Defender Hayden Sargis has been a member of the Republic FC Youth Academy since its early existence but to open the 2020 USL Championship campaign, the center back saw his name listed in the first team starting eleven for the very first time.
Defender Hayden Sargis has been a member of the Republic FC Youth Academy since its early existence but to open the 2020 USL Championship campaign, the center back saw his name listed in the first team starting eleven for the very first time.
Against FC Tulsa on March 7, Sargis contributed on both ends of the pitch and even helped to set up his sides’ opening goal of the season. The promising CB delivered a towering cross to Juan Barahona on the wing who whipped a ball towards the box that Drew Skundrich buried into the back of the net.
Against FC Tulsa on March 7, Sargis contributed on both ends of the pitch and even helped to set up his sides’ opening goal of the season. The promising CB delivered a towering cross to Juan Barahona on the wing who whipped a ball towards the box that Drew Skundrich buried into the back of the net.
Not only that, but Sargis held his own while logging 90 minutes and making 69 touches over the course of the contest. He also gained possession four times, made one clearance, and dished out 30 passes in the opponent’s half – tied for the most on the team that night.
The matched ended 1-1 and Sargis will be the first to say that he wanted his side to open the season with a win, but it was still an unforgettable night that Hayden will never forget.
Not only that, but Sargis held his own while logging 90 minutes and making 69 touches over the course of the contest. He also gained possession four times, made one clearance, and dished out 30 passes in the opponent’s half – tied for the most on the team that night.
The matched ended 1-1 and Sargis will be the first to say that he wanted his side to open the season with a win, but it was still an unforgettable night that Hayden will never forget.
HS: “You can just tell the trainings felt a little sharper, the focus from the whole team. Everyone was dialed in. It's time for us to get to it.”
HS: “You can just tell the trainings felt a little sharper, the focus from the whole team. Everyone was dialed in. It’s time for us to get to it.”
When did you first find out you were going to be included in the starting eleven?
When did you first find out you were going to be included in the starting eleven?
Hayden Sargis: "I played in a couple of the preseason games preseason games and I played well. So, going into that week I was in the starting eleven at training."
Hayden Sargis: “I played in a couple of the preseason games preseason games and I played well. So, going into that week I was in the starting eleven at training.”
Was that a private conversation you had with Coach or did you notice you were starting because of the way the team was preparing for the match ahead?
Was that a private conversation you had with Coach or did you notice you were starting because of the way the team was preparing for the match ahead?
HS: “[Head Coach] Mark [Briggs] told me you've been playing well, if you continue to play well, I don't see a reason not to start you on March 7.”
HS: “[Head Coach] Mark [Briggs] told me you’ve been playing well, if you continue to play well, I don’t see a reason not to start you on March 7.”
Who was the first person you told?
Who was the first person you told?
HS: “Definitely my dad. Obviously, my whole family but I'd say I called my dad first.”
HS: “Definitely my dad. Obviously, my whole family but I’d say I called my dad first.”
Do you remember what he told you?
Do you remember what he told you?
HS: “He obviously congratulated me at first and then, he kind of told me this is what you've been working hard for. He told me that I'll be ready and not to worry about it.
HS: “He obviously congratulated me at first and then, he kind of told me this is what you’ve been working hard for. He told me that I’ll be ready and not to worry about it.
What do you remember about the week of training?
What do you remember about the week of training?
HS: “You can just tell the trainings felt a little sharper, the focus from the whole team. Everyone was dialed in. It's time for us to get to it.”
HS: “You can just tell the trainings felt a little sharper, the focus from the whole team. Everyone was dialed in. It’s time for us to get to it.”
The day of the game finally arrives, any changes to your normal routine or did it feel like a normal day?
The day of the game finally arrives, any changes to your normal routine or did it feel like a normal day?
HS: “Everything stayed the same. I wake up, have a good breakfast, and then I'll play a little Fortnight with some friends, try to get a win and then just rest the rest of the day before the game.”
HS: “Everything stayed the same. I wake up, have a good breakfast, and then I’ll play a little Fortnight with some friends, try to get a win and then just rest the rest of the day before the game.”
Was there anything a friend or family told you the day of the match?
Was there anything a friend or family told you the day of the match?
HS: I’d just say my dad who said ‘go take care of business’.
HS: I’d just say my dad who said ‘go take care of business’.
Do you remember anything about the warmup?
Do you remember anything about the warmup?
HS: “I remember clearly warming up, our warmup was sharp. Sweating, it was kind of a warm day. It was good.”
HS: “I remember clearly warming up, our warmup was sharp. Sweating, it was kind of a warm day. It was good.”
