For Sacramento Republic FC fans, there are sure to be plenty of familiar faces on both sides of Bonney Field’s pitch this Saturday when the club hosts their MLS affiliates, the San Jose Earthquakes, in a preseason friendly.
On Feb. 10, Republic FC and the Earthquakes announced that they renewed their affiliation agreement for the 2016 season and hope only to strengthen the relationship throughout the season.
“Our affiliation is just one aspect of the relationship we have built with the Earthquakes since we launched as a club,” said Sacramento Republic FC Co-Founder and President Warren Smith. “The past two years, the Earthquakes have been amazing to us, not only by loaning players, but also by being a partner in our growth as an organization and sharing our vision to build the game in Northern California.”
Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle sees the relationship between the two clubs being closer than ever this season.
“The relationship is up and running, the relationship is good. I don’t foresee that changing in any way, I only see it improving,” said Buckle to Indomitable City Soccer. “I went down for a meeting not so long ago to speak with the technical staff at the Quakes and it was an excellent meeting. The relationship is very strong. I’m looking forward to being able to support them, and certainly them being able to support us.”
Over the course of Republic FC’s short history, numerous Quakes players have spent time on loan with the club as part of the affiliation agreement between the two sides, but former loan players such as a JJ Koval, Tommy Thompson and Adam Jahn are not the only players with ties to both clubs and the Sacramento region as a whole.
To-date, five current and former Quakes players have spent time on loan to Republic FC during the club’s 2014 and 2015 seasons.
In 2014, forwards Adam Jahn and Mike Fucito and midfielders Tommy Thompson and JJ Koval spent time on loan with Republic FC during their USL championship season. Jahn scored seven goals with Republic FC, the third most on the team, that season.
The following season, Thompson and Koval returned on loan to Republic FC with forward Mark Sherrod late into Republic FC’s regular season, playing pivotal roles for Republic FC as they earned a USL playoff berth. The trio made nine combined appearances as Republic FC went an undefeated 3-0-2 in their final five regular-season matches.
While loans are a critical part of the ties between Republic FC and the Quakes, they are not the only ties between the clubs. Some of the more unique ties range from family ties such as Jahn’s sister, Erica Jahn, working in Republic FC front office to Koval appearing alongside Republic FC midfielder Danny Barrera in the movie Kicking and Screaming.
For Sacramento Republic FC fans, there are sure to be plenty of familiar faces on both sides of Bonney Field’s pitch this Saturday when the club hosts their MLS affiliates, the San Jose Earthquakes, in a preseason friendly.
On Feb. 10, Republic FC and the Earthquakes announced that they renewed their affiliation agreement for the 2016 season and hope only to strengthen the relationship throughout the season.
“Our affiliation is just one aspect of the relationship we have built with the Earthquakes since we launched as a club,” said Sacramento Republic FC Co-Founder and President Warren Smith. “The past two years, the Earthquakes have been amazing to us, not only by loaning players, but also by being a partner in our growth as an organization and sharing our vision to build the game in Northern California.”
Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle sees the relationship between the two clubs being closer than ever this season.
“The relationship is up and running, the relationship is good. I don’t foresee that changing in any way, I only see it improving,” said Buckle to Indomitable City Soccer. “I went down for a meeting not so long ago to speak with the technical staff at the Quakes and it was an excellent meeting. The relationship is very strong. I’m looking forward to being able to support them, and certainly them being able to support us.”
Over the course of Republic FC’s short history, numerous Quakes players have spent time on loan with the club as part of the affiliation agreement between the two sides, but former loan players such as a JJ Koval, Tommy Thompson and Adam Jahn are not the only players with ties to both clubs and the Sacramento region as a whole.
To-date, five current and former Quakes players have spent time on loan to Republic FC during the club’s 2014 and 2015 seasons.
In 2014, forwards Adam Jahn and Mike Fucito and midfielders Tommy Thompson and JJ Koval spent time on loan with Republic FC during their USL championship season. Jahn scored seven goals with Republic FC, the third most on the team, that season.
