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Preview: Kickers on the Road Tuesday at Tormenta

RICHMOND, Va. – (Monday, July 27, 2020) – The Richmond Kickers (0-1-0) turn around quickly after Saturday’s road defeat to Greenville to face South Georgia Tormenta FC (0-0-1) this Tuesday night. Kick off for this match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be available live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming on ESPN+. 
 
Tuesday’s match will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two clubs, with both sides level at a 1-1-1 record. The first meeting came just two weeks into the start of the 2019 USL League One season, with both teams battling to a scoreless draw at City Stadium on April 6. Richmond made their first trek to Erk Russell Park on June 22, which saw the Kickers fall on the road to Tormenta behind an 84th minute penalty. The Kickers would redeem themselves in their next trip to Statesboro on August 31, putting up a decisive 4-1 victory with a pair of braces from Dennis Chin and Joe Gallardo cancelling out an early free kick goal by Mikie Rowe. 
 
The Kickers will be looking to bounce back quickly after falling to Greenville Triumph SC Saturday night, 2-3. Richmond showed promise in the attack, with Matt Bolduc pulling Richmond level in the 35th minute after a well placed ball up the right wing from Wahab Ackwei gave Bolduc the space he needed. After coming on to make his professional debut in the second half, Jonathan Bolanos whipped in a cross to find the head of Emiliano Terzaghi for Richmond’s second goal of the night. A pair of own goals coupled with a Jake Keegan goal would be too much for the Kickers to overcome.  
 
Tormenta FC salvaged a point in their home opener against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Saturday night at Erk Russell Park. Marco Micalletto put the home side up after just seven minutes for a lead they would take into halftime. Chattanooga’s Greg Hurst found the back of the net twice in nine minutes to put the Red Wolves ahead. Former Kickers forward Daniel Jackson, who was converted to right back for this match, scored in the first minute of stoppage time to earn the side a point at home. 
 
The 2020 Richmond Kickers Home Opener, presented by Woodfin, is set for Saturday, August 1 at 6:00 p.m. as league newcomers Fort Lauderdale CF make their first-ever trip to City Stadium. 

Stay up to date with the latest news from the Kickers at www.richmondkickers.com and on the official team app.
Richmond: Making his professional debut Saturday night at Greenville, midfielder Jonathan Bolanos (#17) made an immediate impact assisting on the second Richmond goal by Emiliano Terzaghi. The product of High Point University made 74 appearances for the Panthers scoring 15 goals and adding 10 assists over his four years in college. Midfielder Matt Bolduc (#7) opened up his 2020 account, scoring in the 35th minute. He is building off last season, which saw him finishing the season with six assists, tying him for fourth overall in USL League One. Defender Wahab Ackwei (#18) set up Bolduc’s goal against the Triumph, dropping a well placed ball over the top right into the path for the midfielder to run onto. Ackwei is in his second season with Richmond after 25 appearances and a pair of assists for the Kickers in 2019. 

South Georgia: After playing last season with the Kickers, forward Daniel Jackson (#11) made the off season move to Tormenta, scoring in his debut with the club. The Pittsburgh native scored four goals and added an assist in 22 matches for the Kickers last season. Midfielder Abuchi Obinwa (#12) brings a wealth of experience to Tormenta this season. He was signed to Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga before he made the move to the Columbus Crew in 2017. The Columbus native made seven appearances for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on loan before heading back to Europe for a stint in Portugal with Lusitano FC. Returning to the pitch after a severe injury sidelined him for a large part of the 2019 season, midfielder Lucas Coutinho (#22) started the match Saturday against Chattanooga, playing 56 minutes. The Brazilian made 16 appearances for South Georgia in 2019, scoring three goals and adding two assists.

Preview: Kickers Take the Trip to Greenville Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, July 23, 2020) – The Richmond Kickers (0-0-0) look to get  the 2020 USL League One season started this Saturday night on the road at Legacy Early College against the Greenville Triumph SC (1-0-0). This match is set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. live locally on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming on ESPN+. 
 
This will be the fourth meeting between Richmond and Greenville, after the Kickers posted a 2-1-0 record against the Triumph in 2019 and claimed the first-ever Bon Secours Cup. The clubs’ first clash came April  20 at Legacy Early College, where a 49th minute goal by Joe Gallardo from a Matt Bolduc assist gave Richmond the victory. Nearly a month later, Greenville would best the Kickers after a solo goal from Jake Keegan. Richmond would win the Bon Secours Cup after another 1-0 win over the Triumph, this time from Braeden Troyer as he headed in a goal from a Gallardo cross just before halftime.
 
Richmond will be itching to get on the field Saturday after their match on July 18 against South Georgia Tormenta FC was postponed to July 28. Darren Sawatzky will be taking the helm for his first official match as the Kickers Head Coach and Sporting Director. A core of the 2019 squad returns this season along with 12 new players, lead  by 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year Finalist, Akria Fitzgerald. 
 
