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Austin Ricci

Austin Ricci
Austin Ricci in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-04-08) April 8, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Richmond Hill SC
2010–2013 Ajax SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Oakland Golden Grizzlies 71 (22)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Vaughan Azzurri
2016 K-W United FC 7 (3)
2017–2018 Michigan Bucks 28 (17)
2018 Vaughan Azzurri 8 (5)
2019 York9 FC 9 (0)
2020–2021 Valour FC 22 (5)
2022–2024 York United FC 45 (7)
2024 Vancouver FC 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 5, 2024

Austin Ricci (born April 8, 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward.

Early life

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Ricci played youth soccer with Richmond Hill SC. In 2010, he joined Ajax SC.[1]

Ricci played high school soccer for the St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School Lions, winning gold at OFSAA in 2014,[2][3] and being named MVP of the team for three consecutive seasons.[4]

College career

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In February 2014, he committed to Oakland University to play for the men's soccer team in the fall.[5] He scored his first goal on September 12, 2014 against the Denver Pioneers.[6] He won the Horizon League with the team in his freshman season in 2014.[7] In 2015, he was named Horizon League Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a Horizon League First-Team All Star,[8] and was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Second Team.[9] In his junior season in 2016, he was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Third Team.[10] In his senior season in 2017, he was named a Horizon League First-Team All-Star.[11]

Club career

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In 2014 and 2015, he appeared for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.[12]

In 2016, he played for K-W United FC in the Premier Development League.[13] He scored a hat trick in the season opener on May 17 against Toronto FC III.[14]

He played for the Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League in 2017 and 2018.[15][16] In 2017, he won the Great Lakes Division with the team.[17] On July 10, 2018, he scored four goals and added four assists in a 14-1 victory over the Derby City Rovers,[18] a performance which earned him PDL Player of the Week honours.[19]

He later returned to Vaughan Azzurri in 2018, scoring six goals in twelve appearances, across the regular season and playoffs, as Vaughan won the league title.[20]

In December 2018, Ricci signed his first professional contract with Canadian Premier League side York 9 FC for the 2019 season.[21][22] He made 11 appearances for the club in 2019 across all competitions, tallying one assist.[23]

Ricci playing for York United in 2022

In February 2020, he went on trial with Valour FC, also in the Canadian Premier League, and had been set to sign a contract in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, delaying the signing.[24][25] In July 2020, he officially signed with the club.[26][27] In his first season with the club, he made six appearances during the shortened season, drawing two earning two penalty kicks for the team.[28][29] In November 2020, he re-signed with the club.[30][31] On June 27, 2021, he scored his first professional goal in a match against Forge FC.[32] His second goal gave his team a 1-0 victory over Forge FC on July 11.[33] On July 19, he scored a brace to help Valour to a 3-0 victory over York United FC.[34] He was named to the CPL Team of the Week three times in 2021.[35] On August 22, 2021, he scored a brace against Atlético Ottawa in a Canadian Championship match, to help lead Valour to their first ever victory in the competition.[36] He finished as the top goalscorer in the 2021 Canadian Championship domestic cup competition, winning the Golden Boot, with three goals.[37] His season was cut short after he was injured in a collision with Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry during a match in September.[38][39]

In March 2022, he went on trial with his former club York United FC (who had previously been York9 during his last stint).[40][41] In April 2022, he officially signed with the club for the 2022 season.[42][43] He joined on a one-year contract with club options through 2024.[44] On May 11, he re-aggravated his knee injury against Atlético Ottawa in a Canadian Championship match,[45][46] forcing him to undergo surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.[47][48] In October 2022, he re-signed with the club for the 2023 season.[49] Following a red card in a match in June 2024, his playing time began to dip, ultimately leading to the club pushing him to accept a transfer, a move Ricci characterized as "pretty disrespectful".[50]

In September 2024, Ricci was transferred to Vancouver FC, signing a contract through 2024, in a player swap deal with Kembo Kibato moving to York United.[51][52]

Career statistics

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As of match played on October 5, 2024[53]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic cup League cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
K-W United FC 2016[13] Premier Development League 7 3 0 0 — — 7 3
Michigan Bucks 2017[15] Premier Development League 14 5 1 0 1 0 — 16 5
2018[16] 14 12 0 0 0 0 — 14 12
Total 28 17 1 0 1 0 — 30 17
Vaughan Azzurri 2018[54] League1 Ontario 8 5 4 1 — 0 0 12 6
York9 FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 9 0 — 2 0 — 11 0
Valour FC 2020 Canadian Premier League 6 0 — — — 6 0
2021 16 5 — 2 3 — 18 8
Total 22 5 — 2 3 — 24 8
York United FC 2022 Canadian Premier League 3 0 — 1 0 — 4 0
2023 26 3 0 0 2 0 — 28 3
2024 16 4 0 0 1 0 — 17 4
Total 45 7 0 0 4 0 — 49 7
Vancouver FC 2024 Canadian Premier League 3 0 — 0 0 — 3 0
Career total 120 37 5 1 9 3 0 0 134 41

