Tucker Bone joined Republic FC this offseason and in the short time he’s been with the club, he’s already made an extremely positive impression. In just two games this season, the midfielder has netted two goals and it just so happened to be that both strikes ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Tucker Bone joined Republic FC this offseason and in the short time he’s been with the club, he’s already made an extremely positive impression. In just two games this season, the midfielder has netted two goals and it just so happened to be that both strikes ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
To kick off the season, Bone made his first-ever appearance for the boys in Old Glory Red when he entered the match against LA galaxy II late in the second-half and found the back of the net two minutes later. When the squad returned home to host Las Vegas Lights FC on May 12, Bone was locked into the starting XI for the first time, and bagged his second game-winner in as many games.
To kick off the season, Bone made his first-ever appearance for the boys in Old Glory Red when he entered the match against LA galaxy II late in the second-half and found the back of the net two minutes later. When the squad returned home to host Las Vegas Lights FC on May 12, Bone was locked into the starting XI for the first time, and bagged his second game-winner in as many games.
Tucker shared his thoughts about what it was like to debut for his hometown team, and his back-to-back game winners.
Tucker shared his thoughts about what it was like to debut for his hometown team, and his back-to-back game winners.
Prior to the LA game, when did you find out you would be in the 18-man gameday roster? Did Coach give you any hints that you were going to see some minutes?
Prior to the LA game, when did you find out you would be in the 18-man gameday roster? Did Coach give you any hints that you were going to see some minutes?
Tucker Bone: “Yeah, he had pulled me aside a couple of times in training that week and just said, ‘I brought you here for a reason, you've been training well, you've been impressing me so just stay ready,’ is the gist of what he told me before we took that trip down to LA. So, I knew that I would most likely get some minutes, but your job is as a sub and being part of the team is to always stay ready. And so, at halftime I had stayed out and was warming up was helping some other guys warming up that had already been told that they were going to be getting into the game and that was [Felipe] Luis and [Darek] Formella.”
Tucker Bone: “Yeah, he had pulled me aside a couple of times in training that week and just said, ‘I brought you here for a reason, you’ve been training well, you’ve been impressing me so just stay ready,’ is the gist of what he told me before we took that trip down to LA. So, I knew that I would most likely get some minutes, but your job is as a sub and being part of the team is to always stay ready. And so, at halftime I had stayed out and was warming up was helping some other guys warming up that had already been told that they were going to be getting into the game and that was [Felipe] Luis and [Darek] Formella.”
“So, I was helping Luis and Darek kind of get ready, pass some balls with them but, yeah, the half progressed, I kept looking over at the time and I was doing some code drills and stuff, but my time came. Cam [Iwasa] unfortunately went down with an [injury], I was ramping up my fitness because I knew at this point is the half where if I were going to be getting anything, it wouldn’t be many minutes but kind of play that super sub role and try to stir something up and see what you can cause. Those were the moments leading up.”
“So, I was helping Luis and Darek kind of get ready, pass some balls with them but, yeah, the half progressed, I kept looking over at the time and I was doing some code drills and stuff, but my time came. Cam [Iwasa] unfortunately went down with an [injury], I was ramping up my fitness because I knew at this point is the half where if I were going to be getting anything, it wouldn’t be many minutes but kind of play that super sub role and try to stir something up and see what you can cause. Those were the moments leading up.”
When Coach called you over before you went in, did he give you any words of advice or encouragement?
When Coach called you over before you went in, did he give you any words of advice or encouragement?
TB: “He just pulled me aside and was talking tactics briefly on what I should be doing up top. I had been at that position in training all week long, so I knew what I was browsing for and the tactics that were involved. He just said, you got this. And so, I knew, just knowing Mark [Briggs] and working with him in the weeks leading through preseason, he's a great coach and he really believes in his players which made it that much easier for me to go in and kind of do my thing.”
TB: “He just pulled me aside and was talking tactics briefly on what I should be doing up top. I had been at that position in training all week long, so I knew what I was browsing for and the tactics that were involved. He just said, you got this. And so, I knew, just knowing Mark [Briggs] and working with him in the weeks leading through preseason, he’s a great coach and he really believes in his players which made it that much easier for me to go in and kind of do my thing.”
Can you walk me through that game-winning goal in LA?
Can you walk me through that game-winning goal in LA?
TB: “Yeah, absolutely. So, the ball was back in our midfield and there was a moment where both me and Fatai [Alashe] actually made the same run into that space in time that I believe it was Luis who played it over the top and it ended up being closer to Fatai and so he kind of chested it down and I was standing right behind him to help in any way I could. He took a touch, the ball kind of bounced up a little high and the defenders tried to clear it – poor clearance, it just went straight up into the air.”
TB: “Yeah, absolutely. So, the ball was back in our midfield and there was a moment where both me and Fatai [Alashe] actually made the same run into that space in time that I believe it was Luis who played it over the top and it ended up being closer to Fatai and so he kind of chested it down and I was standing right behind him to help in any way I could. He took a touch, the ball kind of bounced up a little high and the defenders tried to clear it – poor clearance, it just went straight up into the air.”
“So, I tracked the ball down and jumped early to throw off my defender who was going up for it. He wasn't able to get a clean head through it so the ball just kind of dribbled out to Darek Formella and he had great composure on the ball. He had a player coming in who was trying to get a body in the way, he was able to bring the ball down, take a nice touch, and find Shannon Gomez making that run on the right side. Darek played a perfect ball in between the line and as soon as soon as Darek brought it down, I knew that I needed to get back to get into the box, either for rebounding shot, or whatever else could come. After that ball was played to Shannon Gomez, I was just making that near post run, being available in any way I could. Shannon did a great job and put it right on my foot and so that was that split moment where you kind of black out for a second, all that training just turns into muscle memory at that point, luckily I was able to slip it in.”