Greenville opened the 2020 USL League One season last Saturday night, defeating one of the league’s newest clubs, Fort Lauderdale CF 2-0 at Inter Miami CF Stadium. In first half stoppage time, former Tormenta FC midfielder Alex Morrell scored the opener for Greenville from a long ball over the top from Aaron Walker to give  the visitors the lead heading into the break. Four minutes into the second half, Jake Keegan made it 2-0 after getting his head on a cross for Morrell at the near post. 
 
The Kickers go back on the road next Tuesday, July 28 to face South Georgia Tormenta FC in the rescheduled match at Erk Russell Park. Kickoff for the match is at 7:00 p.m. live locally on WTVR CBS 6.3 and streaming on ESPN+. 
 
The 2020 Richmond Kickers Home Opener, presented by Woodfin, is set for Saturday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. as league newcomers Fort Lauderdale CF make their first-ever trip to City Stadium. 

Stay up to date with the latest news from the Kickers at www.richmondkickers.com and on the official team app.
Richmond: Back in goal for Richmond this season, goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald (#1) looks to build off a campaign that earned him a nomination for 2019 USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year. The veteran keeper had eight clean sheets and made 72 saves for a goals against average of 1.23 last season. One of the big signings during the offseason, forward Emiliano Terzaghi (#32) makes the move to the United States after an extensive career in Argentina. Most notably, he played a majority of his career with Club Atlético Banfield in the Argentine ‎Primera División, including scoring the game-tying goal against Boca Juniors in the final minute of the match. Making the trek back to the East Coast, former Virginia Tech standout Devante Dubose (#67) will make his debut with Richmond after his professional career took him to Arizona, Oklahoma and California after four years in Blacksburg. 

Greenville: Midfielder Alex Morrell (#7) made his debut for Greenville with a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win over Fort Lauderdale CF. The former Tormenta FC man had three goals in 16 matches in South Georgia last season. Forward Jake Keegan (#9) returns for Greenville this season after a team-high nine goals in 22 matches last year. Keegan found the back of the net just before halftime to put the Triumph up over Fort Lauderdale. Goalkeeper Dallas Jaye (#22) will look to build off his impressive 2019 season that saw him come away with 14 clean sheets. He is a familiar face for Kickers Head Coach Darren Sawatzky, who coached him with the Guam National Team. Jaye posted his first shutout of the season last Saturday against Fort Lauderdale, making two saves.

Kickers Close Out 2019 Season Saturday Against Orlando

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, October 4, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-14-5) will host their final match of the season against Orlando City B and Fan Appreciation Night this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Fans over the age of 21 can partake in the extended Happy Hour special from 5:30-7 p.m. and enjoy $3 off their craft beers and wine. After the match has concluded, fans under the age of 14 are invited to partake in a post-match shootout at the North End goal. Meanwhile, fans are also invited to a post-match meet and greet with the players from 9-9:30 p.m. Tickets are available now at www.richmondkickers.com. 
 
This will be the third time both of these clubs have met in the inaugural season of USL League One, with each team taking a victory at their home venue. A late penalty call decided the first match this season in Orlando back on May 22. OCB jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from Moises Tablante and Serginho. Richmond leveled the score with goals from Eli Lockaby and Josh Hughes, both their first of the season. The referee awarded a penalty in the 84th minute, which was converted successfully by Thiago Souza to seal the victory. A goal in the 70th minute from Dennis Chin gave the Kickers a victory at City Stadium on July 20. The match got heated in the 83rd minute after Akira Fitzgerald, William Bagrou and Randy Mendoza were all shown straight red cards and sent off. The Kickers are holding onto a slight advantage in the overall series with OCB, taking a 3-2-1 record since the 2016 USL Championship season.
 
Richmond will be looking to close out the season on a high note after falling in a midweek clash to Toronto FC II Wednesday night at City Stadium. The Kickers jumped out to a lead early after Eli Lockaby found Mutaya Mwape in space for a run up the right wing. The crafty midfielder cut back and forth inside the Toronto box before firing a shot past Eric Klenofsky for the go ahead goal. The lead was short lived, with TFCII leveling the score only four minutes later from a goal by Jordan Perruzza. He would go on to get a brace in the 52nd minute to get the road win.
 
Orlando ended a 15-match winless streak last Saturday night, earning a 1-0 victory on the road at Greenville Triumph SC. William Bagrou silenced the crowd of over 4,000 fans at Legacy Early College in the 53rd minute, scoring the lone goal of the match that ended up being the game winner after an assist from Serginho, who leads the team in assists this season. OCB will be without Serginho for the season finale at Richmond after the midfielder was issued a straight red card for a serious foul in stoppage time. 
 
