Austin Ricci
{{short description|Canadian soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Austin Ricci
|fullname =
|image = AustinRicci.jpg
|image_size = 225px
|caption = Austin Ricci in 2023
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|4|8|mf=y}}
|birth_place = Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
|height = 1.78 m
|position = Forward
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Richmond Hill SC
|youthyears2 = 2010–2013
|youthclubs2 = Ajax SC
|collegeyears1 = 2014–2017
|college1 = Oakland Golden Grizzlies
|collegecaps1 = 71
|collegegoals1 = 22
|years1 = 2014–2015
|clubs1 = Vaughan Azzurri
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|years2 = 2016
|clubs2 = K-W United FC
|caps2 = 7
|goals2 = 3
|years3 = 2017–2018
|clubs3 = Michigan Bucks
|caps3 = 28
|goals3 = 17
|years4 = 2018
|clubs4 = Vaughan Azzurri
|caps4 = 8
|goals4 = 5
|years5 = 2019
|clubs5 = York9 FC
|caps5 = 9
|goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2020–2021
|clubs6 = Valour FC
|caps6 = 22
|goals6 = 5
|years7 = 2022–2024
|clubs7 = York United FC
|caps7 = 45
|goals7 = 7
|years8 = 2024
|clubs8 = Vancouver FC
|caps8 = 3
|goals8 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|medaltemplates =
|club-update = October 5, 2024
|ntupdate =
}}
Austin Ricci (born April 8, 1996) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward.
Early life
Ricci played youth soccer with Richmond Hill SC. In 2010, he joined Ajax SC.{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamregion.com/community-story/4428224-ajax-fc-program-sending-four-players-to-ncaa-programs/|title=Ajax FC program sending four players to NCAA programs|date=March 24, 2014|work=Ajax News Advertiser}}
Ricci played high school soccer for the St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School Lions, winning gold at OFSAA in 2014,{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/4565402-lions-roar-into-ofsaa-soccer-final-in-windsor/|title=Lions roar into OFSAA soccer final in Windsor|first=Michael|last=Hayakawa|work=Richmond Hill Liberal|date=June 7, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/4566978-st-theresa-lions-roar-to-ofsaa-soccer-gold/|title=St. Theresa Lions roar to OFSAA soccer gold|first=Michael|last=Hayakawa|work=Richmond Hill Liberal|date=June 9, 2014}} and being named MVP of the team for three consecutive seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/beyond-the-pitch-austin-ricci|title=Beyond the Pitch - Austin Ricci|date=April 24, 2021|first=Ed|last=Tait|work=Valour FC}}
College career
In February 2014, he committed to Oakland University to play for the men's soccer team in the fall.{{cite web|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2014/2/6/OAKLAND_SOCCER_SIGNS_SEVEN_IN_EARLY_SIGNING_PERIOD.aspx|date=February 6, 2014|title=Oakland Soccer signs seven in early signing period|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} He scored his first goal on September 12, 2014 against the Denver Pioneers.{{cite web|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/austin-ricci/1597|title=Austin Ricci Oakland profile|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} He won the Horizon League with the team in his freshman season in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://oaklandpostonline.com/2009/sports/austin-ricci-mens-soccer-team-prepared-for-horizon-league-spotlight/|title=Austin Ricci, men’s soccer team prepared for Horizon League spotlight|work=The Oakland Post|date=September 13, 2015|first=Katlynn|last=Emaus}} In 2015, he was named Horizon League Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a Horizon League First-Team All Star,{{Cite web|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2015/11/9/OAKLAND_PLACES_SIX_ON_ALL_LEAGUE_TEAMS_RICCI_NAMED_OFFENSIVE_PLAYER_OF_THE_YEAR|title=Oakland places six on All-League Teams, Ricci named Offensive Player of the Year|date=November 9, 2015|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} and was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Second Team.{{cite web|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2015/12/10/RICCI_AND_DUDLEY_NAMED_TO_NSCAA_ALL_GREAT_LAKES_REGION.aspx|title=Ricci and Dudley named to NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region|date=December 10, 2015|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} In his junior season in 2016, he was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Third Team.{{cite web|title=Ricci and Higgins named to NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Team|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2016/12/10/RICCI_AND_HIGGINS_NAMED_TO_NSCAA_ALL_GREAT_LAKES_REGION_TEAM|date=December 10, 2016|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} In his senior season in 2017, he was named a Horizon League First-Team All-Star.{{Cite web|title=Ricci, Higgins and Jensen garner men's soccer Horizon League Honors|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies |url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2017/11/6/RICCI_HIGGINS_AND_JENSEN_GARNER_MEN_S_SOCCER_HORIZON_LEAGUE_HONORS|date=November 6, 2017}}
