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Shriver Aiming for Richmond Attacking Resurgence

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 03/16/18, 4:43PM EDT

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Kickers new arrivals look to boost side as it visits Steel FC


New Richmond Kickers arrival Brian Shriver is aiming to surpass 40 regular-season goals in his career this season / Photo courtesy Jessica Hendricks / Richmond Kickers

RICHMOND, Va. – After sitting with the fewest goals in the USL a season ago and missing out on the USL Cup Playoffs as a result, the Richmond Kickers aimed to retool their attack with some veteran experience this offseason.

As the club counts down to its season-opening contest on Sunday afternoon against Bethlehem Steel FC at Goodman Stadium (2 p.m. ET | Match Center), the incoming group led by Brian Shriver is well aware of the need to get the Kickers off to a positive start, but Schriver is confident the pedigree he and his fellow newcomers bring will come through.

“Obviously, Giuseppe [Gentile], [Heviel Cordovés], myself, we’ve all scored goals,” said Shriver. “This preseason has been a good chance for us to get to know each other and we’re trying to figure out how each other plays on the field. I think it has the potential to be a lot more productive than what it was last season.”

Shriver has scored almost 40 goals in his professional career, while Cordoves is coming off his most productive season yet with nine goals for the Charleston Battery a season ago. With Friday’s news that 2017 USL Most Valuable Player Dane Kelly would also be joining the side on loan from D.C. United – reuniting him with former Battery teammate Cordoves – and the potential for bounce-back seasons from the likes of Yudai Imura in Richmond’s midfield, there’s room for optimism that last year was an aberration in terms of playoff contention.

“There’s no question we are stronger across all areas than last year,” said Kickers Head Coach Leigh Cowlishaw. “Our goalkeeping situation is probably the best it’s ever been in the history of the club. We’ve got two top-class goalkeepers vying for the number one spot. We’ve acquired two or three top-class defenders, and we’ve tried to sign as many forwards as possible. We’ve got three or four guys that we’ve brought in who have a lot of experience putting the ball in the back of the net.”


Heviel Cordoves had previously been a thorn in the side of the Richmond Kickers, but now is looking to lead the club back to the postseason after his offseason arrival / Photo courtesy Zach Bland / Charleston Battery

The Kickers’ defensive solidity was one of the silver linings last season, with the side remaining one of the more reliable in terms of organization and limiting chances. That will be important against a Steel FC side that in addition to coming off a first postseason trip itself added Brandon Allen this offseason, who notched 30 goals over the past two seasons in the league for the New York Red Bulls II.

The other positive for Cowlishaw, though, was the fact that many of the younger players returning to the club this season were able to take the harsh lessons of a season ago and start to apply what they’d learned, which could in the long-run push Richmond back into playoff contention.

“We figured it out in probably the backend of the season,” said Cowlishaw. “Like I said at the time, that meant a lot of the rookie players got enormous amounts of experience and that should put them in good stead for the upcoming season.”

If the Kickers’ progress is measured in goals, both Shriver and Cordoves are ready to provide their share in propelling the side back up the Eastern Conference.

“Being a striker, and an attacking player, you want to score goals,” said Shriver. “I think there’s a lot of potential. We have some incredible players. I think that the more we play with each other, the better it’s going to get.”

“We’re attacking players. We want to score goals,” added Cordoves. “That is why I came here for.”

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