Keep up with the Kickers during the off season at www.richmondkickers.com. Follow the club on social media through the official Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages. 
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Midfielder Ryley Kraft (#98) Richmond’s most recent signing to log minutes for the Kickers, Kraft has been one of the most accurate passers in the opponent’s half as the former USYNT player always look to play the ball to a more advanced area. He ranks in the top five in the team with 77 percent passing accuracy in the opponent’s half and he has seven chances created in just four starts. Defender Eli Lockaby (#17) played a vital distribution role on the right side of the pitch in the team’s most recent match against Toronto FC II. The rookie recorded 25/25 passes completed in the Toronto half including an assist of Mutaya Mwape’s goal, and he recorded a 98 percent pass completion overall during the match. Not only dangerous in distribution, Lockaby’s first league goal was scored at Orlando back in May. Forward Dennis Chin (#15) provided the go-ahead goal in the Kickers 1-0 win over OCB at City Stadium back in July. Chin ranks second on the team with five goals on the season and the veteran forward will look to add to his season tally against an OCB side that has conceded a league-leading 50 goals in 2019. 

Orlando: Forward Thiago Souza (#11) will need to be well-guarded after the Brazilian forward proved capable of scoring on the Kickers in the clubs’ first match of the season when he delivered the game winner for the MLS Affiliate. Souza currently leads his team with six goals on the season — ranking tied for 12th in the league. While OCB struggled to score goals in the 2019 campaign, Souza is the guy to do it for the Lions. Forward Moises Tablante (#24) scored the opening goal in the fourth minute in Orlando’s 3-2 win over the Kickers back in May. The attacker placed a low-driving shot to prove his ability to finish in the box. Midfielder Alasanne Ates Diouf (#21) is an attack-minded midfielder that will draw the attention of Richmond’s anchors in the center of the park. Diouf is one of his team’s shot leaders with 23 shots on the season. Diouf will look to distribute to his forwards, but Richmond will also need to be ready to close off shooting angles.

Kickers Host Toronto in Midweek Clash

RICHMOND, Va. – (Tuesday, October 1, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-13-5) will host the first of two matches this week starting Wednesday night as they host Toronto FC II (8-10-8) at City Stadium for Breast Cancer Awareness Night. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the first 400 fans, ages 14 and up, will be given a Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt presented by the VCU Massey Cancer Center. The midweek match will also be College Night for all the students in the Richmond area. Students with valid college ids can purchase $6 tickets at the booths outside the stadium. Finally, fans over the age of 21 can take advantage of Happy Hour specials from 5:30-7 p.m. that include $1 PBR can beers and $3 off craft beers and wine. Tickets for the match are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com. 

With a series that goes back to the 2015 USL Championship season, the Kickers hold the overall advantage with a record of 6-3-2. This match will be the third and final meeting between the two clubs in USL League One this season. The first match was back on July 26 at BMO Training Ground, with the Kickers giving TFC II their first home loss of the season behind a 2-1 road victory. Toronto got on the board in the 19th minute with a goal from Matthew Srbely. Scott Thomsen stepped up for a free kick in the 35th minute, which he puts in towards the near post only to have the ball knocked in when Eric Klenofsky lost control of the ball. Josh Hughes was the hero in the 48th minute, putting away a saved Joe Gallardo penalty. The teams battled to a 2-2 draw at City Stadium on August 17. The Kickers held on to a 2-0 lead at halftime with a brace by Daniel Jackson. The visitors pulled level in the 87th minute after the tying goal from Terique Mohammed. 

Richmond closed out the road portion of their 2019 USL League One schedule, falling to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 1-2. The Kickers were reduced to 10 men in the 23rd minute after Braeden Troyer was sent off with a straight red card after a challenge from behind that lead to a penalty for the Red Wolves. Ualefi found the back of the net, despite Akira Fitzgerald guessing correctly a minute later. Sito Seoane slipped through the Kickers backline to put Chattanooga up 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Mutaya Mwape switched the field for Charles Boateng, who settled and fired a shot on frame for his first league goal in the 65th minute. 

Toronto claimed a 1-0 victory in their last home match of the season over South Georgia Tormenta FC last Friday night. Jayden Nelson set up Franco Ramos Mingo in the 23rd minute for the lone goal of the night. Eric Klenofsky made three saves to earn his third clean sheet of the season. 