Club career
In 2014 and 2015, he appeared for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.{{cite web|url=http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articles2016/StateoftheGameLeagueOneOntariokicksoff.aspx|title=State of the Game: League One Ontario kicks off for 2016|first=Aaron|last=Nielsen|date=May 2, 2016|work=Red Nation Online}}
In 2016, he played for K-W United FC in the Premier Development League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/12556994?subseason=278141|title=Austin Ricci 2016 PDL Stats|work=USL League Two}} He scored a hat trick in the season opener on May 17 against Toronto FC III.{{Cite web|url=https://www.therecord.com/sports/waterloo-region/2016/05/17/k-w-united-fc-dominates-season-opener.html|first=Josh|last=Brown|title=K-W United FC dominates season opener|date=May 18, 2016|work=Waterloo Region Record}}
He played for the Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League in 2017 and 2018.{{cite web |title=Austin Ricci 2017 PDL Stats|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/18033108?subseason=376352|publisher=USL League Two}}{{cite web |title=Austin Ricci 2018 PDL Stats|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/24762881|publisher=USL League Two}} In 2017, he won the Great Lakes Division with the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2017/07/14/michigan-bucks-win-record-14th-pdl-division-title/|title=Michigan Bucks win record 14th PDL division title|date=July 14, 2017|work=The Oakland Press}} On July 10, 2018, he scored four goals and added four assists in a 14-1 victory over the Derby City Rovers,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/2018/07/07/bucks-playoff-aspirations-take-big-hit-loss-dutch-lions/765894002/|title=Bucks keep PDL playoff hopes afloat with resounding win in Louisville|first=Brad|last=Emons|date=July 11, 2018|work=Hometown Life}} a performance which earned him PDL Player of the Week honours.{{cite web|date=July 19, 2018|title=Bucks' Ricci Named PDL Player of the Week|first=Colton|last=Coreschi|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/935471|work=USL League Two}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1112779|title=Austin Ricci, former Vaughan Azzurri attacker, signs with Valour|date=July 10, 2020|work=League1 Ontario|first=Marty|last=Thompson}}
In December 2018, Ricci signed his first professional contract with Canadian Premier League side York 9 FC for the 2019 season.{{cite web|first=Nate|last=Hershenfeld |title=York9 FC brings on Richmond Hill-based forward Austin Ricci |url=https://york9fc.canpl.ca/article/york9-fc-signs-richmond-hill-forward-austin-ricci |publisher=York9 FC|date=14 December 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022307/https://york9fc.canpl.ca/article/york9-fc-signs-richmond-hill-forward-austin-ricci|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2019/1/2/mens-soccer-austin-ricci-signs-with-canadian-premier-league.aspx|title=Austin Ricci signs with Canadian Premier League|date=January 2, 2019|work=Oakland Golden Grizzlies}} He made 11 appearances for the club in 2019 across all competitions, tallying one assist.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-austin-ricci-signing/|title=Valour FC To Announce Austin Ricci|date=July 9, 2020|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
File:York-united-austin-ricci.jpg
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.{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/6302|title=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."|date=July 10, 2020|work=Valour FC|first=Ed|last=Tait}}{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/valour-fc-adds-ex-york9-forward-austin-ricci-ohin-and-pena-to-return|title=Valour FC adds ex-York9 forward Austin Ricci; Ohin and Peña to return|date=July 10, 2020|work=Canadian Premier League}} In July 2020, he officially signed with the club.{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/valour-fc-sign-canadian-forward-austin-ricci|title=Valour FC sign Canadian forward Austin Ricci|date=July 10, 2020|work=Valour FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-austin-ricci/|title=Valour FC Signs Forward Austin Ricci|date=July 10, 2020|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} In his first season with the club, he made six appearances during the shortened season, drawing two earning two penalty kicks for the team.