TAMPA, Fla. – In 2020’s abbreviated USL League One season, the Richmond Kickers’ Emiliano Terzaghi established himself as one of the league’s top marksmen.

This year, the Argentine forward burnished that reputation as he produced a record-setting season to lead his side to its first playoff appearance since 2016 with 18 goals in the regular season.

On Thursday, Terzaghi was announced as the League One Most Valuable Player for a second consecutive year, capping another outstanding season for the 28-year-old striker.

“Winning this important award for the second time in a row means a lot to me,” said Terzaghi. It was of great importance because getting it again is always more difficult than doing it for the first time. "I thank my teammates and all the staff and people who work with us every day that without them this whole process of my growth would not have been possible.”

Terzaghi’s 18 goals surpassed the previous single-season record set in League One’s inaugural campaign of 16 goals by current Haiti international and Orange County SC forward Ronaldo Damus. The Argentine – who previously played for current Primera Division side C.A. Banfield in his home country – accounted for more than half the Kickers’ 35 goals in the regular season as he scored at a rate of a goal every 128.4 minutes, while recording a league-high 85 shots and 40 shots on target while posting a shot conversion rate of 25.7 percent.

His contributions proved particularly essential down the final stretch of the season as the Kickers drove for a postseason berth. During a five-game winning streak that moved Richmond above the playoff line for good in late September and early October, Terzaghi scored the game-winning goal in four of the games, including late games-winners against playoff race rivals Toronto FC II (Sept. 25) and Forward Madison FC (Oct. 16).

Terzaghi is now the all-time leader in regular season goals in League One’s young history, and is eager to achieve more with the Kickers as the club looks to the 2022 season.

“I am very grateful, and I work very hard to represent our community and this club to take it to the top,” said Terzaghi. “To give back to the fans after all the love they always give us, they are a very special part of me.”

Terzaghi earned 69 percent of the ballot to earn the award. Union Omaha’s Damia Viader – who was previously voted the League One Defender of the Year – finished in second place with 13 percent, and a total of five players overall earned votes in the poll.

The 2021 USL League One Awards were voted on by team technical staffs and executives representing every team.

USL League One Most Valuable Player
2021 – Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers
2020 – Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers
2019 – Arturo Rodriguez, North Texas SC

2021 USL League One Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year: Akira Fitzgerald, Richmond Kickers
Defender of the Year: Damia Viader, Union Omaha
Coach of the Year: Jay Mims, Union Omaha
Young Player of the Year: Noah Allen, Fort Lauderdale CF
Most Valuable Player: Emiliano Terzaghi, Richmond Kickers