The Kickers will host their final match of the season against Orlando City B and Fan Appreciation Night this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Fans over the age of 21 can partake in the extended Happy Hour special from 5:30-7 p.m. and enjoy $3 off their craft beers and wine. After the match has concluded, fans under the age of 14 are invited to partake in a post-match shootout at the North End goal. Meanwhile, fans are also invited to a post-match meet and greet with the players from 9-9:30 p.m. Tickets are available now at www.richmondkickers.com. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Richmond: Forward Charles Boateng (#77) has been a spark for the Richmond attack in recent weeks. The striker scored an absolute banger against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC that earned a Goal of the Week nomination from USL League One. Previously, against the likes of North Texas SC, Boateng proved to be an impact sub that changed the dynamic of the attack. Boateng has an opportunity to have another eventful night against a Toronto defense that has conceded 44 goals which ranks second worst in the league. Forward Mutaya Mwape (#80) combined with Boateng during the Chattanooga match where the Zambian winger served up an arching cross that put Boateng in position to score. Mwape’s pace with or without the ball always requires the attention of opposing fullbacks and he’s able to open up space for other players to play more forward. If Mwape and Boateng continue their partnership from the Chattanooga match, they will have the opportunity to wreak havoc against the Toronto. Midfielder Matt Bolduc (#11) has been the maestro in midfield for the Kickers. Bolduc leads the team with six assists on the season, and his influence in the center of the park allows him to make runs and distribute to the forwards. The midfielder is always looking to play the ball into dangerous areas as evidenced by his 17 chances created that ranks second on the team. Look for Bolduc to ignite the Richmond attack. 

Toronto: Forward Jordan Perruzza (#77) is the main goal scoring threat for Toronto, and the major defensive target for the Kickers. The need to shutdown Perruzza is a simple calculus based on the previous two matchups. The Kickers won at Toronto when Peruzza did not score, and the Kickers drew at home when Peruzza did score. Shutdown Perruzza — who is the second leading scorer in the league with 12 goals — and get three points. Midfielder Matthew Srbely (#50) is another offensive threat requiring containment from the Kickers to win a second match this season against Toronto. Srbely currently leads the MLS affiliate with five assists and he even notched the opening goal in the first matchup between the clubs. Keeping him off the ball and unable to create will go a long way in securing a win at City Stadium for the Reds.Midfielder Luca Petrasso (#39) is the other creator in the Toronto midfield. Currently, he ranks tied for ninth in the league with 35 chances created on the season. His facilitation has provided three assists for the MLS affiliate while he has even notched two goals.

Kickers Take Final Road Trip of the Season Saturday at Chattanooga

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, September 27, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-12-5) will take their final road trip of the 2019 USL League One season Saturday night as they travel to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (9-8-9). Kickoff for this match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be available live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming on ESPN+.

Saturday’s match is the fourth meeting between the Kickers and Red Wolves this season, with Chattanooga getting the best of the Kickers this season with a record of 2-1-0. Richmond picked up the first win of the series, 1-0 on April 27 when Chattanooga made the trip to City Stadium for the first time ever. Joe Gallardo netted the game winner in the 52nd minute from an assist by Mutaya Mwape. Chattanooga returned to City Stadium June 15, this time with the visitors taking the 2-0 win. Sito Seoane and Amirgy Pineda scored and assisted on each others goal in the second half to pick up the three points on the road. An early goal cost the Kickers points on the road in their first trip to David Stanton Field. Chattanooga’s leading goal scorer, Steven Beattie struck in the seventh minute for the lone goal of the night.

Richmond battled FC Tucson to a wild scoreless draw on the road last Saturday night. Akira Fitzgerald recorded five saves en route to his eighth shutout of the season, earning him a spot on the USL League One Team of the Week. The story of the night was the red card ejections from both sides. Kyle Venter was shown his second yellow card of the night 75th minute to reduce Tucson to ten men. The sides equalled out nine minutes later when Conor Shanosky was issued a straight red card for denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Richmond would be down to nine men three minutes after the Shanosky red card when Wahab Ackwei was shown his second yellow card of the night. The hard luck continued for the Kickers as Joe Gallardo will also not be available for the match at Chattanooga due to yellow card accumulation. 

Chattanooga picked up vital points at home last Saturday night against Orlando City B. Sito Seoane scored off a deflection to put the home side up 1-0 in the 34th minute. In first half stoppage time, Leonardo Simas leveled the score just before the halftime whistle. Red Wolves jumped back in the lead in the 54th minute with a goal from Tony Walls. With the win, Chattanooga stayed alive in the playoff hunt with 34 points, five points off fourth place Forward Madison FC. 

The Kickers will close out the 2019 USL League One season with a two match homestand, first hosting Toronto FC II and Breast Cancer Awareness Night Wednesday, October 2. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the first 400 fans, ages 14 and up, will be given a Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt presented by the VCU Massey Cancer Center. The midweek match will also be College Night for all the students in the Richmond area. Students with valid college ids can purchase $6 tickets at the booths outside the stadium. Finally, fans over the age of 21 can take advantage of Happy Hour specials from 5:30-7 p.m. that include $1 PBR can beers and $3 off craft beers and wine. 