The following season, Thompson and Koval returned on loan to Republic FC with forward Mark Sherrod late into Republic FC’s regular season, playing pivotal roles for Republic FC as they earned a USL playoff berth. The trio made nine combined appearances as Republic FC went an undefeated 3-0-2 in their final five regular-season matches.
While loans are a critical part of the ties between Republic FC and the Quakes, they are not the only ties between the clubs. Some of the more unique ties range from family ties such as Jahn’s sister, Erica Jahn, working in Republic FC front office to Koval appearing alongside Republic FC midfielder Danny Barrera in the movie Kicking and Screaming.
Other player ties between the clubs and the Sacramento region as a whole include Quakes forward Quincy Amarikwa who spent his college career just down the road at UC Davis. Amarikwa played for the Aggies from 2006 to 2008, where he helped lead his team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 2008.
Republic FC goalkeeper Dom Jakubek also has ties to the Quakes: he was college teammates at Chico State with San Jose forward and US Men’s National Team player Chris Wondolowski. The two help lead Chico State to a victory the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship. The two have yet to meet on the pitch as opponents during a Republic FC vs Quakes match, despite the club meeting four times previously.
Other player ties between the clubs and the Sacramento region as a whole include Quakes forward Quincy Amarikwa who spent his college career just down the road at UC Davis. Amarikwa played for the Aggies from 2006 to 2008, where he helped lead his team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 2008.
Republic FC goalkeeper Dom Jakubek also has ties to the Quakes: he was college teammates at Chico State with San Jose forward and US Men’s National Team player Chris Wondolowski. The two help lead Chico State to a victory the 2003 NCAA Division II National Championship. The two have yet to meet on the pitch as opponents during a Republic FC vs Quakes match, despite the club meeting four times previously.
Additionally, both Jahn and Thompson are Sacramento region natives. Jahn, a Davis native, graduated from Jesuit High School and spent his youth career with Davis Legacy. Thompson meanwhile went to Granite Bay High School, where he helped the Grizzles become one of the top prep programs in the nation while playing with local youth club Blues FC. His brother, Tyler Thompson, also of Granite Bay, was picked by the Quakes in the third round of the 2016 MLS Superdraft and is currently part of their preseason camp.
Republic FC’s new goalkeeper Evan Newton has his own ties to San Jose. Newton played for the Quakes in 2012 and 2013 after being drafted by the Houston Dynamo in 2011.
“It will be good to see some of my buddies from that team,” said Newton to the Sacramento Bee. “But it’s just another opportunity for us to sharpen up and get better as a team. Hopefully, we come out and give the fans something fun to watch and something good to cheer about.”
Sacramento Republic FC host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Bonney Field. Kickoff is 5 p.m. There will be no radio or TV broadcast or live stream for the match, but live updates will be provided via @SacRepublicFC and #SACvSJ on Twitter.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Additionally, both Jahn and Thompson are Sacramento region natives. Jahn, a Davis native, graduated from Jesuit High School and spent his youth career with Davis Legacy. Thompson meanwhile went to Granite Bay High School, where he helped the Grizzles become one of the top prep programs in the nation while playing with local youth club Blues FC. His brother, Tyler Thompson, also of Granite Bay, was picked by the Quakes in the third round of the 2016 MLS Superdraft and is currently part of their preseason camp.
Republic FC’s new goalkeeper Evan Newton has his own ties to San Jose. Newton played for the Quakes in 2012 and 2013 after being drafted by the Houston Dynamo in 2011.
“It will be good to see some of my buddies from that team,” said Newton to the Sacramento Bee. “But it’s just another opportunity for us to sharpen up and get better as a team. Hopefully, we come out and give the fans something fun to watch and something good to cheer about.”
Sacramento Republic FC host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Bonney Field. Kickoff is 5 p.m. There will be no radio or TV broadcast or live stream for the match, but live updates will be provided via @SacRepublicFC and #SACvSJ on Twitter.