What a way to kick off your first-ever Sunday league match at home.
This past Sunday afternoon, Republic FC strolled to an emphatic 4-1 win over the visiting OKC Energy FC. Key to the dominating win was a Player-of-the-Week performance from forward Cameron Iwasa who scored three goals and added an assist for good measure.
With the buzz from the win still fresh in our minds, here are three things that stood out from Sunday’s performance:
Iwasa Keeps Making History
Already the club’s all-time leading goal scorer (37 goals and counting), Cameron Iwasa added to his growing list of records by notching his first career hat trick on Sunday.
Not only did he become one of only five players to score a hat trick for the club, but he managed to do it quicker than anyone else. Iwasa was on the field for 27 minutes when he completed the feat, beating out former SRFC forward Tommy Stewart who held the previous record at 28 minutes.
What a way to kick off your first-ever Sunday league match at home.
This past Sunday afternoon, Republic FC strolled to an emphatic 4-1 win over the visiting OKC Energy FC. Key to the dominating win was a Player-of-the-Week performance from forward Cameron Iwasa who scored three goals and added an assist for good measure.
With the buzz from the win still fresh in our minds, here are three things that stood out from Sunday’s performance:
Iwasa Keeps Making History
Already the club’s all-time leading goal scorer (37 goals and counting), Cameron Iwasa added to his growing list of records by notching his first career hat trick on Sunday.
Not only did he become one of only five players to score a hat trick for the club, but he managed to do it quicker than anyone else. Iwasa was on the field for 27 minutes when he completed the feat, beating out former SRFC forward Tommy Stewart who held the previous record at 28 minutes.
The Sacramento native also scored his three goals in the shortest span of time in club history—11 minutes between the first and third strike. That beats out both Rodrigo “RoRo” Lopez and Stewart who had previously both scored hat tricks within a 22-minute span.
Werner Warming Up
Newcomer Sam Werner continues to take advantage of his opportunities. The three-time NCAA champion got his second-ever start in Old Glory Red on Sunday and scored Republic FC’s fourth goal of the afternoon.
With his goal, Werner has now directly impacted the scoresheet in all three of Republic FC’s games so far this season. In the home opener, Werner provided the assist that led to Haris Chantzopoulos’ goal to equalize and rescue a point from the game. Against Colorado Springs, Werner’s surging run down the endline earned Republic FC a penalty kick that Iwasa converted for the lone goal of the match. And on Sunday, he scored his first professional goal to put the game out of reach for OKC.
The Sacramento native also scored his three goals in the shortest span of time in club history—11 minutes between the first and third strike. That beats out both Rodrigo “RoRo” Lopez and Stewart who had previously both scored hat tricks within a 22-minute span.
Werner Warming Up
Newcomer Sam Werner continues to take advantage of his opportunities. The three-time NCAA champion got his second-ever start in Old Glory Red on Sunday and scored Republic FC’s fourth goal of the afternoon.
With his goal, Werner has now directly impacted the scoresheet in all three of Republic FC’s games so far this season. In the home opener, Werner provided the assist that led to Haris Chantzopoulos’ goal to equalize and rescue a point from the game. Against Colorado Springs, Werner’s surging run down the endline earned Republic FC a penalty kick that Iwasa converted for the lone goal of the match. And on Sunday, he scored his first professional goal to put the game out of reach for OKC.
Special Mention:
Chantzopoulos is another new signing who has also been influential in Sacramento’s opening three games. As mentioned, the Greek defender scored Republic FC’s equalizer in the opening match and followed that by helping keep Switchbacks FC scoreless in Week 2. On Sunday, it was Chantzopoulos’ sublime lofted ball to Stefano Bonomo that helped earn Sacramento a penalty kick for their second goal on the afternoon.
Special Mention:
Chantzopoulos is another new signing who has also been influential in Sacramento’s opening three games. As mentioned, the Greek defender scored Republic FC’s equalizer in the opening match and followed that by helping keep Switchbacks FC scoreless in Week 2. On Sunday, it was Chantzopoulos’ sublime lofted ball to Stefano Bonomo that helped earn Sacramento a penalty kick for their second goal on the afternoon.
Roster Depth = Tactical Flexibility
Republic FC’s offseason signings have given Head Coach Simon Elliott added flexibility in setting his starting XI this year. Against OKC on Sunday, the Indomitable Club came out in a 4-3-3 formation that featured some interesting tweaks.
Energy FC is a team that typically plays compactly, which forces opposing teams to play the wings in an effort to stretch the field. The depth afforded by having both Dekel Keinan and Chantzopoulos available allowed Elliott to continue pairing the two at center back and deploy Mitchell Taintor in the right back role instead. This in turn allowed Elliott Hord, normally a fullback, to play in a more advanced position on the wing to maximize his crossing abilities and force the visiting defense to stretch in order to mark the threat posed by the Fresno native.
The move had its intended effect: Taintor found time and space to surge up the right wing and place a perfect cross to Iwasa who volleyed it home for his third goal of the afternoon.
Roster Depth = Tactical Flexibility
Republic FC’s offseason signings have given Head Coach Simon Elliott added flexibility in setting his starting XI this year. Against OKC on Sunday, the Indomitable Club came out in a 4-3-3 formation that featured some interesting tweaks.
Energy FC is a team that typically plays compactly, which forces opposing teams to play the wings in an effort to stretch the field. The depth afforded by having both Dekel Keinan and Chantzopoulos available allowed Elliott to continue pairing the two at center back and deploy Mitchell Taintor in the right back role instead. This in turn allowed Elliott Hord, normally a fullback, to play in a more advanced position on the wing to maximize his crossing abilities and force the visiting defense to stretch in order to mark the threat posed by the Fresno native.
The move had its intended effect: Taintor found time and space to surge up the right wing and place a perfect cross to Iwasa who volleyed it home for his third goal of the afternoon.
Republic FC will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to Washington on Monday, April 1, to take on Tacoma Defiance (formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2). Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Republic FC will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to Washington on Monday, April 1, to take on Tacoma Defiance (formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2). Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