Three days later the Kickers will host their final match of the season against Orlando City B and Fan Appreciation Night. Fans over the age of 21 can partake in the extended Happy Hour special from 5:30-7 p.m. and enjoy $3 off their craft beers and wine. After the match has concluded, fans under the age of 14 are invited to partake in a post-match shootout at the North End goal. Meanwhile, fans are also invited to a post-match meet and greet with the players from 9-9:30 p.m. Tickets for both matches are available now at www.richmondkickers.com. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Richmond: Midfielder Matt Bolduc (#11) is tied for third in USL League One for assists with six this season. He had 42 touches and a passing accuracy of 72.4 percent during last Saturday’s scoreless draw at Tucson. Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald (#1) earned a spot in the USL League One Team of the Week for Week 26 after earning his eighth shutout of the season following the 0-0 draw at Tucson. Fitzgerald is second in the league for saves with 69 this season. He is also sitting in fourth for shutouts in the league. Defender Ivan Magalhães (#4) will be relied upon heavily after the absences of both Wahab Ackwei and Conor Shanosky. The Brazilian center back had seven clearances and two interceptions that lead to the Kickers shutout of Tucson on the road. 

Chattanooga: Midfielder Amirgy Pineda (#14) was named to the USL League One Team of the Week after assisting on the first goal of the 2-1 win over Orlando City B. He had a goal and assist against the Kickers in the second meeting at City Stadium back on June 15. Defender Tony Walls (#20) was also named to the Team of the Week when he scored the game winning goal against OCB. He has two goals and two assists this season for the Red Wolves. Goalkeeper Alex Mangels (#24) has played every minute in goal for Chattanooga this season, racking up 76 saves. He is sitting just behind Akira Fitzgerald with six shutouts this season.

Kickers Head to Tucson Saturday Night

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, September 20, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-12-4) make the cross-country trip to face FC Tucson (8-9-7) Saturday night at Kino Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. The match will be available live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and on ESPN+. 
 
This will be the third meeting this season between the Kickers and Tucson, with Richmond holding a slight 1-0-1 advantage. The first time these two teams met was back on May 11, which saw Joe Gallardo put the Kickers ahead with seven minutes to go until stoppage time. Mutaya Mwape added an insurance goal in stoppage time to give the Kickers the 2-0 victory at City Stadium. Nearly a month later, Richmond took the trip to Kino Sports Complex, with both teams battling to a scoreless draw. Akira Fitzgerald made two saves in the shutout. 
 
Richmond will be looking to keep their playoff hopes alive after falling to Forward Madison FC at City Stadium last Saturday night. The visitors jumped ahead after just six minutes when Josiel Nunez got a cross off just before reaching the endline for Christian Diaz to put away for the lone goal of the match. 
 
Tucson is coming off back to back shutout losses for the first time this season, most recently a 0-4 road loss to Greenville Triumph SC on the road at Legacy Early College. Carlos Gomez found the back of the net twice along with Aaron Walker converting from the penalty spot to give Triumph SC a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. Gomez completed his hat trick in the 87th minute for the final goal of the match. 
 
The Kickers are back on the road next Saturday night, making their second trip to Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. This match will also be available live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming on ESPN+. Keep up to date with the Kickers at www.richmondkickers.com. 
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Named to the USL League One Team of the Week, defender Wahab Ackwei (#18) made 78 passes and completed 88.5 percent of those. Ackwei made seven clearances and had five interceptions in that same match, to go with his one clearance and six interceptions last Tuesday at North Texas. Defender Conor Shanosky (#5) showed why he is a staple in the Kickers back line, having won seven of his ten duels against Madison Saturday night. Shanosky completed 85.7 percent of his 85 passes during the match. Forward Dennis Chin (#15) is poised to reignite the Richmond offense after his two most recent goals at Tormenta FC. The Jamaican recorded four shots over his last two matches, narrowly being denied two chances on the road at North Texas SC. 

Tucson: Forward Jordan Jones (#99) leads Tucson in scoring with seven goals and tied for first with three assists in 18 appearances this season. That goal talley has him tied for eighth in USL League One. Midfielder Devyn Jambga (#16) has five goals in 22 matches this season. Jambga went 90 minutes in the road loss at Greenville, completing 70 percent of his 20 passes. Defender Lamar Batista (#22) has 55 clearances for Tucson over his 15 appearances this season. In his last outing at Greenville, Batista had a team high 52 passes, seven tackles and four clearances.