{{cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/i-think-i-showed-what-im-capable-of-that-im-able-to-play-at-a-high-level-ricci-with-lots-to-prove-in-2021|title=“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|date=November 13, 2020|first=Ed|last=Tait|work=Valour FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://eikonsports.com/austin-ricci-shines-in-a-unique-way-at-the-canpl-island-games/|title=Austin Ricci didn’t score for Valour this season, but he certainly shone in a unique way nonetheless|date=September 16, 2020|work=Eikon Sports}} In November 2020, he re-signed with the club.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-austin-ricchi-2021/|title=Austin Ricci Re-Signs With Valour FC|date=November 14, 2020|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/valour-re-signs-austin-ricci-for-2021-cpl-season|title=Valour re-signs Austin Ricci for 2021 CPL season|date=November 13, 2020|work=Canadian Premier League}} On June 27, 2021, he scored his first professional goal in a match against Forge FC.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-austin-ricci-outside-noise/|title=Ricci Happy To Silence ‘Outside Noise’ With First Pro Goal|date=June 27, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} His second goal gave his team a 1-0 victory over Forge FC on July 11.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2021/07/11/ricci-goal-sirois-clean-sheet-give-valour-fc-1-0-win-over-forge-fc-for-cpl-lead.html|title=Ricci goal, Sirois clean sheet give Valour FC 1-0 win over Forge FC for CPL lead|date=July 11, 2021|work=Toronto Star}} On July 19, he scored a brace to help Valour to a 3-0 victory over York United FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2021/07/19/ricci-brace-sirois-five-save-clean-sheet-give-valour-fc-3-0-victory-over-york-united.html|title=Ricci brace, Sirois five-save clean sheet give Valour FC 3-0 victory over York United|date=July 19, 2021|work=Toronto Star}} He was named to the CPL Team of the Week three times in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/cpl50-48-austin-ricci-valour-fc|title=CPL50 – 48. Austin Ricci (Valour FC)|date=December 8, 2021|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://lastwordonsports.com/soccer/2021/08/22/austin-riccis-brace-valour-fc/|title=Austin Ricci’s brace gives Valour FC first ever Canadian Championship win|first=Justin|last=Laniuk|date=August 22, 2021|work=Last Word on Sports}} He finished as the top goalscorer in the 2021 Canadian Championship domestic cup competition, winning the Golden Boot, with three goals.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/2021-canadian-championship-austin-ricci/|title=Valour’s Austin Ricci Is The 2021 CanChamp Top Goalscorer|date=November 22, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} His season was cut short after he was injured in a collision with Forge goalkeeper Triston Henry during a match in September.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-austin-ricci-2022/|title=BREAKING: Ricci Returning To Nine Stripes|date=April 21, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{Cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/york-united-fc-announces-signing-of-austin-ricci|date=April 21, 2022|title=York United FC announces signing of Austin Ricci|work=York United FC}}
In March 2022, he went on trial with his former club York United FC (who had previously been York9 during his last stint).{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-austin-ricci-trial/|title=Austin Ricci Is Training With York United|date=March 2, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/canadian-premier-league-austin-ricci-2022/|title=Report: Ricci Poised For CPL Return|date=April 20, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} In April 2022, he officially signed with the club for the 2022 season.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-austin-ricci/|title=Official: York United Adds Austin Ricci|date=April 21, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/york-united-signs-canadian-striker-austin-ricci|title=York United signs Canadian striker Austin Ricci|date=April 21, 2022|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}} He joined on a one-year contract with club options through 2024.