment proved to be extra special for Vanacore-Decker who named Richmond as one of his favorite places to play in USL because of the field quality and fan support.
“The opportunity to join a team that has been flying in the first half of the season excites me,” Vanacore-Decker said. “I’m hoping to help keep the momentum going into the second half of the season.
“I’m not too worried about joining a team midseason. Yes, I’m sure I’ll be nervous for the first couple of days but that’s normal. I have some good friends on the Kickers like Nate [Aune], Dakota [Barnathan], and Christian [Molina] which helps with the transition. I’m excited to meet the rest of the team as well. I’ve heard it’s a great group of guys.”
Vanacore-Decker played with Aune and Molina as a member of Union Omaha, while he built a relationship with Barnathan during his rookie season as a member of USL Championship-side Swope Park Rangers in 2018. Vanacore-Decker played with the MLS affiliate of Sporting Kansas City for two seasons before joining Omaha in 2020.
Experienced at every level of the USL, Vanacore-Decker played in the Premier Development League now known as USL League Two while a collegiate athlete. He first joined New York Red Bulls U-23 in 2015 before joining North County United – now known as Treasure Coast Tritons – from 2016-2018.
Reunited with friends and joining a side currently sitting in second place in the USL League One standings, Vanacore-Decker relishes the opportunity to push for the chance to relive the successes he experienced in 2021.
“Personally, I’m going to try and score and assist as many times as I can,” Vanacore-Decker said. “It’s easier said than done but that’s my goal. As a team, winning the regular season and the championship is the main goal. I was lucky enough to do it last year and it was a great feeling. I can’t wait to get started and be a part of adding new history to this historic club.”
The newly-minted Kicker joins the team as they prepare for an extended road trip that begins in Fresno, Calif. for the first-ever matchup with Central Valley Fuego FC on Saturday, July 23 before flying back to the east coast to face North Carolina FC in Cary, N.C. on Wednesday, July 27. Vanacore-Decker will then have the opportunity to face his former team, Hailstorm FC, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, when the Kickers make their first-ever trip to Windsor, Colo.
Vanacore-Decker will have the opportunity to make his City Stadium debut as a member of the Roos when the team returns to host FC Tucson on Saturday, Aug. 6. Tickets for the match are on sale now at richmondkickers.com/tickets.
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TRANSACTION: Richmond Kickers acquire Ethan Vanacore-Decker from Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC for the remainder of the 2022 USL League One season on July 18, 2022.