Kickers Return Home to Host Madison Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, September 13, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-10-4) are back at City Stadium this Saturday night to host Forward Madison FC (9-9-6) and Heritage Night, presented by RVAmigos. The gates open at a special time of 4:30 p.m. with live music from the band Rebolisso and Brazilian dancers. Dank Eats will be on hand with funky fresh pitas and gyros. The players will be wearing limited edition pregame jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Conexciones and the Beta Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
 
This match will be the third and final meeting between Richmond and Madison this season, and the first trip to City Stadium for Madison. The Kickers took all three points in the first meeting August 10 at Breese Stevens Field. Daniel Jackson came into the match in the 66th minute, scoring the game winner just three minutes later. Madison returned the favor two weeks later when Christian Diaz scored in the 74th minute. 
 
Richmond will be looking to bounce back Saturday, coming off Tuesday night’s 0-4 road loss at the league leaders, North Texas SC. The home side went up after just seventeen seconds to start an eventual hat trick for Ronaldo Damus. Arturo Rodriguez added a fourth goal for NTSC, ensuring the victory at Toyota Stadium. 
 
Madison battled to a 1-1 draw at Breese Stevens Field against South Georgia Tormenta FC last Saturday night. Paulo Junior put the home side up 1-0 in the 24th minute as Madison looked to improve their playoff positioning. With ten minutes to go, Marco Micaletto leveled the score for Tormenta so both teams would be forced to share a point, a result that fell in favor of the Kickers.
 
The Kickers are back on the road next Saturday night, making the cross country trip out to FC Tucson, September 21 for a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff. That match will be available live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming on ESPN+. Stay up to date with the Kickers at www.richmondkickers.com.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Forward Daniel Jackson (#9) was the one that unlocked the Forward Madison FC defense in the first meeting between the teams. The striker’s unassisted effort in the 69th minute delivered the game-winner as the Kickers left Wisconsin with a 1-0 victory. A nominee for USL League One Player of the Month in August, Jackson will look to replicate this high-flying form against the Mingos at home. Forward Joe Gallardo (#10) rediscovered his early-season form with a multi-goal effort at South Georgia Tormenta FC — including a goal that required the forward to dribble past multiple defenders, nutmeg the final one, and put the ball in the back of the net. Of course, Gallardo had a similar run in the first match against Forward Madison that was ultimately denied by the crossbar. If given space, expect Gallardo to convert this time around. Midfielder Braeden Troyer (#31) is coming off a performance against Greenville Triumph SC that earned the veteran a spot on the USL League One’s Team of the Week. The linchpin in the Richmond midfield was vital in suffocating Greenville’s build-up play in the center of the park, and, on the other end of the field, he delivered his first league goal in a Kickers uniform which decided the match in favor of the Reds. 

Madison: Midfielder Don Smart (#7) leads Madison in scoring with seven goals in 23 matches this season. He is second in the team in assists with four. Forward Paulo Junior (#11) is second in scoring for Madison with five goals this season. He leads the team in assists with five in 23 appearances and scored the game tying goal in their last match against Tormenta FC. Goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre (#92) has three clean sheets in 13 matches between the pipes this season. The native of Hollywood, Florida needed to make three saves Saturday night to preserve the point at home, bringing his season talley to 31.

Kickers Travel to North Texas Tuesday

RICHMOND, Va. – (Monday, September 9, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (8-10-4) make the trip to the league leaders North Texas SC (14-5-5) Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and will be available live on ESPN+.
 
This match will be the third meeting between the two clubs this season, as North Texas has taken victory in the previous two meetings. North Texas traveled to City Stadium June 1, as the Kickers fell 0-3. The visitors took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a goal from Dante Sealy. Ricardo Pepi and David Rodriguez added to the score in the second half, both assisted by Sealy. The next match also came at City Stadium, this time a 2-0 win for North Texas. Thomas Roberts and Callum Montgomery scored within three minutes of each other to seal the second win in the series.
 
Richmond kept their playoff hopes alive Saturday night, taking a 1-0 win over Greenville Triumph SC. Just before halftime, Joe Gallardo served in a corner kick that found the head of Braeden Troyer. His shot hit off the crossbar and over the line for his first competitive goal. Akira Fitzgerald made five saves as he picked up his seventh shutout of the season, tying him for fourth overall in USL League One. 
 
North Texas clinched the first spot in the USL League One Playoffs after a 3-1 road win at Orlando City B Friday night. John Nelson scored in the 22nd minute as North Texas held onto a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. OCB tied the match up in the 53rd minute through Brandon John. Ronaldo Damus responded just a minute later to restore the lead for North Texas. He found the back of the net again in the 70th minute, converting from the penalty spot. 
 
The Kickers are back at City Stadium next Saturday night to host Forward Madison FC and Heritage Night, presented by RVAmigos. The gates open at a special time of 4:30 p.m. with live music and Brazilian dancers. Dank Eats will be on hand with funky fresh pitas and gyros. The players will be wearing limited edition pregame jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald (#1) recorded his seventh shutout of the 2019 USL League One season, tying him for fourth in the league. The veteran keeper has 57 saves this season, which ranks second in the league. Defender Eli Lockaby (#17) made two key passes and had two interceptions in the 1-0 victory over Greenville. The VCU product has a passing accuracy of 81.7 percent from 823 passes this season. Midfielder Josh Hughes (#7) had a massive goal line clearance to keep Greenville off the score sheet early in the match. He has two goals and two assists this season, including his first professional goal. 

