Know Your Enemy: AV Alta FC

The Richmond Kickers will jump into the 2026 season on the road, facing AV Alta FC on Saturday, March 7th. The Lancaster, CA based club is in its second year, coming off a season in which it missed the playoffs by a single point.

Last year, the Kickers hosted AV Alta in March, a memorable 3-1 victory, boosted by a brace from Emiliano Terzaghi and and another from Chandler O'Dwyer. However, both players moved on to new teams this off-season, with Terzaghi signing with Portland and O'Dwyer with Sarasota.

AV Alta took the late season match by a score of 2-0 in their stadium in October.

Both teams retained a core of players, with AV Alta bringing back 14, and Richmond eight. With AV Alta showing moments of brilliance through the 2025 season, and coming so close to clinching the playoffs in year one, the rebuild isn't quite as large as the one seen with second-to-last-place Richmond.

AV Alta: Players to Watch

We spoke to David Adams, who covers AV Alta for his publication, Tumbleweed Times. Adams gave us a few details on some players his camp is excited to see this season.

Jerry Desdunes, Winger/Midfield

One player we've been keeping an eye on since the 2025 season is Jerry Desdunes. The 24 year old midfielder/winger returned to the pros last year with AV Alta after playing amateur ball in 2023 and 2024. He immediately proved his case on staying in the professional ranks, and would finish the season leading the squad with 48 chances created. Of those chances, five converted to assists, and he also scored four goals. Adams told us that Desdunes is looking like the best player on the team to start 2026.

He described Desdunes as a "quick, dynamic dribbler," and "solid as a creator." 

Desdunes' renewed career has been catching the attention of the Haiti National Team, where he recently had his first call up. With much of the offense being rebuilt around Desdunes, as he heads into his peak years he should soften the blow that came from losing other top contributors such as Sebastian Cruz, Alexis Cerritos and Lalo Blancas to free agency.

Javier Mariona, Midfield

21 year old Javier Mariona first hit our radar as an academy standout with Central Valley Fuego in 2024. His play there got the attention of the Philippines National Team, where he made a string of appearances during the 2024 ASEAN Championship. He's since been used on both the U22 and U23 teams as well.

With AV Alta, he's been mostly at left wing and midfield, and in his 20 appearances, contributed a pair of goals and assists. Adams called Mariona a "nasty dribbler," and an aggressive counter to some of the midfield transition traps the team fell into last year.

Collin Anderson, Forward

With three of AV Alta's top five goal-scorers departing this off-season, Sporting Director Zaki Tahari opted to look outside the USL ecosystem for a new striker. Collin Anderson, a 26 year old with a pair of caps for the Jamaican National Team, joins from Oman's top flight where he made eight appearances in 2025 with two goals and an assist. He's also seen experience at the top level in Iraq and Jamaica, and is known for his speed. We'll have to see if there is a big adjustment coming to USL League One, but it appears that AV Alta is banking offensive success on a smooth transition.

Anderson will be backed by young strikers Joaquín Acuña and Godwin Antwi. The former scored one goal for AV Alta in 2025 before a season ending injury, while the latter joins on his first professional contract.

Mathias Winum, Centre Back

Head Coach Brian Kleiban will have some solid options in the back to build around team captain Miguel Pajaro. This includes veterans Kaloyan Pehlivanov and Erick Ceja, and incoming new professional Mathias Winum. The 25 year old Norwegian joins from UC Irvine, and in pre-season observations, Adams lauded his ball skills, and called him "big and physical," and set up to give the back line some steel. After a -5 goal differential in 2025, it sounds like that's exactly what this squad needs in 2026.

AV Alta vs. Richmond Kickers: How to Watch

If you're not making the cross-country trek to Lancaster, the Richmond Kickers will be hosting a watch party at Three Notch'd Brewing at 2930 W Broad St. Be aware, this is true "league one after dark" for the east coast, with the kickoff at 10:30 PM ET.

The match can also be found on ESPN+.