Sacramento Republic FC will need to be firing on all cylinders when they visit L.A. Galaxy II this Saturday, May 7. Republic FC face Galaxy II for the first time since the 2015 Western Conference Playoffs and are looking to break the losing streak and goal drought currently plaguing the club. The stats are in Sacramento’s favor, with a record of 5-1-2 against their Southern California rivals. Republic FC are 4-0-1 all-time at StubHub Center, including a match against Chivas USA reserves in 2014.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, get to know Republic FC’s opponent, LA Galaxy II.
HEAD COACH
Leading the charge for Los Dos is Head Coach Curt Onalfo, who has led the club since its inaugural year in 2014. During his first season, Onalfo led Galaxy II to a fourth place finish in the USL regular season with record of 15-6-7, but the club was eliminated from the playoffs in the semifinals by Republic FC. In 2015, Onalfo took Los Dos all the way to the USL Championship, but fell to the Rochester Rhinos.
Onalfo has a long history with Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena, playing for him at the University of Virginia before joining him as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2003 through 2006. After his time with U.S. Soccer, Onalfo got his first head coaching job with the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting Kansas City, and led the club to the MLS playoffs twice. He left the club in 2009 and was later hired by DC United for the 2010 season. He returned to the Galaxy in 2011 as an assistant coach and helped the club to their third MLS Cup before he moved on to coach Los Dos.
Before coaching, Onalfo spent four years playing in the MLS, including with the Galaxy, where he won the inaugural MLS Cup. Onalfo also played professionally in France and Mexico.
MLS AFFILIATE
In 2014, LA Galaxy became the first MLS team to field their own team in the USL, following the formation of the partnership between the two leagues the previous year. Having their own reserve team in the USL has allowed Los Dos to continue forming their younger players by giving them more playing time at a competitive level, both players coming up from the academy or those signed to the first team. This season, Bradford Jamieson IV, Oscar Sorto, Raul Mendiola, Jose Villareal, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Dan Kennedy, Dave Romney, Clement Diop, and Ariel Lassiter, all signed to the Galaxy first team, have seen time with Galaxy II. Several Galaxy academy players have also signed with Los Dos since 2014.
KEY PLAYERS
Defender Lee Nishanian has started and played in all but one of the Galaxy II’s eight USL matches in 2016. In those 630 minutes played, Nishanian has recorded one assist and two shots, with one on target. The 24-year-old defender already has more starts this season than in 2015 where he had six in 10 appearances. This season, Nishanian was named to the USL Team of the Week for his solid performance in Galaxy II’s 1-1 tie against San Antonio FC during Week Four.
Just a few weeks into the season, forward Jack McBean has already surpassed his six goals from last season. McBean leads the Galaxy II offense with nine goals in eight appearances, and is also the leading goal scorer in the USL, two goals ahead of Louisville FC’s Chandler Hoffman. Against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, McBean scored his first hat trick of the season. McBean was named to the USL Team of the Week during week two for his brace in Galaxy II’s 3-0 win over Saint Louis FC.
Goalkeeper Clement Diop is back in goal this season for Los Dos as a loan player from the Galaxy first team and already has three shutouts in his five appearances. In 2015, Diop played and started 24 matches for Galaxy II, recording eight shutouts in the regular season and two in the USL playoffs. After his outstanding performance in 2015, Diop signed to the Galaxy first team. Originally from Paris, France, Diop was formed in the ranks of French club Amiens SC, playing regularly for Amiens II in the French third division from 2012 to 2014.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
In February, Galaxy II signed forward Denzel Slager. The Netherlands native signed after spending 2015 with Galaxy II’s crosstown rivals Orange County Blues FC, where he won the USL Western Conference Championship. Last season with the Blues, Slager scored six goals and two assists in 20 appearances (17 starts). Aside from his USL experience, Slager has also played in the Dutch Eredivisie and the English League One.
Midfielder Bryam Rebellon also joined Galaxy II in February. Before signing with Los Dos, Rebellon was playing with Colombian side LLaneros FC in the Categoria Primera B league. Previous to that, Rebellon played with Atletico Sarmiento and Villa Dálmine in Argentina. In 2016, Rebellon has one goal and one assist in four appearances (three starts) for Galaxy II.