North Texas: Forward Ronaldo Damus (#11) score two goals in the 3-1 win at Orlando City B Friday night. He leads the league in goals this season with 13 goals, three ahead of Jordan Perruzza of Toronto FC II. Midfielder Arturo Rodriguez (#10) has eight assists this season, the best in the league and only two ahead of Matt Bolduc. He played 90 minutes and had a passing accuracy of 90 percent in the OCB match. Goalkeeper Carlos Avilez (#1) made three saves in the win over OCB to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The Dallas native has nine shutouts this season, putting him tied for second overall in the league and just two ahead of Akira Fitzgerald.

Kickers Host Greenville Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, September 6, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (7-10-4) are set to host Greenville Triumph SC (9-6-7) at City Stadium Saturday night, plus it is Cider Fest, presented by Bon Secours. The gates open up at 5:30 p.m. with live music from the Back Seat Drivers. Happy Hour has been extended until 7:00 p.m., with all ciders and craft beers for only $3. Richmond takes the field at 7:00 p.m. to face Greenville as both teams will compete for the newly announced Bon Secours Cup. Get your tickets now at www.richmondkickers.com.
 
This will mark the third and final meeting of the 2019 season between Richmond and Greenville. Both teams have claimed 1-0 victories at Greenville in the first two meetings. The Kickers picked up the first win on April 20 at Legacy Early College, as Joe Gallardo walked through the Greenville defense to score the lone goal of the match in the 49th minute. Greenville responded on May 18 when Jake Keegan chipped the ball over Akira Fitzgerald for the victory in the 42nd minute. 
 
Richmond is coming off their largest win of the regular season last Saturday night, picking up a decisive 4-1 road win at South Georgia Tormenta FC at Erk Russell Park. Tormenta jumped ahead in the fifth minute, with Mikie Rowe scoring from a free kick. The Kickers responded just six minutes later as Ivan Magalhães poked the ball away and into the path of Dennis Chin, as he went for the quick shot to level the score. Joe Gallardo added a second for Richmond in the 15th minute. Josh Hughes won the ball off Ricardo Gomez, allowing Gallardo to go on a run into space. With no one to pressure him, Gallardo launched a shot from about 35 yards out, arching it over Pablo Jara and into the back of the net. Matt Bolduc played a perfectly placed through ball for Chin to score the third goal of the night and his brace in the 36th minute. A brace would come in the 80th minute for Joe Gallardo when Greg Boehme headed the ball down for Gallardo. The former U.S. youth international proceeded to get past six defenders before going for the shot that found the back of the net to make it 4-1 for Richmond. 
 
Greenville picked up three points on the road as well back on August 28 at Breese Stevens Field, downing Forward Madison FC 1-0. Off a throw in from Tyler Polak, Aaron Walker continued moving the ball across the field for Christopher Bermudez. With two Madison defenders on him, Bermudez cut back towards the middle of the field before going for the shot that found the upper left corner of the goal and out of the reach of a diving Brian Sylvestre in the 42nd minute. Dallas Jaye made one save to pick up his league leading 12th shutout of the season. 
 
The Kickers have a busy week ahead following the match against Greenville. First up, Richmond takes the trip to Toyota Stadium to face the first place North Texas SC Tuesday night for an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff. The Kickers will be back at City Stadium next Saturday night to host Forward Madison FC and Heritage Night, presented by RVAmigos. The gates open at a special time of 4:30 p.m. with live music and Brazilian dancers. Dank Eats will be on hand with funky fresh pitas and gyros. The players will be wearing limited edition pregame jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. Tickets are on sale now at www.richmondkickers.com. 
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond: Named the USL League One Player of the Week, forward Joe Gallardo (#10) scored a brace in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Tormenta FC. The former United States youth international has a team-high six goals in 21 matches this season. Midfielder Matt Bolduc (#11) found a spot in the USL League One Team of the Week after providing his sixth assist of the season to set up Dennis Chin’s second goal of the night with a long range through ball. Bolduc sits tied for second in the league with his six assists, only two behind the league leading Arturo Rodriguez of North Texas SC. Forward Dennis Chin (#15) was also named to Team of the Week after his brace in the victory over Tormenta FC. Chin is one goal behind Gallardo with five in 18 appearances this season. 