{{cite web|url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/york-united-signs-canadian-striker-austin-ricci|title=York United signs Canadian forward Austin Ricci|date=April 21, 2022|work=OneSoccer|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke}} On May 11, he re-aggravated his knee injury against Atlético Ottawa in a Canadian Championship match,{{cite web|url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/york-united-striker-austin-ricci-undergoes-acl-surgery|title=York United striker Austin Ricci undergoes ACL surgery|date=June 7, 2022|work=OneSoccer}}{{cite web|url=https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/article/were-all-gutted-for-him-austin-ricci-ruled-out-for-the-season-after-injury|title='We're all gutted for him': Austin Ricci ruled out for the season after injury|date=June 8, 2022|work=York United FC}} forcing him to undergo surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/york-united-striker-austin-ricci-undergoes-acl-surgery|title=York United striker Austin Ricci undergoes ACL surgery|date=June 7, 2022|work=Canadian Premier League}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-austin-ricci-injury/|title=Ricci Out For Season Following Second ACL Surgery|date=June 7, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} In October 2022, he re-signed with the club for the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/york-united-austin-ricci-2023/|title=York United Re-Signs Hometown Striker Austin Ricci|date=October 14, 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-austin-ricci-york-united-disrespectful/|title=‘Pretty Disrespectful’: Ricci Reflects On York United Exit Amid Fresh Start Out West|date=September 28, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://vancouverfc.canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-announced-it-has-acquired-canadian-forward-austin-ricci-on-a-permanent-transfer-from-york-united-fc|title=Vancouver FC announced it has acquired Canadian forward Austin Ricci on a permanent transfer from York United FC|date=September 13, 2024|work=Vancouver FC}}{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-acquires-ricci-york-united-fc-acquires-kibato-in-roster-freeze-deadline-swap|title=Vancouver FC acquires Ricci, York United FC acquires Kibato in roster freeze deadline swap|date=September 13, 2024|work=Canadian Premier League}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on October 5, 2024}}{{soccerway|austin-ricci/484003}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|Playoffs !colspan=2|Domestic cup !colspan=2|League cup !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| K-W United FC
|2016 |7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 3 | |||
| rowspan=3|Michigan Bucks
|2017 |rowspan=2|Premier Development League |14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 16 | 5 | ||
| 2018
|14 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 14 | 12 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!28 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0||colspan=2|—||30 | 17 | ||||
| Vaughan Azzurri
|2018{{cite web |title=Austin Ricci 2018 L1O Stats|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/26169196 |publisher=League1 Ontario}} |8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | ||
| York9 FC
|2019 |9 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 11 | 0 | |||
| rowspan=3|Valour FC
|2020 |rowspan=2|Canadian Premier League |6 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2021
|16 | 5 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 3 | colspan=2|— | 18 | 8 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!22 | 5||colspan=2|—||2 | 3||colspan=2|—||24 | 8 | |||||||
| rowspan=4|York United FC
|2022 |rowspan=3|Canadian Premier League |3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2023
|26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2024
|16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 17 | 4 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!45 | 7||0||0||4 | 0||colspan=2|—||49 | 7 | |||||||
| Vancouver FC
|2024 |3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| colspan=3|Career total
!120 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 41 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|austin-ricci/484003}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricci, Austin}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Soccer people from Ontario
Category:Sportspeople from Richmond Hill, Ontario
Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's soccer players
Category:K–W United FC players
Category:Flint City Bucks players
Category:York United FC players
Category:USL League Two players
Category:League1 Ontario players
Category:Canadian Premier League players