References

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  1. ^ "Ajax FC program sending four players to NCAA programs". Ajax News Advertiser. March 24, 2014.
  2. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (June 7, 2014). "Lions roar into OFSAA soccer final in Windsor". Richmond Hill Liberal.
  3. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (June 9, 2014). "St. Theresa Lions roar to OFSAA soccer gold". Richmond Hill Liberal.
  4. ^ Tait, Ed (April 24, 2021). "Beyond the Pitch - Austin Ricci". Valour FC.
  5. ^ "Oakland Soccer signs seven in early signing period". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. February 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "Austin Ricci Oakland profile". Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
  7. ^ Emaus, Katlynn (September 13, 2015). "Austin Ricci, men's soccer team prepared for Horizon League spotlight". The Oakland Post.
  8. ^ "Oakland places six on All-League Teams, Ricci named Offensive Player of the Year". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. November 9, 2015.
  9. ^ "Ricci and Dudley named to NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. December 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Ricci and Higgins named to NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Team". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. December 10, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ricci, Higgins and Jensen garner men's soccer Horizon League Honors". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. November 6, 2017.
  12. ^ Nielsen, Aaron (May 2, 2016). "State of the Game: League One Ontario kicks off for 2016". Red Nation Online.
  13. ^ a b "Austin Ricci 2016 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  14. ^ Brown, Josh (May 18, 2016). "K-W United FC dominates season opener". Waterloo Region Record.
  15. ^ a b "Austin Ricci 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  16. ^ a b "Austin Ricci 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  17. ^ "Michigan Bucks win record 14th PDL division title". The Oakland Press. July 14, 2017.
  18. ^ Emons, Brad (July 11, 2018). "Bucks keep PDL playoff hopes afloat with resounding win in Louisville". Hometown Life.
  19. ^ Coreschi, Colton (July 19, 2018). "Bucks' Ricci Named PDL Player of the Week". USL League Two.
  20. ^ Thompson, Marty (July 10, 2020). "Austin Ricci, former Vaughan Azzurri attacker, signs with Valour". League1 Ontario.
  21. ^ Hershenfeld, Nate (December 14, 2018). "York9 FC brings on Richmond Hill-based forward Austin Ricci". York9 FC. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018.
  22. ^ "Austin Ricci signs with Canadian Premier League". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. January 2, 2019.
  23. ^ Jacques, John (July 9, 2020). "Valour FC To Announce Austin Ricci". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ Tait, Ed (July 10, 2020). "Austin Ricci on joining Valour FC: "I want to remind everyone who I am as a player and show this league and this country what my qualities are and what I'm capable of."". Valour FC.
  25. ^ "Valour FC adds ex-York9 forward Austin Ricci; Ohin and Peña to return". Canadian Premier League. July 10, 2020.
  26. ^ "Valour FC sign Canadian forward Austin Ricci". Valour FC. July 10, 2020.
  27. ^ Jacques, John (July 10, 2020). "Valour FC Signs Forward Austin Ricci". Northern Tribune.
  28. ^ Tait, Ed (November 13, 2020). ""I think I showed what I'm capable of, that I'm able to play at a high level" - Ricci with lots to prove in 2021". Valour FC.
  29. ^ "Austin Ricci didn't score for Valour this season, but he certainly shone in a unique way nonetheless". Eikon Sports. September 16, 2020.
  30. ^ Jacques, John (November 14, 2020). "Austin Ricci Re-Signs With Valour FC". Northern Tribune.
  31. ^ "Valour re-signs Austin Ricci for 2021 CPL season". Canadian Premier League. November 13, 2020.
  32. ^ Jacques, John (June 27, 2021). "Ricci Happy To Silence 'Outside Noise' With First Pro Goal". Northern Tribune.
  33. ^ "Ricci goal, Sirois clean sheet give Valour FC 1-0 win over Forge FC for CPL lead". Toronto Star. July 11, 2021.
  34. ^ "Ricci brace, Sirois five-save clean sheet give Valour FC 3-0 victory over York United". Toronto Star. July 19, 2021.
  35. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 8, 2021). "CPL50 – 48. Austin Ricci (Valour FC)". Canadian Premier League.
  36. ^ Laniuk, Justin (August 22, 2021). "Austin Ricci's brace gives Valour FC first ever Canadian Championship win". Last Word on Sports.
  37. ^ Jacques, John (November 22, 2021). "Valour's Austin Ricci Is The 2021 CanChamp Top Goalscorer". Northern Tribune.
  38. ^ Jacques, John (April 21, 2022). "BREAKING: Ricci Returning To Nine Stripes". Northern Tribune.
  39. ^ "York United FC announces signing of Austin Ricci". York United FC. April 21, 2022.
  40. ^ Jacques, John (March 2, 2022). "Austin Ricci Is Training With York United". Northern Tribune.
  41. ^ Jacques, John (April 20, 2022). "Report: Ricci Poised For CPL Return". Northern Tribune.
  42. ^ Jacques, John (April 21, 2022). "Official: York United Adds Austin Ricci". Northern Tribune.
  43. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (April 21, 2022). "York United signs Canadian striker Austin Ricci". Canadian Premier League.
  44. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (April 21, 2022). "York United signs Canadian forward Austin Ricci". OneSoccer.
  45. ^ "York United striker Austin Ricci undergoes ACL surgery". OneSoccer. June 7, 2022.
  46. ^ "'We're all gutted for him': Austin Ricci ruled out for the season after injury". York United FC. June 8, 2022.
  47. ^ "York United striker Austin Ricci undergoes ACL surgery". Canadian Premier League. June 7, 2022.
  48. ^ Jacques, John (June 7, 2022). "Ricci Out For Season Following Second ACL Surgery". Northern Tribune.
  49. ^ Jacques, John (October 14, 2022). "York United Re-Signs Hometown Striker Austin Ricci". Northern Tribune.
  50. ^ Jacques, John (September 28, 2024). "'Pretty Disrespectful': Ricci Reflects On York United Exit Amid Fresh Start Out West". Northern Tribune.
  51. ^ "Vancouver FC announced it has acquired Canadian forward Austin Ricci on a permanent transfer from York United FC". Vancouver FC. September 13, 2024.
  52. ^ "Vancouver FC acquires Ricci, York United FC acquires Kibato in roster freeze deadline swap". Canadian Premier League. September 13, 2024.
  53. ^ Austin Ricci at Soccerway
  54. ^ "Austin Ricci 2018 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
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