Spencer Richey

PROFILE
A talented goalkeeper from Seattle, Spencer Richey was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC with the 61st overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, and signed to Whitecaps FC 2 on March 17, 2015. He made his first-team debut in the group stage of the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League, winning both of his two starts and registering a clean sheet in his first outing. Richey was signed to a first-team contract on December 19, 2016. He is the all-time WFC2 leader in starts, saves, wins, and clean sheets. In November 2017, he was loaned out to USL side FC Cincinnati through the end of 2018.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2017: Richey made his MLS debut on March 18 versus Toronto FC and won league honours for MLS Save of the Week.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2017: Richey started both legs of the CC semifinal series versus Montreal Impact, recording five saves in the home win.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2016-17: Participating in the first-team training camp, Richey made one preseason substitute appearance, helping preserve a clean sheet versus Portland Timbers on February 25. He recorded wins in each of his two CONCACAF Champions League starts, registering a clean sheet in his first-team debut versus Trinidad and Tobago side Central FC. 

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2017: Richey led the team with 17 starts, 55 saves, and three clean sheets, while finishing with a 3W-11L-6D record and a 1.53 goals-against average. 2016: Richey led Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeepers with six wins, 49 saves, a 0.731 save percentage, and a 1.29 goals-against average in 14 regular-season starts, finishing with a 6W-4L-4D record. He started each of the 'Caps three playoff matches, collecting a 2W-1L-0D record with eight saves, a 0.571 save percentage, and a 2.00 goals-against average. On July 16, Richey made seven saves against San Antonio FC. In Week 19, Richey made a club-record nine saves to maintain a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, earning a USL Team of the Week selection. He would also get a bench selection to the weekly league honour for the Week 23 road shutout versus Sacramento Republic FC. 2015: Richey made a team-high 12 starts in net for Whitecaps FC 2, finishing with a 4W-7L-1D record and a 1.83 goals-against average. He recorded two of the team’s three shutouts for the season – April 2 at Austin Aztex in WFC2’s first ever win, and August 8 at Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC 2.

UNIVERSITY
2014: Richey started 17 games for the Huskies, retaking the full-time starting job after returning from a broken leg. He finished the year with 69 saves and 22 goals allowed for a .758 save percentage and a goals-against-average of 1.23, with a record of 9W-5L-3D, including four shutouts. He recorded a double-overtime shutout in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Furman, a game that included Richey making two saves and scoring in the nine-round shootout victory. He was selected to the Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mentions. 2013: Richey started four games before breaking his leg on September 10, 2013 against the University of Connecticut. He recorded 15 saves and allowed one goal in limited action, earning a season-opening shutout at Gonzaga. 2012: Richey was named the College Sports Madness Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Pac-12 First Team goalkeeper, as well as Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 Academic team. In the Pac-12 standings, Richey ranked first in goals-against-average at 0.46, fourth in saves with 35, and first in shutouts (5) and save percentage (0.875). He posted a shutout in a 1-0 win versus Air Force in the first round of the NCAA tournament. 2011: During his sophomore season, Richey, started all 18 games, playing every minute. The goalkeeper had a career-high nine shutouts, and also had career-highs in saves with 37, GAA with 0.75 and minutes played with 1,685. He finished with a 12W-4L-2D record, allowing only 14 only goals, going 3W-2L-1D against ranked opponents. The goalkeeper was named to the All-Pac 12 Second Team. 2010: Richey started 10 of the 11 matches he played in during his freshman year, logging 929 minutes and allowing just nine goals and a 0.87 goals against average. He posted six shutouts, finishing with a 6W-4L-0D record and a 0.804 save percentage. He earned his first start versus Evansville on September 3, 2010 and picked up his first collegiate win and shutout two days later versus Northern Illinois on September 5.

USL PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
2013: In his final United Soccer League Premier Development League (PDL) season, Richey, posted a 3W-4L-1D season with Washington Crossfire. The goalkeeper made 49 saves while posting a career PDL high 0.985 goals-against-average and adding two shutouts. 2012: Playing for the Portland Timbers U-23, Richey finished the regular season with nine wins, three shutouts and a 0.970 GAA. Richey helped the Timbers win their first round playoff against Kitsap before falling to Ventura in the second round. 2011: During his final PDL season with the Seattle Sounders, Richey, tallied 29 saves in eight starts. 2010: In his first PDL season, Richey, started four games posting a 1.00 GAA. Richey won his first game May 28, 2010 when Seattle beat Kitsap 4-1 and later earned his first shutout against Washington Crossfire on June 16, 2010.

INTERNATIONAL
U-20: Richey was included in a U-20 national camp from December 16 to 23, 2009 in Chula Vista, California. U-17: The goalkeeper was a member of the U-17 USA men’s national team that competed in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup that was held in Nigeria. Prior to the World Cup, the USA travelled to England for a pair of friendlies against premier league academy teams, where Richey saw second half action on September 23, 2009 in a 3-1 win against the Chelsea U-17 team. Before leaving for England, Team USA travelled to Brazil for the Copa Macae, a tournament that they won. Richey, earned shutouts in both of his starts, 1-0 against Arsul on July 19, 2009 and two days later 4-0 against Clube Cidad do Sol. On Team USA’s tour of South America, they played in the Copa Ciudad de Rosario, a tournament held in Argentina. Richey earned a 3-1 win in his lone match of the tournament, a game against Argentinian side Artsul Futebol Clube on July 9, 2009. To qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, the USA needed to place in the top four of the 2009 U-17 CONCACAF Championships. Richey made one start for the USA, their final group match which proved to be their last match of the tournament as an influenza outbreak ended the tournament before the championship round could begin. In the match Richey, posted a 3-0 shutout against Honduras, earning the USA a first place finish in their group and qualification to the U-17 FIFA World Cup. Leading up to the 2009 U-17 CONCACAF Championships, Richey earned a 0-0 draw against Venezuela on March 12, 2009. The goalkeeper was included in team USA’s Spain training camp from February 14 to 22. Prior to the training camp in Spain, Richey earned a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in the final group match of the La Serena Cup, a tournament USA won. Richey earned his first U-17 USA victory and shutout November 5, 2008, when his team beat U-18 Britigny 2-0 on a tour of France. On August 9, 2009, Richey earned a 2-2 draw against Venezuela during a friendly match. Earning his first U-17 national team cap, Richey allowed three goals in a 3-1 defeat to Japan on March 20, 2008 in the Mondial Minimes Montaigo Vendee.    

AMATEUR/YOUTH
Richey played youth soccer with Crossfire Premier of the United States Soccer Development Association (USSDA).The goalkeeper was named a 2009 Parade All-American and 2009 NSCAA All-American.

PERSONAL
Born in Seattle, Washington, Richey moved to Florida when he was 15 to join the USA national centre. Richey’s parents are Bill and Colleen. He has one sister, Mallory, and one brother, Chris.

INTERESTING FACTS
Richey played with Whitecaps FC striker Erik Hurtado at Portland during the 2012 PDL season. He faced Whitecaps FC players Octavio Rivero and Nicolas Mezquida when Uruguay played USA in an U-17 friendly on July 4, 2008. In 2009, Richey’s USA U-17 team played against Russell Teibert and Canada during the 2009 U-17 CONCACAF Championships. Richey’s hobbies include listening to all kinds of music and hanging out with friends.