“So, I tracked the ball down and jumped early to throw off my defender who was going up for it. He wasn’t able to get a clean head through it so the ball just kind of dribbled out to Darek Formella and he had great composure on the ball. He had a player coming in who was trying to get a body in the way, he was able to bring the ball down, take a nice touch, and find Shannon Gomez making that run on the right side. Darek played a perfect ball in between the line and as soon as soon as Darek brought it down, I knew that I needed to get back to get into the box, either for rebounding shot, or whatever else could come. After that ball was played to Shannon Gomez, I was just making that near post run, being available in any way I could. Shannon did a great job and put it right on my foot and so that was that split moment where you kind of black out for a second, all that training just turns into muscle memory at that point, luckily I was able to slip it in.”
Fast forward to your starting debut against Las Vegas, when did you find out you were getting the nod to be in the starting eleven?
Fast forward to your starting debut against Las Vegas, when did you find out you were getting the nod to be in the starting eleven?
TB: “You have a pretty good idea the day before the game if you’re working in the tactical formations and you're going over set pieces and whatnot with the squad. I knew that I was most likely going to get my shot, but I try to do my best not to get caught up in those sorts of things, just to stay focused and if I’m in the lineup, so be it. It became pretty evident the day before the game and not much about your preparation changes. You should be doing all the things like hydrating, eating properly throughout the week regardless. It just makes it that much easier to put all your mental focus into the game that day.”
TB: “You have a pretty good idea the day before the game if you’re working in the tactical formations and you’re going over set pieces and whatnot with the squad. I knew that I was most likely going to get my shot, but I try to do my best not to get caught up in those sorts of things, just to stay focused and if I’m in the lineup, so be it. It became pretty evident the day before the game and not much about your preparation changes. You should be doing all the things like hydrating, eating properly throughout the week regardless. It just makes it that much easier to put all your mental focus into the game that day.”
Day of the game rolls around and you’ve prepped for games hundreds of times before. But having grown up in Sacramento, did this game feel any different or special for you when you arrived at the stadium?
Day of the game rolls around and you’ve prepped for games hundreds of times before. But having grown up in Sacramento, did this game feel any different or special for you when you arrived at the stadium?
TB: “It did feel different. I think it was something that this city has been missing for a while, having those fans in the stadium. I grew up there for some time and to go away and play in college and then come back and see how the club has grown, even since that time I've been away, the past like five, six years. It was an incredible atmosphere the other night and I know that, you know, we're only at a certain level of capacity and so I'm looking forward to seeing even more fans, because I think sequence with them, we can become an even more difficult thing to play against, especially on our home pitch.”
TB: “It did feel different. I think it was something that this city has been missing for a while, having those fans in the stadium. I grew up there for some time and to go away and play in college and then come back and see how the club has grown, even since that time I’ve been away, the past like five, six years. It was an incredible atmosphere the other night and I know that, you know, we’re only at a certain level of capacity and so I’m looking forward to seeing even more fans, because I think sequence with them, we can become an even more difficult thing to play against, especially on our home pitch.”
Can you walk me through that goal and the wild build-up leading up to your blistering strike?
Can you walk me through that goal and the wild build-up leading up to your blistering strike?
TB: “Yeah, it was an interesting set of events. The ‘keeper had come out on a through ball to a center back and I was getting to the ball, I wasn't quite going to get there but I was able to put a body on the center back, and I believe he had lost his balance. I put pressure on him, he fell into the goalie, and the goalie had gone down after he cleared it.”
TB: “Yeah, it was an interesting set of events. The ‘keeper had come out on a through ball to a center back and I was getting to the ball, I wasn’t quite going to get there but I was able to put a body on the center back, and I believe he had lost his balance. I put pressure on him, he fell into the goalie, and the goalie had gone down after he cleared it.”
“The goalie was only able to get a half clearance to Pete [Pennanen] and I knew that the goalie was kind of scrambling to get together. I just told Pete to take a crack at it and he put it on frame but the centerback had kind of fallen in place there. And there's another player, one of our guys, that had fallen right there as well so that made it difficult for the defender to get another good foot on it and he kind of half cleared it as well and it was just rolling inside the 18 [yard box] and came right to me. I knew that if Pete was going to put it on frame, there's a good chance we could get something out of it. So, ball came right to me. I knew that I had to do something about it so it was a great opportunity and I’m glad I took advantage of it.”
“The goalie was only able to get a half clearance to Pete [Pennanen] and I knew that the goalie was kind of scrambling to get together. I just told Pete to take a crack at it and he put it on frame but the centerback had kind of fallen in place there. And there’s another player, one of our guys, that had fallen right there as well so that made it difficult for the defender to get another good foot on it and he kind of half cleared it as well and it was just rolling inside the 18 [yard box] and came right to me. I knew that if Pete was going to put it on frame, there’s a good chance we could get something out of it. So, ball came right to me. I knew that I had to do something about it so it was a great opportunity and I’m glad I took advantage of it.”
Bone and the boys in Old Glory Red are back on the road for the squad’s next match, a trip to Southern California to take on Orange County SC on Saturday, May 22.
Bone and the boys in Old Glory Red are back on the road for the squad’s next match, a trip to Southern California to take on Orange County SC on Saturday, May 22.