Galaxy II also signed defender John Neeskens ahead of the 2016 USL season. Although born in Tulsa, Okla., Neeskans grew up in Barcelona, Spain and spent time in the academy systems of Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona. The 22-year-old defender played in the Spanish Segunda B with clubs CF Badalona and UE Sant Andreu. In the United States, Neeskans has played with the New York Cosmos B and with MLS club Colorado Rapids.
ATTENDANCE
Stubhub Center is the home of Galaxy II. For 2016, the Track and Field Stadium at Stubhub Center has been renovated in order to better accommodate fans, and now features a designated supporters’ section. Last season, Los Dos averaged 900 fans per match, improving on their 2014 attendance of 596 fans per match.
2015 SEASON RECAP
Galaxy II reached the USL playoffs for the second year in a row in 2015. The club improved on their 2014 playoff run, where they had been knocked out in the semifinals by Republic FC in their run to the 2014 USL Championship. Los Dos exacted their revenge in 2015, defeating Republic FC in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on their way to the 2015 USL Championship match where they finished as runners up, losing the championship match to the Rochester Rhinos.
Los Dos finished the regular USL season in fifth place on the Western Conference Standings, one seed below Republic FC, with a record of 14-11-3.
2016 SEASON SO FAR
Galaxy II kicked off this season with two wins in a row before tying four matches in a row in a busy schedule that has had them play eight matches so far.
The Galaxy II snapped their four-match winless streak with a 2-0 win against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC last Saturday before racking up another win against the Colorado Switchbacks on Wednesday. Galaxy II currently hold a record of 4-0-4 and are currently just one of two teams who remain undefeated in the 2016 USL season, along with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
SATURDAY’S MATCH
Republic FC travel to play LA Galaxy II this Saturday, May 7, at Stubhub Center Track and Field Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. It will be live streamed at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Fans can also follow live updates on Twitter @SacRepublicFC or by using the hashtag #LAvsSAC.
Republic FC will host watch parties at both de Vere’s Irish Pub locations in Davis and Sacramento.
Sacramento Republic FC will need to be firing on all cylinders when they visit L.A. Galaxy II this Saturday, May 7. Republic FC face Galaxy II for the first time since the 2015 Western Conference Playoffs and are looking to break the losing streak and goal drought currently plaguing the club. The stats are in Sacramento’s favor, with a record of 5-1-2 against their Southern California rivals. Republic FC are 4-0-1 all-time at StubHub Center, including a match against Chivas USA reserves in 2014.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, get to know Republic FC’s opponent, LA Galaxy II.
HEAD COACH
Leading the charge for Los Dos is Head Coach Curt Onalfo, who has led the club since its inaugural year in 2014. During his first season, Onalfo led Galaxy II to a fourth place finish in the USL regular season with record of 15-6-7, but the club was eliminated from the playoffs in the semifinals by Republic FC. In 2015, Onalfo took Los Dos all the way to the USL Championship, but fell to the Rochester Rhinos.
Onalfo has a long history with Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena, playing for him at the University of Virginia before joining him as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2003 through 2006. After his time with U.S. Soccer, Onalfo got his first head coaching job with the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting Kansas City, and led the club to the MLS playoffs twice. He left the club in 2009 and was later hired by DC United for the 2010 season. He returned to the Galaxy in 2011 as an assistant coach and helped the club to their third MLS Cup before he moved on to coach Los Dos.
Before coaching, Onalfo spent four years playing in the MLS, including with the Galaxy, where he won the inaugural MLS Cup. Onalfo also played professionally in France and Mexico.
MLS AFFILIATE
In 2014, LA Galaxy became the first MLS team to field their own team in the USL, following the formation of the partnership between the two leagues the previous year. Having their own reserve team in the USL has allowed Los Dos to continue forming their younger players by giving them more playing time at a competitive level, both players coming up from the academy or those signed to the first team. This season, Bradford Jamieson IV, Oscar Sorto, Raul Mendiola, Jose Villareal, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Dan Kennedy, Dave Romney, Clement Diop, and Ariel Lassiter, all signed to the Galaxy first team, have seen time with Galaxy II. Several Galaxy academy players have also signed with Los Dos since 2014.
