MEET THE RGA TEAM

AMANDA FORESTER

President and Technical director

Originally from Virginia Beach, Va, Coach Amanda has been in the soccer world for 25 plus years. More than 10 years playing experience and 14 years of coaching.  Her playing experience ranges from the Inaugural United Soccer League's 2003 Super Y League with the Hampton Roads Piranhas where she helped lead her team to the National Finals to Southeastern District ODP and VA State ODP Teams. Her coaching style and foundation first began with the Virginia Rush Travel Soccer Club programs, Kellam High School Varsity team, and continued through her collegiate soccer career at Ferrum College (NCAA DIII, ODAC).  

In Fall 2004, Coach Amanda became the youngest Director of Goalkeeping at the age of 17 for the Old Dominion Select Travel Soccer Club. She later worked with various PDP programs and travel teams with the Roanoke Stars Travel Soccer, Richmond Kickers, FC Richmond, and offered private coaching throughout the state of Virginia.  

Over the last 15 years she has expanded from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Central Virginia and Northern Virginia helping goalkeepers and field players excel and move on to the D1, D2, D3 collegiate levels, High School Varsity, ECNL, Elite Travel teams, Eastern Regional ODP, VA State ODP and Southeastern, Southwestern and Central District ODP teams, and Semi-professional.

Her biggest focus and coaching style are developing complete goalkeepers. Mentally, physically, as leaders on and off the field, and game ready. Coach Amanda's mentors and former coaches include Jay Hoffman (former Boston Breakers Head Coach and US Women's National Team Coach), Steve O'neil (former Director of Goalkeeping for USL W-League Hampton Roads Piranhas and Va Rush Soccer Club, and Jon Busch (recently retired 21-year MLS Goalkeeper and US Men's National Team member).

Coach Amanda is currently RGA's Head Goalkeeping Coach, the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club Goalkeeping Coach/Director (shared role) and current Assistant Coach/Goalkeeping Coach for Marymount University Women's and Men's Soccer Programs (Atlantic East Conference NCAA DIII). She resides in Richmond, Va and is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and developing the next generation of leaders in our sport and community. Her background is in business development, public speaking and coaching. She has been invited to come speak on mentorship, coaching and leadership in various settings with both the youth and adults.

Certifications: Safesport Certified
NIKO ROROS

Assistant Goalkeeping Coach

Niko Roros is a Greek-American Goalkeeper. During his youth career he played for Sparrows Point High School. Then going on to play Division l NJCAA Soccer for The Community College of Baltimore County at Catonsville & Essex, before transferring to Harford Community College (Division l NJCAA) in July of 2016. Finishing his amateur/ collegiate career at Point Park University (NAIA- Pittsburgh, PA).

During this time Niko was invited to play for Beyond Sports International Team - Italy Tour (June 2018) & was a player/ GK coach for the Baltimore Kings U-23’s (Summer 2019). Niko will be attending the Soccer Management Institute in Rome, Italy, where he will receive a Masters Degree in Soccer Coaching, a UEFA B license while playing for the SMI Academy. Niko is 1 of 50 to attend the institute for the2020-21 season, starting in August 2020.
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We are excited to have Niko on board with us. His love for the game and helping all goalkeepers elevate their the next level is appreciated by all! Niko will be working on the field and virtually with our RGA GKs and RGA @ Home Virtual Clients.

Certifications: Safesport Certified
SAMANtha leshnak Murphy

Co-head goalkeeping coach

Currently one of three pro NWSL Goalkeepers for the NC Courage, Coach Sam has had a spectacular career from early on. Sam's career began in her hometown of Liberty Township, Ohio where she played for the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy ECNL girls team. Sam has been apart of the US National Team cycle since age 13. Earning her first CAP with the U17 USWNT against the U18 German WNT.  After high school she continued her career at UNC Chapel Hill playing under legendary Head Coach, Anson Dorrance and Goalkeeping Coach, Chris Ducar.  Breaking records as UNC's starting GK, she is most remembered for not allowing a goal in 1,119 minutes and 23 seconds her senior year and  she was only the third Tar Heel goalkeeper in history to win a penalty kick shootout, joining U.S. National Team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris against Virginia in 2007 ACC Tournament and Bryane Heaberlin against Baylor in 2012 NCAA Tournament. Her six saves versus UCLA in NCAA quarterfinals matched her career high in a game.

Sam has a heart and passion for the development of RGA's GKs that is unmatched. Her dedication to their development on the field and off is what makes her unique. We are honored to have her apart of our staff and leading camps, clinics, and virtual coaching sessions.

