Republic FC Academy player Chance Cowell will once again represent the Indomitable Club on the international stage when he joins the Mexico U15 Youth National Team for training camp through August 18. The call up marks his second selection for the U15 side this year. The 14-year-old Ceres native made his debut for Mexico after an April training camp. In a friendly against Morocco, he scored two goals in a 4-2 win on May 24.
“Chance continues to grow and sharpen his skills through hard work and perseverance, and he has earned this opportunity,” said Republic FC Academy Director Eder Quintanilla. “We’re excited for him to continue his development with Mexico’s U15 team and represent our club and community on the international football stage.”
Cowell had standout performances with Sacramento’s U15 and U17 squads during the 2021-2022 season, most notably scoring a hat trick against Real Salt Lake in February and adding four goals in a 9-0 victory over Ballistic United. He also netted two goals in the U15 team’s perfect 3-0 run in the MLS Flex Tournament. During the 2021-22 season, he has scored 14 goals in 15 appearances for Sacramento’s youth squads.
Cowell is one of 17 players from Republic FC’s academy system that have been invited to a national team training camp since its inception in 2015. Earlier this year, U19 forward J.P. Cortez was invited to train with the Guatemala U-20’s, scoring two goals in exhibitions, and 17-year-old defender Santiago Suarez was the sole participant on a USL Championship roster to participate in the July U19 Youth Men’s National Team camp in Southern California.
Several current and former academy players have also been called up to train and compete alongside the club’s first team this season. Led by academy graduate Rafael Jauregui – who signed a professional contract with his hometown club in 2020 – academy players have logged 710 minutes in league and U.S. Open Cup play and have been named to Republic FC’s matchday roster 36 times.
In the 2021 season, Republic FC’s youth academy teams made noise on the international stage, with all teams combining for an 8-5-2 record at the MLS Next Cup & Showcase, which saw Cowell’s U15’s reach the Semifinals. In league play, the club’s squads combined for an impressive 91 wins and just two losses, with all five teams finishing at the top of their division. Training for the upcoming 2022 MLS Next season is underway, with matches kicking off in September.
Republic FC’s first team is back in action at Heart Health Park this Wednesday, August 17 when it takes on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, who currently sits third in the Western Conference standings – just 5 points ahead of the Indomitable Club. Fans can beat the heat with 50% off select beer, wine, and cocktails before it cools down for kickoff at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are still available at SacRepublicFC.com/single-match-tickets, and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, as well as streaming on ESPN+.
