The playoff-bound boys in Old Glory Red are now unbeaten in nine straight fixtures following Sunday night's six goal thriller at Papa Murphy's Park against Tacoma Defiance.
Late game heroics from Rodrigo Lopez helped Mark Briggs' men collect a point in the standings after the 3-3 result. RoRo's equalizer on the cusp of extra time completed another comeback for the Indomitable Club – trailing first place Reno 1868 FC by five points with three regular season fixtures remaining.
But before the squad starts to look ahead to Saturday night's showdown against Reno in Nevada, it's time to take a look at what the team had on their minds following the result last night.
The playoff-bound boys in Old Glory Red are now unbeaten in nine straight fixtures following Sunday night’s six goal thriller at Papa Murphy’s Park against Tacoma Defiance.
Late game heroics from Rodrigo Lopez helped Mark Briggs’ men collect a point in the standings after the 3-3 result. RoRo’s equalizer on the cusp of extra time completed another comeback for the Indomitable Club – trailing first place Reno 1868 FC by five points with three regular season fixtures remaining.
But before the squad starts to look ahead to Saturday night’s showdown against Reno in Nevada, it’s time to take a look at what the team had on their minds following the result last night.
Head Coach Mark Briggs
Head Coach Mark Briggs
On accountability…
"It's on all of us. It's on myself. It’s on the players. We're all in it together. If it continues to happen, I'm the head coach, I take full responsibility and I take full blame. We need to figure it out because it happens every single game. What we talk about in training and what we work on just isn't going in, we are just not starting."
On players’ interactions with officials…
"The game is supposed to be about the players. It's supposed to be about Tacoma’s players, the Republic players, good football is scoring goals. But we somehow end up talking about other things. We should be enjoying good football, enjoying good players and enjoying what they can do on the field."
On starting Brady Scott…
"It's a switch for Rafa tonight, we just decided to give him a break, let his body heal a little bit and give Brady some minutes. I thought Brady did well for his first professional game. I thought he handled himself well, he communicated well and couldn't really do much about any of the three goals that were against us."
On Juan Barahona’s return…
"I thought Juan was one of our better players. I was extremely pleased to have Juan back on the field. And for him to be back and put in a performance like that and also play 90 minutes, it's credit to Katie and Luke at Results, credit to Betty for getting him back so quickly and getting him back so fit, which enabled him to perform at the level he did on his first day back."
On Kharlton Belmar’s performance…
"Kharlton's in a good run of form, he’s in a good vein of form, he's bringing in a lot for the team. He's a constant threat for the opposition to deal with. And he's strong, he's quick, he's getting assists, he's getting goals. He does everything that you want your #9 to do. And I thought again tonight he was a threat and he stepped up and took the penalty and took it with confidence."
On changing the formation during the game…
"It was just to give us a bit more of a threat higher up the field and play with two center forwards. And allow Juan to get higher up the field and allow Jordan and later Shannon to get higher on the field in wide areas. And obviously young Rafa at the end, Jaime and Roro in the middle of the park. Just to give us another look and allow us to get more bodies forward to try and win the game."
On brining on Frank Lopez…
"Frankie came in last time and had an effect on the game and showed some energy, got himself into dangerous areas. Just a decision. I felt Frankie looked like more of a threat than what I felt Cameron did at the last game and that's why I made that decision tonight."
On accountability…
“It’s on all of us. It’s on myself. It’s on the players. We’re all in it together. If it continues to happen, I’m the head coach, I take full responsibility and I take full blame. We need to figure it out because it happens every single game. What we talk about in training and what we work on just isn’t going in, we are just not starting.”
On players’ interactions with officials…
“The game is supposed to be about the players. It’s supposed to be about Tacoma’s players, the Republic players, good football is scoring goals. But we somehow end up talking about other things. We should be enjoying good football, enjoying good players and enjoying what they can do on the field.”
On starting Brady Scott…
“It’s a switch for Rafa tonight, we just decided to give him a break, let his body heal a little bit and give Brady some minutes. I thought Brady did well for his first professional game. I thought he handled himself well, he communicated well and couldn’t really do much about any of the three goals that were against us.”
On Juan Barahona’s return…
“I thought Juan was one of our better players. I was extremely pleased to have Juan back on the field. And for him to be back and put in a performance like that and also play 90 minutes, it’s credit to Katie and Luke at Results, credit to Betty for getting him back so quickly and getting him back so fit, which enabled him to perform at the level he did on his first day back.”
On Kharlton Belmar’s performance…
“Kharlton’s in a good run of form, he’s in a good vein of form, he’s bringing in a lot for the team. He’s a constant threat for the opposition to deal with. And he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s getting assists, he’s getting goals. He does everything that you want your #9 to do. And I thought again tonight he was a threat and he stepped up and took the penalty and took it with confidence.”
On changing the formation during the game…
“It was just to give us a bit more of a threat higher up the field and play with two center forwards. And allow Juan to get higher up the field and allow Jordan and later Shannon to get higher on the field in wide areas. And obviously young Rafa at the end, Jaime and Roro in the middle of the park. Just to give us another look and allow us to get more bodies forward to try and win the game.”
On brining on Frank Lopez…
“Frankie came in last time and had an effect on the game and showed some energy, got himself into dangerous areas. Just a decision. I felt Frankie looked like more of a threat than what I felt Cameron did at the last game and that’s why I made that decision tonight.”