Certifications: Safesport Certified
Jon Busch

RGA @ Home Technical Director

Busch is best remembered for his captivating saves, despite his shorter stature for an elite goalkeeper, and spent most of his 21-year professional playing years in Major League Soccer, appearing for the Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes. Busch also represented the United States at both the youth and senior level. Arguably his best season was in 2008 when he was named MLS. Goalkeeper of the Year. As of the end of the 2015 season, Busch was ranked fourth in MLS history in number of shutouts. Busch earned his first, and only cap for the United States on March 9, 2005. He shut out Colombia in a friendly. He has also represented the U.S. at the U-17 and U-20 levels, as well as having played in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan.  In May 2018, Busch made one last transfer move back to his first MLS club, Columbus Crew SC and retired from Major League Soccer. In 2019, Jon was named to the USMNT staff as the U23s and U20s Goalkeeper Coach. He continues to train US Soccer National Team GKs, MLS, NWSL, USL Pro Gks and is a tremendous asset to RGA GKs.  Jon has worked with the RGA team and GKs for the last two years at our camps and virtually assisting them with technical, mental and tactical training. We are excited to have Jon apart of our team and continuing to train our RGA GKs. Jon will continue to lead virtual trainings, our RGA @ Home program, and camps.

Certifications: Safesport Certified
YULia Hayes

AssistanT Goalkeeping Coach

Yulia has been a stand-out goalkeeper and known by many as an incredible encourager, role model and friend in the Central Virginia Soccer community.

She has excelled academically and on the field. She finished out her senior year at Banner Christian and with the U19 Richmond Strikers Elite Team, VA Central District and State ODP. She committed and signed with the Citadel, Division 1 women's soccer program and is apart of their Class of 2023.

Yulia has been a Richmond Goalkeeping Academy GK Student for more than 5 years. Her knowledge and love for the game and next generation is something special and unique in itself. In addition to Coaching for RGA, she has returned to coach at Banner and other schools in Richmond as well.

We are privledged and honored to have her apart of the RGA Coaching Staff.
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Certifications: Safesport Certified
Alice Funez

PT, Certified Strength & Conditioning COACH

Alice is known throughout the Richmond, VA youth strength and conditioning community. Currently she helps head up the Steward School Strength and Conditioning program as one of their coaches. Her specialties include ACL & injury prehab, progressive programing post PT rehab, strength and conditioning in speed, power, and healthy weight gain training.

She is a NASM certified personal trainer, a Mobility WOD Movement and Mobility Specialist, and is certified in Biomechanics and Human Movement, DBC Level 1.Alice is currently pursuing her doctorates in physical therapy. She is a huge asset and brings so much to our academy and gks. She will be leading the small group strength and conditioning sessions and is also available for private lessons with GKs, Field Players, and parents as well.

Alice resides in Richmond,Va with her husband and two sons. She loves family, fun, adventure and helping individuals achieve their personal and physical goals.
Mario Sequeira Quesada

Assistant Goalkeeping Coach
and RGA coaching intern

Mario currently plays for a local D1 University here in Richmond, Va. Prior to playing in college, Mario played for the soccer team Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. He entered the team through the youth system at 9 years of age. Mario played for each age group and became the starter and captain of Saprissa’s second team, leading to his professional debut with the first team in 2016. Mario played in the U-20 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers and participated in the 2017 U-20 FIFA World Cup in South Korea with Costa Rica’s U-20 National Team. Mario looks forward to becoming a professional soccer player and is currently pursuing his masters in sports leadership.

We are excited to have Mario join the RGA and VSA staff. He is very skilled, knowledgable in the game and has a strong passion to help RGA and all of our goalkeepers grow and achieve their goals.
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Certifications: SafeSport Certified
Our Lil' CEO

RGA's VOLUNTEER COACH (COACH AMANDA's NEPHEW)

Marlana Barnard

Assistant Technical Coach for Virginia
Soccer Academy & Strength Coach

We welcomed Coach Marlana (aka Mars) to our RGA staff in June 2019. We are so excited to have her! She grew up in Northern Virginia starting her soccer career with the McLean Soccer Club and later transferred to the Bethesda Freedom ECNL team across the Potomac River with the Potomac Soccer Club. She led the team in scoring 4 out of 5 years as she was named to the Washington Freedom Super-Y Team, semi pro team.

She was a 4-year collegiate starter as a Forward at Roanoke College starting in 2012. By the end of her sophomore season, she registered 15 goals and 5 assists and led her team scoring. She has been honored as a Forward on the All-ODAC conference soccer team. She excelled in academics off the field and was named ODAC All-Academic Team all 4 years.

Today, Coach Mars is excited to offer her own experience for the benefit of the next generation. She specializes in coaching field players and strength and conditioning. She is available for booking for field players in the area. In addition to strength training she coaches small group field players and 1on1 private training.

Certifications: Safesport Certified
"Under Amanda's tutelage, my son progressed rapidly from academy GK to first string travel GK. His understanding of positioning and ability to read the intentions of players grew in ways that hard work alone could never have produced. Considering the cost of annual soccer dues, every hour with Amanda was a bargain."

- Philip Walker