Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced Republic FC’s Maalique Foster was named the league’s Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball for his performance in Sacramento’s 2-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on June 25.
The Jamaican forward came off the bench in the 65th minute and made an immediate impact for Sacramento, who entered the final 30 minutes of the match down one score. Foster netted the club’s equalizer in the 74th minute, corralling an excellent through pass from Rodrigo Lopez and punching it through for his first of two. Three minutes later Foster secured a brace, heading in a cross from the right by Jack Gurr and securing Sacramento a perfect June record of 5-0-0.
Foster’s performance marked his first career multi-goal effort and the first for a Republic FC player in league play this season. His scores were his second and third on the season for Sacramento; Foster netted his first goal in Old Glory Red in the club’s Mother’s Day win over New York Red Bulls II on May 8. He is the first Republic FC player to be named the league’s weekly top performer since Cameron Iwasa in March of 2019.
The league’s full Team of the Week selection will be announced later today at 11:30 a.m. PT.
The USL Championship’s Player of the Week award is voted on by the United Soccer League’s National Media Panel, composed of representatives from each market in the league. For Week 16, Foster finished first on the ballot earning 59 percent of the vote. Memphis 901 FC’s Graham Smith finished second with 18 percent.
Republic FC is back in action on Friday, when the club faces off with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on the road at Weidner Stadium. Kickoff for the contest is set for 6:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, and streaming on ESPN+.
