Naples looks to build on promising start as the club heads to Virginia for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, March 21
NAPLES, FL — March 19, 2026 — FC Naples heads north to Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, March 21, for a 6:00 p.m. EST road contest against the Richmond Kickers at City Stadium, streaming live on ESPN+. The matchup pits Southwest Florida’s rising second-year club against one of USL League One’s most established franchises, and it arrives at the precise moment both sides are eager to prove what they’re made of in 2026.
For FC Naples supporters who cannot make the trip to Virginia, a free watch party is being hosted at Hopsized Brewing Company in Bonita Springs (201 Cockleshell Dr #13, Bonita Springs, FL 34135), with a cash bar and full menu available. Kick back, cheer loud, and support your team from Southwest Florida.
FC Naples: From History-Makers to Hungry Contenders
FC Naples enters Saturday’s match riding a wave of second-year energy. Through the first two games of the 2026 USL League One regular season, Head Coach Matt “Gaffa” Poland’s squad has gone 1-0-1 — a commanding 2-0 home win over Fort Wayne FC in the season opener on March 7, followed by a spirited 2-2 draw at home against Corpus Christi FC on March 14 (USL League One Schedule, 2026). With four points from a possible six, the club sits comfortably within the early league table’s top half as it readies for its first road test of the campaign.
Saturday’s trip to Richmond also follows FC Naples’ Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round match on March 18 against Red Force FC, meaning the squad will have played three competitive matches in eight days before facing the Kickers. That kind of schedule demands depth — and FC Naples has it.
The foundation of this group is a battle-tested core that made history in 2025: a 13-9-8 inaugural season record, a fourth-place finish, and the distinction of becoming the first expansion team in USL League One history to host and win a playoff match (FC Naples, 2026; USL League One, 2025). That pedigree doesn’t go away in year two — it raises the bar.
FC Naples Players to Watch
Captain and Goalkeeper Edward “Lalo” Delgado (#1) anchors the back line as the second-leading active goalkeeper in USL League One all-time shutouts, with 31 clean sheets in 82 league appearances. His composure and shot-stopping ability set the tone for everything FC Naples builds defensively.
Midfielder Marc Torrellas (#21) delivered the fastest goal in club history on March 14, striking just 1 minute and 28 seconds into the Corpus Christi match. His ability to impose himself immediately sets the tone for FC Naples in the attacking third and makes him a constant threat from kickoff.
Forward Dominick Bachstein (#18) has made an immediate impact in his first full season with the club, scoring two goals across the opening two 2026 matches. After signing his first professional contract last August following an 11-goal USL League Two campaign with Des Moines Menace, the 23-year-old is proving he belongs at the professional level (USL League One, 2025).
Veteran midfielder Kevin O’Connor (#14) returns in his second year with the club and provides experienced midfield control and an ability to dictate tempo in tight road environments.
FC Naples’ Strengths Heading Into Richmond
FC Naples carries several key advantages into Saturday’s road contest. Defensively, the club has demonstrated that goalkeeping excellence remains their bedrock. Lalo Delgado’s track record — among the all-time shutout leaders in USL League One history — provides a consistent safety net. In 2025, FC Naples’ organized defensive structure helped them survive the tension of playoff penalty kicks against the reigning champion Union Omaha.
Offensively, the club’s early-season form is encouraging. The 2-0 win over Fort Wayne on opening day and Marc Torrellas’ record-setting goal against Corpus Christi suggest that the forward line has real finishing quality. Dominick Bachstein’s two-goal start to the campaign signals that a capable replacement has arrived.
Perhaps most importantly, FC Naples brings a second-year identity. Coach Poland’s squad understands the demands of the league, has road experience from a full inaugural campaign, and plays with the confidence that comes from having already made history. Against a Richmond side still finding its identity under a new-look roster, that mentality advantage could be decisive.
WATCH PARTY — FC NAPLES vs. RICHMOND KICKERS
Saturday, March 21 | 6:00 PM EST
Hopsized Brewing Company in Bonita Springs
201 Cockleshell Dr #13, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Free to attend | Cash bar available | Regular menu available | Live on ESPN+