# 2022 Richmond Kickers season

The 2022 Richmond Kickers season was the club's 30th season of existence, their fourth season in USL League One, and their 18th season in the third tier of American soccer. The Kickers were led by third-year head coach, Darren Sawatzky. The USL League One season started on April 2 and concluded on October 15, 2022.
The Kickers had their strongest regular season showing since 2013, winning the USL League One regular season title. The Kickers finished the season with 51 total points, five clear of second place, with 14 wins, seven losses, and nine draws. Striker, Emiliano Terzaghi, for the third season, led the Kickers and USL League One in goals with 18 goals.
Outside of USL League One, the Kickers participated in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, and the 2022 USL League One Playoffs, for their first-place finish during the regular season. The Kickers reached the fourth round of the Open Cup, before losing to Major League Soccer expansion side, Charlotte FC. The Kickers will begin the Playoffs in the semifinal round on October 29.

## Background

The Kickers began the 2021 season in April due to the ongoing issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the regular season had the Kickers routinely along the playoff line, before a six-match winning streak in September saw the club finish in fifth place, and qualify for the USL Playoffs, marking the first time since 2016 the Kickers qualified for the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Kickers were eliminated by FC Tucson in the opening round.
Striker Emiliano Terzaghi was the league's top scorer, scoring 18 goals.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | No. | Name | From | Fee/notes |
| December 14, 2021 | MF | 8 | Ethan Bryant | San Antonio FC | Loan option exercised |
| December 16, 2021 | FW | 9 | Matt Bentley | Leatherhead | Free |
| January 20, 2022 | DF | 22 | Stephen Payne | Vilaverdense | Free |
| January 25, 2022 | DF | 5 | Stuart Ritchie | Hannover 96 | Free |
| February 3, 2022 | MF | 11 | Leonardo Baima | Central Norte | Free |
| February 8, 2022 | MF | 27 | Chandler O'Dwyer | Christian Brothers Buccaneers | Free |
| February 9, 2022 | MF | 99 | Vincenzo Candela | Tormenta | Free |
| February 10, 2022 | DF | 2 | Dakota Barnathan | FC Tucson | Free |
| February 15, 2022 | MF | 20 | Christian Molina | Union Omaha | Free |
| February 17, 2022 | GK | 29 | Eli Mumford | Richmond Kickers Academy | Academy contract |
| February 22, 2022 | MF | 4 | Simon Fitch | VCU Rams | Free |
| March 31, 2022 | FW | 23 | David Olsen | Tacoma Defiance | Free |

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | No. | Name | To | Fee/notes | Ref. |
| Date | Position | No. | Name | Loan to | Until | Ref. |
| April 1, 2022 | GK | 31 | Eli Mumford | Grove Soccer United | End of season | |

## Competitive
### USL League One
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Richmond Kickers (X) | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 54 | 35 | +19 | 51 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
| 2 | Greenville Triumph SC | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 46 | Qualification for the semi-finals |
| 3 | Tormenta FC (C) | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 42 | 40 | +2 | 45 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 4 | Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 43 | Qualification for the play-offs |
| 5 | Union Omaha | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 43 | Qualification for the play-offs |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: April 10, 2022. Source: USL League One

#### Results by matchday

| Game Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Stadium | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | W | D | L | W | L |
| Position | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |