League News

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Keko has been named to Team of the Week Bench for Week 22. The Spaniard assisted the game-winning score in Republic FC’s August 5 win over Monterey Bay F.C. in Seaside, California as the club tallied its third straight victory.

The match continued a strong stretch of form for the forward. He assisted the opening goal for the third straight match on Russell Cicerone’s 35^th minute score. After making a run up the right flank, he served a perfectly-weighted backward pass to Cicerone, who slotted it in with his first touch. The assist was his fourth in the last five games, moving his total for the season to six – good for second in USL Championship. He tallied a team-high three chances created on the attacking end and seven successful one-on-one duels.

Keko’s selection is his third on the season, and second in as many weeks to the league’s top squad. Last week, he was named to Team of the Week Bench for Week 21, alongside Cicerone and defender Jack Gurr, after recording two goals and one assist in contests against Phoenix Rising FC and Las Vegas Lights FC. Earlier this season, he was named to the Best XI for Week 11 after scoring the opener with a left-footed curler against rival Oakland Roots SC on May 20. 

Republic FC heads to Birmingham, Alabama for the third match in a four-game road stretch. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, August 12th from Protective Stadium. Fans can watch the game in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App, Antenna TV 40.2, and ESPN+. Republic FC will next play in front of its home fans on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.

Sacramento, Calif – Earlier today, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone’s 31^st minute goal on July 29 against Las Vegas Lights FC has been voted the Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week for Week 21.

Cicerone’s score put Republic FC ahead in spectacular fashion in the 31^st minute of the match. As Keko advanced up the right flank, Cicerone moved into open space in the middle of the park before heading the ball into the back of the net with an all-out diving effort. The score was his 12^th of the season and his third in four games dating to July 15 against Memphis 901 FC.

The honor marks the first time Cicerone wins the weekly fan vote in his career after six past nominations. He had been nominated twice prior this season, following scores against Indy Eleven on May 13 and Hartford Athletic on May 26. The goal is the first for a Republic FC player to win the weekly fan vote since Matt LaGrassa took home the honor for his half-volley score in the 2022 regular season finale against San Diego Loyal SC at Heart Health Park.

Republic FC travels to Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday, August 5 – the second of four consecutive road matches. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Seaside and fans can watch the game in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App, Antenna TV 40.2, and ESPN+. Republic FC will next play in front of its home fans on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone and defender Jack Gurr have been named to Team of the Week, and forward Keko has been named to Team of the Week Bench for Week 21. The trio of players combined for three assists and four of Sacramento’s six goals in wins over Phoenix Rising FC and Las Vegas Lights FC last week, keeping the club atop the USL Championship standings with 41 points.

Cicerone found the back of the net in each of the club’s two matches, and added four scoring chances. He netted the second goal against Phoenix Rising FC on July 26 in the 28^th minute as Sacramento scored four times in the first half en route to a 4-0 win. On July 29, he scored the opener with a spectacular diving header to finish a cross from Keko, before assisting the game-winner in the 55^th minute with a lateral pass to Zeiko Lewis. Cicerone’s 31^st minute score against Las Vegas has been nominated for the league’s Week 21 Goal of the Week.

After returning from injury as a substitute on July 22, Gurr re-entered Sacramento’s starting lineup on July 26, scoring a goal and assist each. A left footed cross into the penalty area got Sacramento going 20 minutes into the club’s mid-week fixture, finding the head of Keko for the opening goal. Just before the break, Gurr netted his fifth score of the season as Keko returned the favor with a through ball allowing the Englishman to find space in the middle of the pitch.

Keko continued a strong stretch of form with two assists and one goal for the week. He contributed to the opening score in both matches, heading in a Gurr’s 20^th minute cross in Wednesday’s home fixture, and assisting the opener this past Saturday in Las Vegas. He added four scoring chances created and served five crosses across both contests. The Spaniard has recorded three assists in four games dating to July 15 against Memphis 901 FC, when he assisted the club’s late equalizer scored by Cicerone. On July 29, he also surpassed a career milestone, moving past 20,000 minutes logged all-time for his playing career.

The selections are Gurr and Cicerone’s fifth of the season and Keko’s second to the league’s weekly top squad. Gurr last earned the honor in Week 16 following the club’s June 24 win over San Antonio FC, while Keko and Cicerone were last selected in Weeks 11 and 12, respectively.

Cicerone’s 31^st minute score against Las Vegas has been nominated for the league’s Week 21 Goal of the Week. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.

Republic FC travels to Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday, August 5 – the second of four consecutive road matches. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Seaside and fans can watch the game in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App, Antenna TV 40.2, and ESPN+. Republic FC will next play in front of its home fans on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.

On Monday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone has been nominated for Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week for Week 21. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 3 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.

Cicerone’s score put Republic FC ahead in spectacular fashion in the 31^st minute of last Saturday’s match at Las Vegas Lights FC. As Keko advanced up the right flank, Cicerone moved into open space in the middle of the park before a head the ball into the back of the net with an all-out diving effort. The score was his 12^th of the season – good for second among all players league wide.

The nomination is his third for the league’s weekly top strike this season. Cicerone previously was nominated for Goal of the Week in Week 10, when he scored a Hat Trick against Indy Eleven on May 13, and again in Week 12 when he scored his 50^th career regular season goal against Hartford Athletic on May 26. His nomination is the seventh by a Republic FC player this season.

Fans can register to vote now at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and on the USL App. Voting is open now through Thursday, August 3 at 1:00PM ET.

Republic FC travels to Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday, August 5 – the second of four consecutive road matches. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Seaside and fans can watch the game in English and Spanish on FOX40.com, the FOX40 News Mobile App, Antenna TV 40.2, and ESPN+. Republic FC will next play in front of its home fans on August 26, when the club hosts its 10th Season Celebration Match at Hughes Stadium. For more information or to purchase tickets starting at just $10, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Hughes.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC midfielder Luis Felipe and defender Jack Gurr have been named to the Team of the Week, and defender Damia Viader has been named to Team of the Week Bench following the club’s 3-1 win over San Antonio FC on June 24. The trio were involved in each of Sacramento’s three goals in the win, which put Sacramento back on top of the league standings with 32 points.  

Gurr earns his fourth selection to the league’s top squad this season after netting his fourth goal of the season and earning a penalty for the Indomitable club. Two minutes into the match, the defender was cut down by an opposing player while driving into the penalty area; the ensuing attempt from the spot was converted by Sebastian Herrera. Later in the half Gurr scored his fourth goal of 2023, volleying in a well-placed cross from the left. He finished the match with two shots and two chances created while winning 7 of 9 defensive duels. 

Luis Felipe provided the game-sealing score in the 89^th minute of the match. With San Antonio down to ten men after a hard foul in the attacking half resulted in a red card, the Brazilian stood over the ball for the free kick and placed a perfect curler into the top corner. The score marked his fifth of the season, matching his career high for goals in a season set in 2017 while a member of Reno 1868 FC. The goal is nominated for USL Championship Goal of the Week – voting is open now at USLChampionship.com, as well as on the league’s Twitter and Instagram Stories. Defensively, the midfielder, won 4 of 6 tackles and posted a match-high 12 recoveries.  

Viader assisted Gurr’s 38^th minute strike – his first assist of the season – serving to the Englishman after driving down the left flank. Sacramento’s left back also led all players with ten entries into the final third and created two scoring chances. He was excellent on the defensive end, finishing the contest with nine recoveries and successful in eight of 14 one-on-one duels.  

The selections are Gurr’s fourth, Luis Felipe’s third, and Viader’s first of the season to the league’s top squad. Gurr last earned the honor in Week 12 following the club’s victory at Hartford Athletic, while Luis Felipe was last named to Team of the Week Bench in Week 7. Viader’s selection is his first since September 2022, when he scored in a 4-0 win over Orange County SC at Heart Health Park.  

Republic FC wraps up its three-game home stand this Saturday on Salute to Service Night at Heart Health Park, presented by FOX40. Throughout the match, the club will honor local veteran groups, recognize an active “captain” of the match from Beale Air Force Base, and give back to military families through the Salute to Service merchandise collection. Veterans and active service-members can claim a special 25% discount on match tickets. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on FOX40, Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. 

