Sacramento Republic FC forward Cameron Iwasa was voted USL Player of the Week for Week 13 after scoring his first professional brace in the club’s thrilling 3-2 victory against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Bonney Field on Saturday, June 18. The win moved Republic FC into second place in the USL Western Conference and extended the club’s unbeaten streak to seven matches.
On Saturday, Iwasa set a new record for fastest goal in club history, scoring against the Toros just 38 seconds into the match. Fellow forward Thomas Stewart held the previous record, scoring in the second minute against Colorado Switchbacks FC on August 14, 2015.
“I think we scored an unbelievable goal, I asked the players for a quick start and we got it,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle about Iwasa’s performance. “It was an incredible goal, great move from our right deep, across through them and then Cameron, he’s really looking to play now, Cameron Iwasa. Always a bit worried to say somebody’s name, but he’s just got to believe now because that’s what he can do.”
With five goals in USL play, Iwasa, a Sacramento native, leads Republic FC in goals this season, scoring three in the last two matches. After nearly doubling his minutes of play, Iwasa has quintupled his goal output compared to the 2015, when he had just one goal in his rookie season.
“It’s pretty cool. Whenever you’re a part of history it’s pretty awesome,” said Iwasa about his record breaking goal on Saturday.
Iwasa was named the USL Player of the Week and named to Team of the Week in a landslide vote conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market, capturing 73 percent of the poll.
Iwasa is the second Republic FC player to be named USL Player of the Week and the fifth Republic FC player to earn USL Team of the Week honors this season. Midfielder and loan player Tommy Thompson earned USL Player of the Week honors in Week Eight also for scoring his first professional brace in Republic FC’s 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on May 14.
Defenders James Kiffe, Chris Christian and Emrah Klimenta have also earned USL Team of Week honors this year.
Iwasa is joined on Team of the Week by goalkeeper John Berner (Charlotte Independence); defenders Stephen McCarthy (San Antonio FC), Harrison Delbridge (FC Cincinnati), Enrique Montano (Louisville City FC) and Ashani Fairclough (Wilmington Hammerheads FC); midfielders Michael Thomas (OKC Energy FC) Kevin Kerr (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) and Jasson Ramos Carpio (Tulsa Roughnecks FC); and forwards Anthony Jackson-Hamel (FC Montreal) and Long Tan (Arizona United SC).
Sacramento Republic FC forward Cameron Iwasa was voted USL Player of the Week for Week 13 after scoring his first professional brace in the club’s thrilling 3-2 victory against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Bonney Field on Saturday, June 18. The win moved Republic FC into second place in the USL Western Conference and extended the club’s unbeaten streak to seven matches.
On Saturday, Iwasa set a new record for fastest goal in club history, scoring against the Toros just 38 seconds into the match. Fellow forward Thomas Stewart held the previous record, scoring in the second minute against Colorado Switchbacks FC on August 14, 2015.
“I think we scored an unbelievable goal, I asked the players for a quick start and we got it,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle about Iwasa’s performance. “It was an incredible goal, great move from our right deep, across through them and then Cameron, he’s really looking to play now, Cameron Iwasa. Always a bit worried to say somebody’s name, but he’s just got to believe now because that’s what he can do.”
With five goals in USL play, Iwasa, a Sacramento native, leads Republic FC in goals this season, scoring three in the last two matches. After nearly doubling his minutes of play, Iwasa has quintupled his goal output compared to the 2015, when he had just one goal in his rookie season.
“It’s pretty cool. Whenever you’re a part of history it’s pretty awesome,” said Iwasa about his record breaking goal on Saturday.
Iwasa was named the USL Player of the Week and named to Team of the Week in a landslide vote conducted by a national panel of independent media representing every USL market, capturing 73 percent of the poll.
Iwasa is the second Republic FC player to be named USL Player of the Week and the fifth Republic FC player to earn USL Team of the Week honors this season. Midfielder and loan player Tommy Thompson earned USL Player of the Week honors in Week Eight also for scoring his first professional brace in Republic FC’s 2-0 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on May 14.
Defenders James Kiffe, Chris Christian and Emrah Klimenta have also earned USL Team of Week honors this year.
Iwasa is joined on Team of the Week by goalkeeper John Berner (Charlotte Independence); defenders Stephen McCarthy (San Antonio FC), Harrison Delbridge (FC Cincinnati), Enrique Montano (Louisville City FC) and Ashani Fairclough (Wilmington Hammerheads FC); midfielders Michael Thomas (OKC Energy FC) Kevin Kerr (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) and Jasson Ramos Carpio (Tulsa Roughnecks FC); and forwards Anthony Jackson-Hamel (FC Montreal) and Long Tan (Arizona United SC).
