Kickers
Game Preview: Kickers Back to Defend Regular Season Championship
The Kickers fell short in the playoffs but had an incredible season and hope to recapture that magic in 2023.

Opponent: Charlotte Independence (1-0-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, April 1st, 6:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1 – Greenville 0
Weather Forecast from Weatherbug
It’s looking to be a windy affair but the rain should only be in the morning, early afternoon.
Three Things to Kickabout
- No Bolanos – Jonathan Bolanos was the lynchpin to Richmond’s success last year. Scoring goals with 6 on the season, and setting up others for a total of 11 assists. The next closest on assists was Ethan Bryant with 6. Both these players have moved on to different leagues/teams. This means the Kickers primary goal scorer (USL1 MVP and Golden Boot Winner) Emiliano Terzaghi is looking for some partners. Who that will be with these new team is hard to say. In the first two road games the Kicker only managed 4 shots so they’re struggling to find the answer as well.
- Crowds – Towards the end of last season the Kickers were drawing close to 5,000. During the Covid year in an abbreviated season attendance was capped at 1,000. The Kickers have hosted two viewing parties for the road games and unlike previous years these were packed. What switch has been flipped in the Richmond area we’re not sure. The easy and I think too easy is that local fans like a winner and the Kickers did a ton of that last year. It will be interesting to see if the Kickers keep the numbers up after the home opener because the home opener is always well attended.
- Emiliano – Emiliano Terzaghi scored an astonishing 17 goals in 29 games. This won him the USL1 MVP and Golden Boot for an unprecedented third time in a row. So far he’s off to a cool start. In two games only getting off one shot and that wasn’t on target. As mentioned above the team is missing some crucial playmakers in Bolanos and Bryant but the Kickers will need to have Terzaghi find his stride quickly.
Prediction
As we’ve repeated throughout the years I’m not unbiased. My passion for the team taints my ability to adequately analyze this team. If I’m being honest my analytical skill also taint my ability to adequately analyze this team. That doesn’t prevent from doing such so with that out of the way here we go. In the two games I’ve seen the offense is not there and it’s the defense that is keeping the Kickers in the game. This is to be expected. Coach Sawatsky is integrating new players into the system and it will take time. A game at home is a perfect time for it all to click. There is a problem though the Kickers played Charlotte for the season opener to a 0-0 draw. Charlotte’s second game saw them score 3 goals from three different players #12 Brad Dunwell, #5 Shalom Dutey and #90 Khori Bennett. In the off season Charlotte added some offensive power in Dane Kelly who is the all-time USL Championship goal scorer with 100 league goals but has scored yet. If the Kickers are going to win they’ll need to be ready for a much more attacking team than they saw 2 weeks ago. I think the defense is up to the task I’m just not sure the Kickers offense is ready. Ultimately home field advantage and predicted wind gusts of up to 50 mph are giving the home town a slight advantage.
Kickers 1
Independence 0

Community
PREVIEW: Kickers Face Playoff Nemesis Chattanooga
Revenge is a dish best served at City Stadium. Chattanooga knocked the Kickers out of the playoffs last year and the Kickers are looking for payback.

Opponent: Chattanooga (2-5-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 3rd, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 1 – Tormenta 1
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Vinyals Returns – Nil Vinyals came off the bench last Saturday so barring a training setback he should be in the starting lineup. With the midfielder back in action expect the midfield to look better and hopefully more in control of the ball. In theory that control should lead to more transition into attack and more goals.
- Everyone Scores – So far this year seven different Kickers have scored, with midfielder João Silva leading the pack with 3. The latest goal was a beautiful Olympico but Sukow that must be seen to be believed. Don’t whine at me that it was a cross. It goes into the books as a goal and will be celebrated as such. So far 8 goals have been produced by the midfielders and defenders. Meanwhile our forwards, you know the guys paid to put the ball in the net have racked up 4 goals.
- Hot Ticket – It does my jaded heart good to see the amount of support in the stands the team is getting this year. Every game so far has had over 5,000 in attendance. This is well over the 3,500 or so we averaged last year. I’m not sure what switch flipped in the community but I’m glad to see it happen. The drawback is longer lines for food and drink but the Kickers are addressing that with more trucks. If you’re looking for a drink don’t forget there are multiple beer stations you don’t have to go straight for the building in the center of the concourse.
Prediction
The Kickers had a tremendous season last year until their first playoff game. In that game, despite being a man up for the majority of the game they ended up losing to Chattanooga by a goal. The fans, coaches and certainly the players remember the night a little too well. A win would have meant hosting the Championship Game in City Stadium, instead, it ended with a crushing defeat. Revenge will be on everyone’s mind and Chattanooga is not having a great season. The Red Wolves sit in second to last place and have a -8 goal differential. If ever there was a time for the Kickers to rack up some goals and get their scoring mojo flowing this is it. I predict it will happen.
Kickers 3 – Chattanooga 0
Community
PHOTOS & GAME SUMMARY: Kickers Back On Track With Win Over Lexington
An action filled second half made for a tense final minutes but Kickers held on for the win and three needed points.