Kharlton Belmar
Kharlton Belmar
On tonight’s match…
"I don’t have too many words to describe it, it’s extremely disappointing. I hold myself to a higher standard I think this group as a whole holds itself to a higher standard and to come out there and allow three goals, again, and give away another crucial three points. It's one of those things you just have to continue to learn from and continue to keep our eyes on the playoffs because that's quickly approaching and we got to get things right to go in on the sharp foot."
On taking the penalty..
"I saw Darek going for it and I asked him if I could take it and he kindly enough allowed me to. It was good to get off the mark here for Sac and I am looking forward to many more."
On playoff preparations…
"You can only really hope so because the games are coming quick and playoffs are less than 20 days away and we don't really have time to dwell on this, but it's terribly disappointing to give up a game again. We really have to get back to training tomorrow and try to correct these mistakes and come back better next Saturday. Extremely disappointed and just eager to get back out there because I really badly want to put this right."
On opponent’s quick goals…
"It's something that we've been talking about for the past couple of weeks and for whatever reason it keeps happening. It's extremely disappointing because it’s something we focus on so much before the game, to make sure we start on the right foot and we keep having mental lapses in. If we don't give up these goals in the early stages of the game, wewin these games. It's honestly just devastating and extremely frustrating to continue to let this happen. I am frustrated to the point where I just want to get back on the field and make sure we get this thing right. I want to win and I know this group does too but it's time to stop talking about it and just go out there and do it."
On tonight’s match…
“I don’t have too many words to describe it, it’s extremely disappointing. I hold myself to a higher standard I think this group as a whole holds itself to a higher standard and to come out there and allow three goals, again, and give away another crucial three points. It’s one of those things you just have to continue to learn from and continue to keep our eyes on the playoffs because that’s quickly approaching and we got to get things right to go in on the sharp foot.”
On taking the penalty..
“I saw Darek going for it and I asked him if I could take it and he kindly enough allowed me to. It was good to get off the mark here for Sac and I am looking forward to many more.”
On playoff preparations…
“You can only really hope so because the games are coming quick and playoffs are less than 20 days away and we don’t really have time to dwell on this, but it’s terribly disappointing to give up a game again. We really have to get back to training tomorrow and try to correct these mistakes and come back better next Saturday. Extremely disappointed and just eager to get back out there because I really badly want to put this right.”
On opponent’s quick goals…
“It’s something that we’ve been talking about for the past couple of weeks and for whatever reason it keeps happening. It’s extremely disappointing because it’s something we focus on so much before the game, to make sure we start on the right foot and we keep having mental lapses in. If we don’t give up these goals in the early stages of the game, wewin these games. It’s honestly just devastating and extremely frustrating to continue to let this happen. I am frustrated to the point where I just want to get back on the field and make sure we get this thing right. I want to win and I know this group does too but it’s time to stop talking about it and just go out there and do it.”
Hayden Sargis
Hayden Sargis
On tonight’s match…
"Yeah, frustrating to give up three goals as a team, obviously we have a higher standard for us, and especially to give up an early one. It's been three games in a row. So, I mean it can't happen again and overall it has to be better. There were good moments, but more than less it needs to be better from the team, all of us."
On remaining opponents…
"I think every team is going to come after us because of who we are, so either the opponent or whatever it is, it needs to be sharper from us, and like I said earlier, three times in a row and in the beginning of the game, it can't happen."
On accountability…
"I think we all take the blame, just as much as one person it's all of us. It's a whole team, so the whole team could do better and each situation to maybe prevent the goal, but it's upsetting."
On facing off against Tacoma…
"Like Kharlton said, starting the game early, and not going off with the right foot, it costs us giving up the lead early. Now we're chasing from behind, and that happened two times this season, so maybe come in with a better mindset, but be sharper."
On playing next to Dekel…
"It's a great playing with him, you know. I said in a conversation with you before that I look up to him so much from where he's come from so to play alongside him. It was great I learned so much and he helped me out and I helped him out."
On the comfort with the back line…
"I feel comfortable with playing with any of them. They're all great players and I learned from every single one of them so anyone that I'm putting next to or any how it goes. It's, it's always a learning experience for me and I, I try to push them and they, they certainly push me."
On tonight’s match…
“Yeah, frustrating to give up three goals as a team, obviously we have a higher standard for us, and especially to give up an early one. It’s been three games in a row. So, I mean it can’t happen again and overall it has to be better. There were good moments, but more than less it needs to be better from the team, all of us.”
On remaining opponents…
“I think every team is going to come after us because of who we are, so either the opponent or whatever it is, it needs to be sharper from us, and like I said earlier, three times in a row and in the beginning of the game, it can’t happen.”
On accountability…
“I think we all take the blame, just as much as one person it’s all of us. It’s a whole team, so the whole team could do better and each situation to maybe prevent the goal, but it’s upsetting.”
On facing off against Tacoma…
“Like Kharlton said, starting the game early, and not going off with the right foot, it costs us giving up the lead early. Now we’re chasing from behind, and that happened two times this season, so maybe come in with a better mindset, but be sharper.”
On playing next to Dekel…
“It’s a great playing with him, you know. I said in a conversation with you before that I look up to him so much from where he’s come from so to play alongside him. It was great I learned so much and he helped me out and I helped him out.”
On the comfort with the back line…
“I feel comfortable with playing with any of them. They’re all great players and I learned from every single one of them so anyone that I’m putting next to or any how it goes. It’s, it’s always a learning experience for me and I, I try to push them and they, they certainly push me.”
