Know Your Enemy: One Knoxville

The Richmond Kickers will head to Knoxville this Friday for the season's first matchup with defending league champions, One Knoxville.

Despite Richmond's overall poor finish in 2025, that squad did surprisingly well in two of the three times they faced the eventual champs. An away match was washed out due to pitch conditions, then postponed again due to weather. The league rescheduled the third attempt to City Stadium, the same week as Knoxville's scheduled visit to Richmond, resulting in a home and away for Knoxville played in the same place.

Knoxville took the first match 2-0, but Richmond came out the victors day later, 1-0. Knoxville returned in October, cruising to the league title, but hit a minor speed bump with a 2-1 loss to the Kickers.

Knoxville then shed a significant amount of talent from that title winning squad, including the team's all-time leading goal-scorer, Kempes Tekiela, stand-out defender Sivert Haugli, star left back Stu Ritchie and back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year Sean Lewis.

But a strong returning core, new hungry veterans looking for a bounce-back and one compelling rookie in particular, led by experienced coach Ian Fuller, all have this team looking capable of a repeat despite a mixed start to 2026.

Here's who Richmond fans should keep an eye on this Friday.

One Knoxville: Players to Watch

Jordan Skelton, Centreback

Knoxville's captain (pictured above), perennial All-League member and reigning Defender of the Year, Skelton anchors the stingiest back line in USL League One. While it's been an adjustment this season so far, with his pairing rotating between Dani Fernandez and Finn McRobb, it's likely that things will calm back down as we saw in Tuesday's match against Corpus Christi where the opponents were held to only four shots in a 0-0 draw.

John Murphy, Jr., Midfielder

The defensive-minded midfielder joined from Forward Madison this off-season, and has had an immediate impact in a two-match shift to left midfield. Murphy scored a goal in each of those two matches, proving his box-to-box versatility. Murphy also has plenty of experience against Richmond, having played for other USL League One sides in four of the last five seasons.

Teddy Baker, Midfielder

The 24 year old joined Knoxville this off-season after a breakout rookie campaign with Texoma FC in which he contributed four goals and three assists. Baker was also second on that squad in chances created, just behind fellow attacking midfielder Ajmeer Spengler. He looks to build on last year's success, already providing an assist for Knoxville in his first three matches, and leading the squad in chances created.

Denis Krioutchenkov, Forward

The 21 year old striker also had an immediate impact in his professional debut, scoring a brace and assisting on a third. While he cooled over the last two matches, he still leads the squad in shots and given how skillful his goals were, it's only a matter of time before he strikes again.

One Knoxville vs. Richmond Kickers: How to Watch

Location: Covenant Health Park, Knoxville
Kickoff: Friday, March 27th, 7:00 PM
Streaming: ESPN+

Local Watch Party: Bingo Beer Co.

Image credit One Knoxville/Faith Wood