KEY PLAYERS
Defender Lee Nishanian has started and played in all but one of the Galaxy II’s eight USL matches in 2016. In those 630 minutes played, Nishanian has recorded one assist and two shots, with one on target. The 24-year-old defender already has more starts this season than in 2015 where he had six in 10 appearances. This season, Nishanian was named to the USL Team of the Week for his solid performance in Galaxy II’s 1-1 tie against San Antonio FC during Week Four.
Just a few weeks into the season, forward Jack McBean has already surpassed his six goals from last season. McBean leads the Galaxy II offense with nine goals in eight appearances, and is also the leading goal scorer in the USL, two goals ahead of Louisville FC’s Chandler Hoffman. Against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, McBean scored his first hat trick of the season. McBean was named to the USL Team of the Week during week two for his brace in Galaxy II’s 3-0 win over Saint Louis FC.
Goalkeeper Clement Diop is back in goal this season for Los Dos as a loan player from the Galaxy first team and already has three shutouts in his five appearances. In 2015, Diop played and started 24 matches for Galaxy II, recording eight shutouts in the regular season and two in the USL playoffs. After his outstanding performance in 2015, Diop signed to the Galaxy first team. Originally from Paris, France, Diop was formed in the ranks of French club Amiens SC, playing regularly for Amiens II in the French third division from 2012 to 2014.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
In February, Galaxy II signed forward Denzel Slager. The Netherlands native signed after spending 2015 with Galaxy II’s crosstown rivals Orange County Blues FC, where he won the USL Western Conference Championship. Last season with the Blues, Slager scored six goals and two assists in 20 appearances (17 starts). Aside from his USL experience, Slager has also played in the Dutch Eredivisie and the English League One.
Midfielder Bryam Rebellon also joined Galaxy II in February. Before signing with Los Dos, Rebellon was playing with Colombian side LLaneros FC in the Categoria Primera B league. Previous to that, Rebellon played with Atletico Sarmiento and Villa Dálmine in Argentina. In 2016, Rebellon has one goal and one assist in four appearances (three starts) for Galaxy II.
Galaxy II also signed defender John Neeskens ahead of the 2016 USL season. Although born in Tulsa, Okla., Neeskans grew up in Barcelona, Spain and spent time in the academy systems of Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona. The 22-year-old defender played in the Spanish Segunda B with clubs CF Badalona and UE Sant Andreu. In the United States, Neeskans has played with the New York Cosmos B and with MLS club Colorado Rapids.
ATTENDANCE
Stubhub Center is the home of Galaxy II. For 2016, the Track and Field Stadium at Stubhub Center has been renovated in order to better accommodate fans, and now features a designated supporters’ section. Last season, Los Dos averaged 900 fans per match, improving on their 2014 attendance of 596 fans per match.
2015 SEASON RECAP
Galaxy II reached the USL playoffs for the second year in a row in 2015. The club improved on their 2014 playoff run, where they had been knocked out in the semifinals by Republic FC in their run to the 2014 USL Championship. Los Dos exacted their revenge in 2015, defeating Republic FC in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on their way to the 2015 USL Championship match where they finished as runners up, losing the championship match to the Rochester Rhinos.
Los Dos finished the regular USL season in fifth place on the Western Conference Standings, one seed below Republic FC, with a record of 14-11-3.
2016 SEASON SO FAR
Galaxy II kicked off this season with two wins in a row before tying four matches in a row in a busy schedule that has had them play eight matches so far.
The Galaxy II snapped their four-match winless streak with a 2-0 win against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC last Saturday before racking up another win against the Colorado Switchbacks on Wednesday. Galaxy II currently hold a record of 4-0-4 and are currently just one of two teams who remain undefeated in the 2016 USL season, along with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
SATURDAY’S MATCH
Republic FC travel to play LA Galaxy II this Saturday, May 7, at Stubhub Center Track and Field Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. It will be live streamed at www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Fans can also follow live updates on Twitter @SacRepublicFC or by using the hashtag #LAvsSAC.
Republic FC will host watch parties at both de Vere’s Irish Pub locations in Davis and Sacramento.
