Since the first day of preseason training camp in February, Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle has worked to build a united team that could earn wins and make a deep run in the 2016 USL Playoffs.
“Well first off, I want to win the league. I want to win the title,” said Buckle after Republic FC’s 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy II in their final home match of the regular season on Saturday. “Obviously that’s a major thing for me. I want us to be the best in our division. So that’s the first thing I want us to do because we’ve never done that as a club. So that’s something that I want to do.”
While Republic FC won the 2014 USL championship title, they have yet to win a regular season title, finishing second behind regular season champions Orlando City SC in 2014 and coming in fourth in the Western Conference in 2015.
This weekend, Buckle hopes to change the lack of regular season titles in club history.
The goal of winning the Western Conference is in reach for Republic FC if things go well with a win—or even possibly a draw—on Saturday, when Republic FC wrap up their regular season at Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 5:30 p.m. PT.
The message Buckle is sending to his squad is simple: win.
“That’ll be the message this week and we’ll need to go to Tulsa and be on the top of our game,” said Buckle.
Even if they win against Roughnecks FC, Republic FC will need some help from the results of other matches this weekend to win the West. Currently, the boys in Old Glory Red are in second place in the West with a 13-6-10 record and 49 points behind Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (14-8-7, 49 points) based on USL tiebreaking rules.
Republic FC can win their conference two different ways on Saturday. The first and easiest scenario is earning three points against Tulsa to finish the season with 52 points, while a Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC draw or loss to Orange County Blues FC would mean they finish behind Republic FC with either 50 or 49 points.
With a win, Republic FC will be guaranteed a top-two finish in the conference—regardless of the results of other matches—securing a conference semi-final at Bonney Field should Republic FC win their first playoff match.
Alternatively, Republic FC can squeak by and win the conference with a draw, but the road to the title would become increasingly reliant on the other results on Saturday. Should Republic FC draw and finish the season with 50 points, in order for them to win the conference, Switchbacks FC must lose to finish the season with 49 points and Rio Grande Valley FC would need to draw or lose to San Antonio FC to finish with just 48 or 49 points.
Since the first day of preseason training camp in February, Sacramento Republic FC Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle has worked to build a united team that could earn wins and make a deep run in the 2016 USL Playoffs.
“Well first off, I want to win the league. I want to win the title,” said Buckle after Republic FC’s 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy II in their final home match of the regular season on Saturday. “Obviously that’s a major thing for me. I want us to be the best in our division. So that’s the first thing I want us to do because we’ve never done that as a club. So that’s something that I want to do.”
While Republic FC won the 2014 USL championship title, they have yet to win a regular season title, finishing second behind regular season champions Orlando City SC in 2014 and coming in fourth in the Western Conference in 2015.
This weekend, Buckle hopes to change the lack of regular season titles in club history.
The goal of winning the Western Conference is in reach for Republic FC if things go well with a win—or even possibly a draw—on Saturday, when Republic FC wrap up their regular season at Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 5:30 p.m. PT.
The message Buckle is sending to his squad is simple: win.
“That’ll be the message this week and we’ll need to go to Tulsa and be on the top of our game,” said Buckle.
Even if they win against Roughnecks FC, Republic FC will need some help from the results of other matches this weekend to win the West. Currently, the boys in Old Glory Red are in second place in the West with a 13-6-10 record and 49 points behind Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (14-8-7, 49 points) based on USL tiebreaking rules.
Republic FC can win their conference two different ways on Saturday. The first and easiest scenario is earning three points against Tulsa to finish the season with 52 points, while a Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC draw or loss to Orange County Blues FC would mean they finish behind Republic FC with either 50 or 49 points.
With a win, Republic FC will be guaranteed a top-two finish in the conference—regardless of the results of other matches—securing a conference semi-final at Bonney Field should Republic FC win their first playoff match.
Alternatively, Republic FC can squeak by and win the conference with a draw, but the road to the title would become increasingly reliant on the other results on Saturday. Should Republic FC draw and finish the season with 50 points, in order for them to win the conference, Switchbacks FC must lose to finish the season with 49 points and Rio Grande Valley FC would need to draw or lose to San Antonio FC to finish with just 48 or 49 points.
While Republic FC does not completely control their destiny this weekend, Buckle is focusing on what they can control—their own match against Roughnecks FC—a message he immediately communicated to his players after their home draw against Los Dos last weekend.
“The huddle in the middle after the game [on Saturday] was to thank them and to say ‘look. Let’s live our lives right this week on and off the field,” said Buckle. “And let’s go to Tulsa and mean business, because it would be an achievement if we could do it.”
Republic FC hit the road for their final regular season match of the season against Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Republic FC fans can watch the match at the club’s official watch party at de Vere’s Irish Pub or online via the USL Youtube Channel.
With Buckle’s message of needing to earn a win on Saturday, Republic FC players are treating their last road match as if the playoffs are already starting.
“We’re thinking of [this]…in terms that Tulsa is a playoff game,” said defender Chris Christian. “We want to finish the season strong and get as many points as possible. I think the mentality in training this week and leading up to the game is: this is playoffs. We can’t turn it on late, we’ve got to start preparing now.”
Regardless of Saturday’s results, the team knows that they also need to begin preparing for the postseason ahead.
Republic FC will host a first round match for the 2016 USL Playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. against an opponent that will be determined by the final Western Conference standings.
Buckle hopes the advantage of securing a home match will pay off for the boys in Old Glory Red, who went 7-3-5 at Bonney Field this season.
“I think it will be special, most importantly for the fans because of their support. With what the city does for us, giving back to us as we try to give it all on the field, it’s a treat for them, ” said Christian.
Tickets to Republic FC’s playoff match on Oct. 1 go on sale on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com. The match will also be streamed live via the USL YouTube page and www.sacrepublicfc.com.
While Republic FC does not completely control their destiny this weekend, Buckle is focusing on what they can control—their own match against Roughnecks FC—a message he immediately communicated to his players after their home draw against Los Dos last weekend.
“The huddle in the middle after the game [on Saturday] was to thank them and to say ‘look. Let’s live our lives right this week on and off the field,” said Buckle. “And let’s go to Tulsa and mean business, because it would be an achievement if we could do it.”
Republic FC hit the road for their final regular season match of the season against Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Republic FC fans can watch the match at the club’s official watch party at de Vere’s Irish Pub or online via the USL Youtube Channel.
With Buckle’s message of needing to earn a win on Saturday, Republic FC players are treating their last road match as if the playoffs are already starting.
“We’re thinking of [this]…in terms that Tulsa is a playoff game,” said defender Chris Christian. “We want to finish the season strong and get as many points as possible. I think the mentality in training this week and leading up to the game is: this is playoffs. We can’t turn it on late, we’ve got to start preparing now.”
Regardless of Saturday’s results, the team knows that they also need to begin preparing for the postseason ahead.
Republic FC will host a first round match for the 2016 USL Playoffs on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. against an opponent that will be determined by the final Western Conference standings.
Buckle hopes the advantage of securing a home match will pay off for the boys in Old Glory Red, who went 7-3-5 at Bonney Field this season.
“I think it will be special, most importantly for the fans because of their support. With what the city does for us, giving back to us as we try to give it all on the field, it’s a treat for them, ” said Christian.
Tickets to Republic FC’s playoff match on Oct. 1 go on sale on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com. The match will also be streamed live via the USL YouTube page and www.sacrepublicfc.com.