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC goalkeeper Danny Vitiello has been named to Team of the Week Bench for his performance in the club’s 1-1 draw last Friday at San Diego Loyal SC. The goalkeeper helped Sacramento extend its unbeaten streak to four matches in the final game of its three-week road trip.

Vitiello tied his season high of six saves in the draw as Sacramento secured its third straight unbeaten result over San Diego, and second this season. A pair of diving stops neutralized dangerous chances for the hosts; in the 6^th minute, a full-extension stop denied a surprise shot at goal, and in the 36^th minute, he kept out a free kick from the hosts headed for the near post. He began the passing sequence that resulted in the club’s 29^th minute score, distributing right to Conor Donovan as the club pushed up the field in transition.

The selection is Vitiello’s second this season, and the sixth of his career. In Week 6, he was named to the Best XI for a six-save shutout in Republic FC’s 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. It is his second selection to the league’s weekly top squad as a member of Republic FC. The selection marks the 10^th week this season Republic FC has been represented among the league’s top performers.

Republic FC returns home this Saturday to face regional foe Monterey Bay F.C. for the first time this season. Kickoff for the match is set for 8:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on FOX40, Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Alongside the contest, the club will hold its inaugural Brewfest at Heart Health Park, celebrating the region’s robust brewing history and community. For more information, visit SacRepublicFC.com/brewfest.

Sacramento, Calif – On Monday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC defender Damià Viader has been nominated for Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 15 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.

The Spaniard rattled the back of the net in the 29^th minute of Friday’s 1-1 draw at San Diego Loyal SC for his second goal of the season. Building from the back, an excellent passing display from Nick Ross, Sebastian Herrera, and Luis Felipe worked the ball around Loyal SC’s defensive structure in transition, eventually finding the defender on the back post. With San Diego still working to get back into position, Viader put a clinical finish past the opposing goalkeeper for the opening score – the 11^th time this season Sacramento has scored first.

Vote for your nominee! 🗳️

— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) June 12, 2023

This is Viader’s second career nomination for Goal of the Week. He was previously nominated for the honor last June for a long-distance strike at Detroit City FC in a 2-0 win. It marks the club’s fifth nomination for the honor this season; forward Russell Cicerone was nominated two weeks ago for his opening score against Hartford Athletic on May 26.

Fans can register to vote now at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and on the USL App. Voting is open now through Thursday, June 15 at 9:00 a.m.   

Republic FC returns home this Saturday to face regional foe Monterey Bay F.C. for the first time this season. Kickoff for the match is set for 8:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Alongside the contest, the club will hold its inaugural Brewfest at Heart Health Park, celebrating the region’s robust brewing history and community. For more information, visit SacRepublicFC.com/brewfest. 

Sacramento, Calif. – On Thursday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone has been named the league’s Player of the Month for May. The USL Championship’s Player of the Month award is voted upon by the USL Championship National Media Panel and the USL Championship Technical Committee, as well as an online fan vote that consists of 51% of the results. Cicerone took 39% of the weighted poll to earn his first Player of the Month honor. He finished second in April’s vote.

Cicerone was the league’s leading scorer in May with five goals, finding the back of the net in three consecutive matches. He opened the month with his second career hat trick, netting all three tallies in Republic FC’s win over Indy Eleven on May 13. He produced again the following Saturday against Oakland Roots SC, finding the game-winner in the 51^st minute, before scoring the opening goal in the club’s 4-1 road win over Hartford Athletic on May 26. It marked Cicerone’s career 50^th USL Championship regular season goal, making him just the 23^rd player to reach the milestone. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has scored 40 goals in USL Championship (regular season and playoffs), the best mark among the league’s active players. The only player to net more goals in the same span is 2021 Most Valuable Player Hadji Barry (41).  

“It’s a huge honor and I’m extremely happy, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of the talented guys around me. I’m only here because of how we’ve played as a group, so this is really an award for the whole team,” said Cicerone.