Was there anything a coach or player tell you that really stuck with you?
Was there anything a coach or player tell you that really stuck with you?
HS: “I'd say last year, Dekel [Keinan] told me before the game, ‘don't worry, it's just another game, go out there and do what you do, what you know how to do. Don't try to change the way you play; play the same way you do every day and you're going to be fine’.”
HS: “I’d say last year, Dekel [Keinan] told me before the game, ‘don’t worry, it’s just another game, go out there and do what you do, what you know how to do. Don’t try to change the way you play; play the same way you do every day and you’re going to be fine’.”
Is it safe to assume Dekel was someone who encouraged and inspired you while you played together?
Is it safe to assume Dekel was someone who encouraged and inspired you while you played together?
HS: “Yeah, it's got to be. He's an absolute animal. I looked up to him every day at training. Everything he did, he was a professional and it shows why he played where he did, and the level he did, and you know he was always there for the young kids, always helped us out. He was a great role model.”
HS: “Yeah, it’s got to be. He’s an absolute animal. I looked up to him every day at training. Everything he did, he was a professional and it shows why he played where he did, and the level he did, and you know he was always there for the young kids, always helped us out. He was a great role model.”
When you walked out of the tunnel, where did your eyes go and who did you look for?
When you walked out of the tunnel, where did your eyes go and who did you look for?
HS: “When I came out, I looked straight to where my family was sitting. I saw my dad and my friend. They were kind of close to where we were walking out, so I looked there. And, obviously, I had a smile on my face, I was buzzing. And I saw the rest of my family and it was a great moment. It put a smile on my face, and they were definitely smiling as well.”
HS: “When I came out, I looked straight to where my family was sitting. I saw my dad and my friend. They were kind of close to where we were walking out, so I looked there. And, obviously, I had a smile on my face, I was buzzing. And I saw the rest of my family and it was a great moment. It put a smile on my face, and they were definitely smiling as well.”
What do you remember about the match and were you proud of your performance?
What do you remember about the match and were you proud of your performance?
HS: “I remember, to be honest I thought, for my special debut I thought I played well. To be honest, that [pass to set up the first goal] was probably the main thing that stood out. It was a small contribution to help the team get to that goal.”
“We were playing well, there were some moments that we kind of turned off and we were lucky to get scored on, but little moments like that will change the game and we lose three points, but definitely something to build on and we kind of we learned from it.”
HS: “I remember, to be honest I thought, for my special debut I thought I played well. To be honest, that [pass to set up the first goal] was probably the main thing that stood out. It was a small contribution to help the team get to that goal.”
“We were playing well, there were some moments that we kind of turned off and we were lucky to get scored on, but little moments like that will change the game and we lose three points, but definitely something to build on and we kind of we learned from it.”
Did any players or coaches say anything special to you after the match?
Did any players or coaches say anything special to you after the match?
HS: “I think Dekel came up to me and said, congratulations. Matt Mahoney was really happy, a good friend of mine, I still talk to him as well. He came up to me and just said he was proud of me and then Mark [Briggs] as well. He congratulated me on my debut, and he said was proud of me.”
HS: “I think Dekel came up to me and said, congratulations. Matt Mahoney was really happy, a good friend of mine, I still talk to him as well. He came up to me and just said he was proud of me and then Mark [Briggs] as well. He congratulated me on my debut, and he said was proud of me.”
What do you remember about the car ride home after the match?
What do you remember about the car ride home after the match?
HS: “To be honest, when I first got in the car, I was a little upset because I really wanted to win the first home game, my first professional game. I was in a car with my dad and my friend and I was like ‘man, I really wish we would have won the game’. But my dad talked to me and my friend and said it was still a positive day for me. I'd say 20 minutes, we were listening to music just hyped about the day and the game.”
HS: “To be honest, when I first got in the car, I was a little upset because I really wanted to win the first home game, my first professional game. I was in a car with my dad and my friend and I was like ‘man, I really wish we would have won the game’. But my dad talked to me and my friend and said it was still a positive day for me. I’d say 20 minutes, we were listening to music just hyped about the day and the game.”
Don't miss a minute of the action this season. Join our Republic and become an Indomitable Member today! Visit www.sacrepublicfc.com/becomeamember for more information about how you can join us for the 2021 USL Championship season, Join us for another unforgettable year and enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access, benefits, and more.
Don’t miss a minute of the action this season. Join our Republic and become an Indomitable Member today! Visit www.sacrepublicfc.com/becomeamember for more information about how you can join us for the 2021 USL Championship season, Join us for another unforgettable year and enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access, benefits, and more.