Greenville: Forward Jake Keegan (#9) leads Triumph SC with nine goals this season in 22 matches, tying him for second overall in USL League One. Keegan has also recorded one assist and 21 key passes this season. Midfielder Carlos Gomez (#10) leads Greenville with five assists this season, putting him in a five-way tie for fourth overall in USL League One. Gomez played the final ten minutes in their last outing against Forward Madison FC. Midfielder Christopher Bermudez (#7) scored the game winner for Triumph SC last Wednesday night against Madison. He has also made two assists over his 16 appearances for Greenville.

Kickers Take the Trip to Tormenta Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. – (Friday, August 30, 2019) – The Richmond Kickers (6-10-4) will look to start a new unbeaten streak Saturday night on the road at South Georgia Tormenta FC (8-6-8) at Erk Russell Park. Watch the match live on WTVR CBS 6.3 (Comcast 206, Verizon FiOS 466) and streaming online on ESPN+ when the match kicks off at 8:00 p.m.

This will mark the third and final meeting this season between the two clubs. Both teams battled to a 0-0 draw in the first meeting between the two sides at City Stadium April 6. Akira Fitzgerald made three saves in that match to earn his first clean sheet of the season. The second match came back on June 22 at Erk Russell Park, with the home side taking a 1-0 win after a penalty was called late in the match. Marco Micaletto converted from the penalty spot in the 84th minute after Wahab Ackwei was called for a foul on Lucas Coutinho inside the box.

Richmond looks to get back to their recent form after falling on the road to Forward Madison FC last Saturday night. Just before halftime, Maxi Rodriguez looked to be the hero for Richmond. Scott Thomsen sent in a long free kick into the Madison box. Connor Tobin rose to try and head the ball out of danger, instead putting it right to the feet of Josh Hughes. The Kickers midfielder tried for a shot, but he did not get a clean hit on the ball. Rodriguez was there to put it past Brian Sylvestre as the referee called the goal back for offside. Madison scored the game winner in the 74th minute. Christian Diaz played the ball ahead for JC Banks. He slipped it through for Paulo Jr. as he took a quick pass to get it back for Diaz in front of goal. He just needed to redirect the ball into the back of the net.

Tormenta is in the midst of a six match winless streak, most recently coming off a rough 0-5 road defeat at the hands of the league leaders, North Texas SC Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium. North Texas took a 3-0 lead into halftime behind goals from Bryan Reynolds, Richard Danso and a converted penalty kick by Ricardo Pepi. Things did not get better for Tormenta as Gibran Rayo added a fourth goal in the 82nd minute. Pepi once again scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time to seal the three points for the home side.

The Kickers return home to RVA Saturday, September 7 for their third and final clash with Greenville Triumph SC and Cider Fest, presented by Bon Secours. The gates open up at 5:30 p.m. with live music from the Back Seat Drivers. Happy Hour is extended until 7:00 p.m. with half off all ciders and craft beers. Richmond takes the field at 7:00 p.m. to face Greenville as both teams will compete for the newly announced Bon Secours Cup. The series is level as both sides claimed 1-0 victories in Greenville. Get your tickets now at www.richmondkickers.com. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Richmond: Midfielder Ryley Kraft (#98) made his debut for the Kickers in the 80th minute last week against Forward Madison FC. The former USYNT player recorded 100 percent passing accuracy in the opponent’s half in his short time on the pitch. With another week of training with the team under his belt, Kraft will look to make an even bigger impact in Southern Georgia. Defender Wahab Ackwei (#18) returns to the starting XI after fulfilling his one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation. The Ghanian has been one of the best defenders both for the Kickers and in the league. Currently, he ranks seventh in the league with 73 clearances and he will look to stifle Tormenta after a week off. Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald (#1) continues to be one of the top keepers in the league with six clean sheets and 47 saves — both ranking fourth in the league. Fitzgerald shutout South Georgia during their first meeting and was nearly able to shut them out a second time before Tormenta was awarded a late penalty late in the contest. Surely disappointed from the last outing down south, Fitzgerald will be firing his backline up for the match so that he can bring in bagels to training next week as is his custom when the team earns a clean sheet.

Tormenta: Goalkeeper Pablo Jara (#1) has been a closed vault so far for the Richmond attackers and has held the Kickers scoreless in the opening two matches of the series between the two clubs. Of course, he’s been a difficult keeper to get past for many of the teams in the league as he is tied for second in USL League One in clean sheets with nine and fifth in the league with 44 saves. Midfielder Marco Micaletto (#10) scored the only goal in the series between the two clubs so far after he converted a penalty late to break the all but certain scoreless draw and steal three points in the second meeting. Micaletto is currently tied for sixth in the league with seven goals and surely will be looking for the back of the net. Defender Conner Antley (#3) has proven his versatility in the back of the Tormenta backine. He currently leads his team with five assists while ranking third in the league. His ability to play the ball forward will require the attention of the Kickers attackers.

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