Republic FC wrapped up the 2023 Regular season on Saturday night with a 1-0 victory over Miami FC at Heart Health Park. The 34th and final regular season match closed out a tremendous campaign for the club that broke records, featured tremendous performances from the squad, and hosted passionate fans in the stands every week. Before the club turns its attention to the postseason – which begins next week as the squad hosts New Mexico United in the Conference Quarterfinal round, have a look back at the 2023 season, by the numbers:
180,000 Fans
Republic FC fans continued to be the best in the league – from the season opener in March to the final game in October, over 180,000 fans came through the gates, the top mark in the USL Championship. A remarkable night at Hughes Stadium saw 20,231 fans pack the stands at the site of the club’s first even home match to celebrate ten seasons in Sacramento. To close out the season, Republic FC fans bought every ticket available for each of the club’s last three home weekend fixtures.
64 Points
With 18 wins, six losses and ten draws on the season, Republic FC claimed 64 points in the standings – a total second in club history to the 2018 squad’s 65. 18 wins also ranked second to the 2018 squad, which won 19 games. The club claimed 28 points on the road, one of the best marks in club history.
51 Goals Scored
Russell Cicerone’s 69th minute score on Saturday against Miami FC not only gave the club another win, but it also set a new mark for goals by the club in a single season. The Michigan native’s 15th of the year was his team’s 51st – surpassing the 2019 team’s record.
Defense Leads League
All season long, the club’s defense proved to be the best in the entire league. After setting the tone early in the season with just one goal allowed in its first seven games, the standard remained high the rest of the way. Mark Briggs Men allowed only 26 goals on the year – good for the lowest mark in the league and the lowest mark in club history. Only five times did the Quails concede more than one score in a match.
14 Clean Sheets
The club’s defensive efforts were often reflected in the scoreline – for the season, Republic FC recorded 14 shutouts, the most in club history. A 2-0 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC on October 1 set a new club record, as the squad recorded its 13th shutout of the season. Danny Vitiello’s 11 clean sheets set a new single-season career high for the goalkeeper, propelling him to being the club’s all-time record holder with 22 shutouts and the USL Championship Golden Glove winner for the second time in his career. Carlos Saldaña added three of his own – recording a clean sheet all but one of his regular season appearances.
11 Home Wins
Heart Health Park continued to be one of the best home fields throughout the season. In 17 contests at home, Sacramento only lost twice. The club claimed 11 wins on its home ground – setting a new club record.
9 Games Unbeaten
A blistering start to the campaign earned the club recognition as the league’s best early on. From the season opener on March 11 to May 13 against Indy Eleven, the club went unbeaten with six wins and three draws. The run was just two short of the club’s all-time best unbeaten streak of 11 games a single season, set in 2016.