Official Kickers Game Summary
RICHMOND KICKERS: 2 60′ Belmar (Gordon), 76′ Gomiero (Mecham)
LEXINGTON SC: 1 90+3′ Smart (penalty)
The Richmond Kickers’ (3-2-4, 13 pts) earned a 2-1 win in front of 5,252 fans in their first-ever matchup with league debutants, Lexington SC (2-5-1, 7 pts), Saturday night as the Roos tentatively vaulted into third place in USL League One.
Kharlton Belmar and João Gomiero each scored their first goals at home to reward RVA for their continued support in making City Stadium the most-attended venue in the league.
Richmond and Lexington locked horns in a competitive first half as both keepers put together strong performances between the pipes, stifling dangerous chances and keeping the score locked at zeroes at the break.
The Kickers powered forward on the momentum of their first-half performance and found their first goal in the 60th minute.
Richmond progressed the ball into Lexington’s penalty area, but the visitors forced a turnover. However, they failed to clear the ball out as Justin Sukow raced to keep the ball alive with a slide and pass out wide to Owayne Gordon.
The winger took on his defender, bouncing outside before cutting the ball back across the six-yard box. Belmar pounced on the opportunity and powered a low-driven shot into the net as the keeper was left ball-watching.
Richmond struck for the eventual game-winner 16 minutes later.
Sukow was the catalyst again as he lofted a ball from midfield up the right wing for Jake Mecham who was timing a forward run perfectly, shedding his defender. With acres of space, Mecham ran onto the ball near the backline and cut the ball back toward the penalty spot as Gomiero perfectly timed his run into the box and one-timed a curling ball away from the keeper and right inside of the far post.
The goal marked Gomiero’s third of the week after he scored his first goals as a member of the Kickers on the road at North Carolina FC on Wednesday night. Mecham’s assist was his first as a professional.
Lexington had the opportunity to cut Richmond’s lead late after drawing a penalty in the third minute of eight allotted minutes for stoppage.
After Akira Fitzgerald deflected a Lexington attempt on the goal with a kick save, Lexington’s Nico Brown was running toward the ball with his back toward goal. Gomiero appeared to get to the ball first as his leg collided with Brown’s, but it was determined as Brown went to ground that the contact was enough for a penalty kick.
Veteran attacker Don Smart stepped up and hit a low shot to the left. Fitzgerald dove in the correct direction, but the shot had just enough pace on it to beat his reaching hand and end up in the back of the net.
The win at City Stadium proved cathartic as the Kickers celebrated their first league victory at home. Richmond dominated the stats outshooting Lexington 17-13, making six more final third entries, and earning four more corners. And the night ended with hundreds of fans crowding the front of the seating bowl as the Kickers signed autographs a long while after the final whistle rang out in the stadium.
The Kickers are back on the road next week to face reigning USL League One Champs, South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday, May 27th. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m. The Kickers will host an official watch party at the Ardent Barrel Room.
The Kickers then return home on Saturday, June 3rd to host Chattanooga Red Wolves SC during Military Appreciation Night presented by Tech For Troops. The doors at City Stadium are set to open at 5:45 p.m. ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff. Tickets are available at richmondkickers.com/tickets.
Stay up to date with all of the Kickers news at RichmondKickers.com and on social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Download the Richmond Kickers mobile app for news, contests, and more!
Community
Game Preview: Kickers Cap Busy Week With Home Game
Kickers are on pace to break all sorts of attendance records this year but need to start getting some wins to keep that momentum.

Opponent: Lexington (2-4-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 19th, 7:00 PM
Last Result: Kickers 2 – NCFC 3
Weather Forecast From WeatherBug.com
Three Things to Kick About
- Rebound – On Wednesday the team was in Cary, North Carolina taking on the league leaders NCFC. The first half was all Kickers and they had a two goal lead going into the locker room. The second half things took a disastrous turn. Three unanswered goals later and the Kickers left the field with a loss. I was down there and can say the mood of the players and coaches after that game was about as low as I’ve seen. This game will be an excellent chance to wash that bad feeling away and get back on track.
- Shallow – The game on Wednesday pointed to exactly how shallow our depth is on the Kickers. Three starters were out with injury and the Kickers had academy kids on the bench. This is more than an Achilles’ heel for this team more of an Achilles’ torso. Hopefully, on Saturday Vinyals will return to the mid-field.
- Terzaghi – It’s only a rumor since the Kickers keep information on lockdown but word in the stands was that last year’s scoring juggernaut was out with an injury. Although Terzaghi is struggling to find the back of the net he’s still a vital part of the Kickers offense and his injury adds to the team’s issues.
Prediction
This is the first time ever that the Kickers will face Lexington. I went into this saying this should be an easy win for the Kicker because after all the new guys are below us in the standings. On closer inspection, I learned that both teams sit on only 2 wins. The Kickers only saving grace is a game in hand and 4 draws. The Kickers goal differential sits at -1 while Lexington is at -4 so not a massive difference there either. My prediction is based on both Vinyals and Terzaghi returning to the line-up of which I have no evidence. I definitive win is needed for the players and the fans.
Kickers 2
Lexington 0