The Indomitable Club continues its four-game road stretch in Seaside this week with a regional derby match. For the first time in nearly a year, Sacramento travels to face Monterey Bay F.C. The two clubs faced off in Sacramento to close the preseason in March, and again earlier this Summer on June 17 – both times at Heart Health Park.
A lot has changed for both since their last contest, but neither team’s form will make the fixture any less competitive. Things have been perfectly even between the two clubs through four all-time contests. Every game has been decided by one score to date, with both teams securing two wins and scoring four goals.
“The boys did well down in Vegas and now we’ve got to go to Monterey, which is a difficult place to go,” said Head Coach Mark Briggs on Thursday. “Obviously, they are very well coached by Frank Yallop and they’ve got dangerous players. And it’s a great little atmosphere there. So we’ve got to go there and show our quality and have the right attitude and mentality.”
The added energy of a rivalry match is sure to bring a new dimension to the game, as it always does. This season, Republic FC is 2-1 in derby matches, claiming two wins against Oakland Roots, and its one blemish coming against Monterey Bay in the two sides last meeting. Monterey Bay supporters made their voices heard in June at Heart Health Park.
“It’s great to have teams within the same area that compete, it adds that little bit more spice, that little bit more to the fans,” Briggs said of rivalry games. A little bit more energy in the crowd. It’s a local derby – and the more we can do that, the better I think it becomes.”
“I think there’s that extra bite, and that extra five or ten percent. They obviously came here and beat us earlier on this season,” said Lee Desmond.”
Amidst their toughest stretch of the schedule this season, the club’s staff has stressed staying strong on the mental side. Being away from home for an extended period can take a toll on a club – and to help combat it, Mark Briggs’ men are preaching simplicity.
“We’ve just got to keep focusing on the next game,” Briggs said of his message to the team this week. “Don’t need to look too far ahead. Just focus on the game that’s coming up. Analyze the game that’s past, focus on the game that’s coming up.”