“This is a well-deserved recognition for Russell that is a culmination of not just his strong performances in May, but the work he has put in all season,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “He’s driven to win and challenges his teammates to bring that same energy, both on the training field and on gameday. His relentless work ethic sets him up for success, and we expect more moments like this for Russ as we continue our quest for silverware.”

The Michigan native’s performance earned league recognition throughout the month, securing two Team of the Week selections and two Goal of the Week nominations. Across his career, he has earned three Player of the Month nominations – including two this year, making him the only player to be up for the monthly honor twice in 2023.

Cicerone sits at the top of the leaderboards for the league’s attackers. He is currently the co-leader for the USL Championship Golden Boot with nine goals and leads the league with 12 scoring contributions. Three months into his first season with Sacramento, he sits in sixth place on the club’s all-time leaderboard for goals in a single campaign.

Cicerone and Republic FC close out their three-week road stretch tomorrow, facing SoCal rival San Diego Loyal SC. Kickoff from Torero Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com, and the FOX40 News mobile app, as well as streaming on ESPN+.

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• Only USL Championship player to be a Player of the Month finalist for April and May – the only player to earn two nominations
• Led the league in scoring with five goals on the month, including a hat trick on May 13
• Earned two Team of the Week Selections, two Goal of the Week nominations
• Fans can vote at USLChampionship.com through June 5 at 9:00 a.m. PT

Sacramento, Calif. – On Thursday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone has been nominated for USL Championship Player of the Month for May. Voting is open now through Monday, June 5 at 9:00 a.m. PT at USLChampionship.com. Fan voting composes 51% of the poll, and the remainder will be conducted by the USL Technical Committee and National media panel.

Cicerone was the league’s leading scorer in May with five goals, helping Republic FC tally wins in three of four games. He opened the month with his second career hat trick, netting all three scores in Republic FC’s win over Indy Eleven on May 13. The performance kicked off a run of three straight weeks that the forward would find the net. He scored again the following Saturday against Oakland Roots SC, netting the game-winner in the 51^st minute, before netting the opening goal last Friday in Sacramento’s road contest at Hartford Athletic.

The Michigan native’s performance garnered league recognition throughout the month. He earned two selections to the league’s Team of the Week, first following his Week 10 hat trick and again in Week 12. Two of his five scores were nominated for the league’s Goal of the Week honor, with his 3^rd minute score on May 13 and his 19^th minute score on May 26 both earning nominations. With the May Player of the Month nomination, Cicerone is the only player to be up for the monthly honor in two out of the first three months of the season.

Through the first third of the 2023 season, Cicerone sits at the top of the leaderboards for the league’s attackers. His nine goals are tied for first in the league this season, and he sits atop the stats leaders with 11 scoring contributions. Through 15 appearances across all competitions in his first season with Republic FC, he is the fastest in club history to reach 11 goals and sits in the top-10 all-time in scoring for the Indomitable Club.

Cicerone and Republic FC are back in action this Saturday, visiting Eastern Conference side Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. The club is also hosting a watch party for fans to gather and cheer on their favorite team at Nitty’s Cider in East Sacramento. More information is available at SacRepublicFC.com/WatchParty.

For the team’s full 2023 schedule, visit SacRepublicFC.com/Schedule.

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Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forwards Sebastian Herrera and Russell Cicerone, as well as defender Jack Gurr were named to the league’s Team of the Week for their contributions in Friday’s win at Hartford Athletic. Each netted a goal in the 4-1 victory to kick off three consecutive away fixtures. With the win Republic FC sits at the top of the league standings with 27 points, as well as a league-best 24 goals.

Sebastian Herrera’s efforts on Friday night earned his first USL Championship Team of the Week selection. He provided the eventual game-winner in the 38^th minute from the penalty spot, after a foul brought down Jack Gurr in the box – and later added his first assist of the season on Luther Archimede’s 85^th minute score. Herrera would lead Republic FC with 2 chances created on the evening, while completing 14 of 19 passes.

Gurr would add to the Indomitable Club’s lead in the 51^st minute on a shot from inside the box. Fellow defender Aldair Sanchez’s cross found Gurr on the right side for his third tally on the season – a career high. