Tomorrow, Republic FC officially kicks off its 2022 season, welcoming El Paso Locomotive FC to the River City for their fifth meeting all time. It marks the end of training camp – an intense six-week period that has seen the club come together cohesively, learn about one another, and prep for what the long season will bring. Ahead of the contest, every player is ready for the squad’s first meaningful match of 34 on the schedule.
“We’ve played matches, and it’s nice to have done that. But tomorrow, points are on the table,” said Head Coach Mark Briggs. “Everyone will be here – the media, the fans, and so on. It’s the real deal now.”
El Paso will be a tough matchup for Sacramento on Saturday – they were one of the best clubs in the league in 2021 and have always played the Boys in Old Glory Red tough. The two teams’ meeting last September saw Locomotive FC stave off a late comeback attempt from Sacramento, and the last contest between the pair at Heart Health Park was decided in stoppage time. This past offseason, they bolstered an already strong roster, adding a goalkeeper with MLS experience and The Miami FC’s top goal-scorer in Christiano Francois.
It’s going to be a tough match, said defender Dan Casey. “I think El Paso may have been the best team we faced last season. We’ve done a lot
defensively and put in place some tactics we hope will help us get a result. I think we are ready to go and looking forward to being back on the field.”
“It’ll be two attacking teams, two teams that play the game the right way,” said midfielder Nick Ross. “Hopefully we get three points and send them out with a tough result.”
For every player on the squad, equally significant to playing a top team to open the season is doing so in front of a home crowd expected to bring it on opening night. The preseason can only satisfy the itch to play so much, so playing a meaningful match will already be a reward to begin with for every man. To do so in front of a rowdy home crowd will be even more satisfying for every player and coach.
“It was nice last week during the friendly, but I don’t think you can replicate the energy of a crowd with the stands full,” Casey continued. “I think every player aspires to play in front of as many fans as possible. When this place is full, there are not many better places in the league to play.”
