Austin Ricci didn’t score for Valour this season, but he certainly shone in a unique way nonetheless.

When you see that a striker didn’t register a single goal during a tournament, your mind might automatically venture towards negative thoughts. Of course, that’s natural – a striker’s traditional job is to put the ball in the back of the net. Yet, the role of the modern striker is so much more complex than that. Gone are the days when strikers would simply lounge around for the majority of matches, patiently waiting for their 2 or 3 good opportunities in front of goal to really come to life. In most cases now, strikers are expected to do just as much off of the ball as they are in possession.

Austin Ricci might not have scored for Valour during the CanPL Island Games, but boy, did he have a massive impact.

As I’ve already mentioned, a striker is expected to do quite a bit of work off the ball, especially in a team that tends to take initiative out of possession and win the ball back higher up the pitch – a description Valour certainty fits. Ricci went above and beyond in this task, constantly putting immense amounts of pressure on the opposing backline, and working his socks off during every minute he had on the pitch. When the CanPL Island Games tournament was around its midway point, it became quite clear that Valour was a completely different and significantly better team when Austin Ricci was on the pitch, as opposed to when he was sitting on the bench.

Ricci led the Valour press by example throughout the Island Games tournament, showing everyone that he is indeed capable of playing to a high intensity – something that is very much required at the higher levels of the game.

But Austin Ricci showed quality when Valour had possession as well, contrary to what his lack of goals might tell you. His work rate and intensity were not exclusive to the press – he consistently showed it when he was making runs and creating space for his team. You would often see Ricci on both flanks, or dropping deep to provide a passing option. It seemed as if he was always in motion, making it difficult for the opponents to mark him.

The former York 9 striker also won 2 penalties for Rob Gale’s Valour team  – both of them taken by other players.

So what was the reason for his lack of goals? Well, there were certainly opportunities for Ricci throughout the tournament, particularly in Valour’s romping 4-0 win over Atletico Ottawa. In that particular match, it took a stunning performance from experienced Ottawa goalkeeper Nacho Zabal to keep Ricci off the scoresheet. Apart from that, it seemed that Valour simply struggled to create strong goalscoring opportunities this season, with the glaring lack of a quality final-third playmaker in the team being one of the main reasons why they failed to advance past the first stage. Valour’s other striker Shaan Hundal also failed to find the scoresheet.

Austin Ricci will certainly be disappointed not to have found the back of the net for Valour at the CanPL Island Games, but his work on-field was exemplary nonetheless, and he certainly showed everyone how valuable a striker of his determination and intensity is at this level, both on and off the ball.