The 25-year-old former MLS SuperDraft First Round Pick is excited to join the soccer culture in RVA
RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce veteran USL forward and former MLS SuperDraft first-round pick Ryan Sierakowski has signed for the remainder of the 2023 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.
”We are pleased to add Ryan to our attacking core at this point of the season,” Richmond Kickers’ Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach, Darren Sawatzky said. “He represents a proven goalscorer and he is hungry and ready to hunt wins with us. We look forward to integrating him into our culture immediately.”
Sierakowski joins after most recently featuring for South Georgia Tormenta FC on a temporary contract at the beginning of the 2023 season. The forward was also a part of Tormenta’s 2022 USL League One Championship-winning side after joining for the second half of the season. Sierakowski played over 1,000 minutes in 16 matches with Tormenta in 2022, including all three matches in the 2022 USL League One playoffs. He created seven chances while notching one goal and one assist. In his brief stint with the reigning USL League One Champions in 2023, he started three matches and scored one goal while playing 246 minutes.
“My conversation with Darren ahead of joining the Kickers was very positive and he described a role for me in the team that I felt I could excel in,” Sierakowski said, “He made it clear he wants to push to win a championship this year which is a project I am excited to be a part of.
“My impression of the club from an opponent’s perspective was the Kickers play a good brand of football and are a club that has a great following and passionate supporters who created an electric environment to play in.”
The McHenry, Ill. native brings additional grit to the Kickers’ forward line, matching his aggressive play on the wing with a high motor while maneuvering to find space and get into scoring positions. Prior to joining Tormenta, Sierakowski played for both New England Revolution II and Forward Madison FC in USL League One. In the 2021 season, he started 20 of 27 total matches, scoring six goals and creating 15 chances.
Sierakowski’s experience also includes multiple seasons in the USL Championship with MLS organizations. After he was drafted by Portland Timbers with the 23rd overall pick, he signed with Timbers 2 ahead of the 2019 season. In his rookie season, he started 24 of 33 matches, created 29 chances, provided two assists, and finished the season as the second-highest goal scorer on the team with eight goals.
He then joined Real Salt Lake’s USL Championship affiliate Real Monarchs, appearing in 14 games with one goal scored during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
In college, Sierakowski was a standout at Michigan State University. He was an All-Big 10 performer each of his four years with the Spartans, and he was the first Spartan to lead the team in goals scored and points each of his four seasons. He currently ranks sixth all-time in program history with 33 goals scored.
He was a two-time All-Region honoree with a first-team recognition in his sophomore year and second-team recognition in his junior year. In 2017, Sierakowski’s production helped the Spartans make it to the Elite Eight of the College Cup, and in his senior season in 2018, Sierakowski led Michigan State to the NCAA College Cup Semi-Finals for the first time since 1968. He led Michigan State with eight goals, including four game-winning goals, and added five assists in his final season.
Now, Sierakowski is excited to continue his career with the Kickers as he looks to produce for the team’s attack.
“My individual goal is to consistently produce for the team whether that be goals or assists, and as a team, I want to win the regular season title and league championship,” Sierakowski said. “My message to The Red Army is that I am coming in to strengthen an already great team, and I am committed to doing my part to bring another trophy home to you in Richmond.”
Sierakowski will be available for selection ahead of Richmond’s matchup against Forward Madison on June 17th.
The Kickers return home on Saturday, June 17th to host Forward Madison FC during Pride Night with Virginia Pride and presented by Allianz. 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.
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TRANSACTION: Ryan Sierakowski signs with the Kickers for the remainder of the 2023 USL League One season on June 12, 2023.
Rostered Players for 2023 as of June 12, 2023
GOALKEEPERS: Akira Fitzgerald, Will Palmquist, Eli Mumford
DEFENDERS: Nathan Aune, Michael Hornsby, Dakota Barnathan, Simon Fitch, Otavio Zerbini, Beckett Howell, Jake Mecham, Chris Cole
MIDFIELDERS: Chandler O’Dwyer, João Gomiero, Nil Vinyals, Zaca Moran, Gabe Cox
FORWARDS: Emiliano Terzaghi, Matthew Bentley, Owayne Gordon, Luke Pavone, David Olsen, Justin Sukow, Kharlton Belmar, Ethan Vanacore-Decker, Ryan Sierakowski
