As Sacramento Republic FC look to continue to climb the USL Western Conference table, consistency and improvement across the pitch—from the goal to the frontline—is the club’s reoccurring theme and focus as they head into final preparations for Saturday’s home match against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC.
“The focus for us has been on concentration on attacking and quality work, as well as continuing our run,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle on the team’s efforts leading into the match. “We’re on a good run in league games unbeaten and we want to preserve that.”
The hard work is paying off both offensively and defensively for the boys in Old Glory Red, who are on a six-match unbeaten streak.
Over the past six matches, Republic FC are averaging a notable 1.67 goals per match, five-times the average goals scored per match during the club’s first six matches of the 2016 USL season.
The increase in offensive work rate, according to forward Cameron Iwasa and defender James Kiffe, is due to teamwork and chemistry, which has allowed more players across the roster to score goals, as opposed to just any individual.
“I think the team chemistry is huge. We’re definitely a lot more comfortable playing with one another and settling in. Now that we’re a few games into the season and finally we’ve got everyone settled in and on the same page. It shows on field,” said Iwasa, who leads the club in goals this season.
“Not only are we scoring more goals, but the combinations leading to those goals are a lot better.”
While strikers like Iwasa finding their mark more often in league play, the defense has also become key part of the club’s offense as well. Defender Emrah Klimenta has notched a goal and two assists, while fellow defender James Kiffe leads the club with three assists.
“Emrah and I are starting to get assists, which is nice,” said Kiffe, “But you’ve got to give credit to forwards for making runs to the box. The way we play, everyone’s got to contribute. It’s not like one person is scoring all the goals, it’s everyone gets to contribute.”
Republic FC continue to lead the Western Conference on defense, allowing just 0.58 goals per match. Additionally, the club has recorded an impressive six shutouts in 12 USL matches, or an average of a shutout every other match. In comparison, Republic FC recorded nine shutouts over the course of a 28-match season in 2015.
According to Buckle, Republic FC’s success finding consistency this season is due to the players’ character and teamwork, as well as the attitude that each player has a part to play, whether or not they are on the pitch during a match.
“We’ve got tremendous characters in the dressing room,” said Buckle after the club’s road win against Real Monarchs on June 11. “We’ve got a group that is very much together and with each other.”
“We spoke about the boys that didn’t get on the field [that match], people like [Mackenzie] Pridham and Maxie [Alvarez], that didn’t get on the field, Chase Minter, [Matt] LaGrassa, [Evan] Newton. These players are a big part in it, they’re all going to play a part,” continued Buckle. “I think we have an incredible spirit. We have no heroes, so to speak. We’re a very workmanlike outfit and the quality is there now, the quality of the goals was very pleasing. We’re on a terrific run in the league and we want to continue it now.”
Republic FC are back in USL play on Saturday, June 16 as they host Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Bonney Field. Prior to Republic FC’s match, there will be a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) between the California Storm and Primero de Mayo at 4 p.m. Former United States Women’s National Team midfielder Brandi Chastain and former Brazil Women’s National Team midfielder Sissi will play for California Storm.
Tickets to the Republic FC match include admission to both matches, as well as a fan Q&A with Chastain and Sissi at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. The match will be broadcast live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Updates will be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or using #SACvRGV.
As Sacramento Republic FC look to continue to climb the USL Western Conference table, consistency and improvement across the pitch—from the goal to the frontline—is the club’s reoccurring theme and focus as they head into final preparations for Saturday’s home match against Rio Grande Valley Toros FC.
“The focus for us has been on concentration on attacking and quality work, as well as continuing our run,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle on the team’s efforts leading into the match. “We’re on a good run in league games unbeaten and we want to preserve that.”
The hard work is paying off both offensively and defensively for the boys in Old Glory Red, who are on a six-match unbeaten streak.
Over the past six matches, Republic FC are averaging a notable 1.67 goals per match, five-times the average goals scored per match during the club’s first six matches of the 2016 USL season.
The increase in offensive work rate, according to forward Cameron Iwasa and defender James Kiffe, is due to teamwork and chemistry, which has allowed more players across the roster to score goals, as opposed to just any individual.
“I think the team chemistry is huge. We’re definitely a lot more comfortable playing with one another and settling in. Now that we’re a few games into the season and finally we’ve got everyone settled in and on the same page. It shows on field,” said Iwasa, who leads the club in goals this season.
“Not only are we scoring more goals, but the combinations leading to those goals are a lot better.”
While strikers like Iwasa finding their mark more often in league play, the defense has also become key part of the club’s offense as well. Defender Emrah Klimenta has notched a goal and two assists, while fellow defender James Kiffe leads the club with three assists.
“Emrah and I are starting to get assists, which is nice,” said Kiffe, “But you’ve got to give credit to forwards for making runs to the box. The way we play, everyone’s got to contribute. It’s not like one person is scoring all the goals, it’s everyone gets to contribute.”
Republic FC continue to lead the Western Conference on defense, allowing just 0.58 goals per match. Additionally, the club has recorded an impressive six shutouts in 12 USL matches, or an average of a shutout every other match. In comparison, Republic FC recorded nine shutouts over the course of a 28-match season in 2015.
According to Buckle, Republic FC’s success finding consistency this season is due to the players’ character and teamwork, as well as the attitude that each player has a part to play, whether or not they are on the pitch during a match.
“We’ve got tremendous characters in the dressing room,” said Buckle after the club’s road win against Real Monarchs on June 11. “We’ve got a group that is very much together and with each other.”
“We spoke about the boys that didn’t get on the field [that match], people like [Mackenzie] Pridham and Maxie [Alvarez], that didn’t get on the field, Chase Minter, [Matt] LaGrassa, [Evan] Newton. These players are a big part in it, they’re all going to play a part,” continued Buckle. “I think we have an incredible spirit. We have no heroes, so to speak. We’re a very workmanlike outfit and the quality is there now, the quality of the goals was very pleasing. We’re on a terrific run in the league and we want to continue it now.”
Republic FC are back in USL play on Saturday, June 16 as they host Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Bonney Field. Prior to Republic FC’s match, there will be a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) between the California Storm and Primero de Mayo at 4 p.m. Former United States Women’s National Team midfielder Brandi Chastain and former Brazil Women’s National Team midfielder Sissi will play for California Storm.
Tickets to the Republic FC match include admission to both matches, as well as a fan Q&A with Chastain and Sissi at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com. The match will be broadcast live on www.sacrepublicfc.com/matchday via the USL Youtube channel. Updates will be provided via Twitter at @SacRepublicFC or using #SACvRGV.
