This Sunday, Republic FC will look to carry the momentum from last week’s 4-0 win when it hosts defending USL Championship title winner Orange County SC on Youth Soccer Day at Heart Health Park.
The last few weeks have been busy for the Indomitable Club – playing four contests in 14 days and traveling nearly 6,000 miles between league play and the U.S. Open Cup Final in Orlando. And while the toll of this hectic stretch was nowhere to be seen in last week’s impressive victory, the squad was certainly thrilled to have a full week to prepare for Sunday’s match against Orange County.
“The guys had a few days off after last weekend’s game to get their energy back and get revitalized,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs.
“This week has been good after a hard week last week, with the Open Cup Final and an important game against Loudoun,” said Defender Conor Donovan. “We got a couple days off and the boys have come back refreshed, and we’re looking forward to closing out the season strong.”
Despite Orange County currently sitting in last place in the Western Conference standings, Sacramento knows that Sunday’s contest won’t be easy. The 2021 USL Championship winners are coming off a strong win over Southern California rival LA Galaxy II and forward Milan Iloski continues to sit atop the league’s Golden Boot Race.
“I don’t think their league position does them justice,” said Briggs. “They’ve got some very, very good players. They can hurt any team at any moment, so we’ve got to make sure that we’re on the front foot and we’re ready to go as soon as that whistle blows.”
But with just under a month to go in the regular season, each week Sacramento continues to move closer and closer to securing the club’s 8th postseason berth. A top 4 finish in the Western Conference would guarantee at least one playoff game at Heart Health Park, where the team has been incredibly strong all season – with 12 wins and just one loss and four draws.
“We aren’t deviating from what’s gotten us here,” continued Donovan. “We’re staying locked in and trying to close out these games and get a home playoff game.”
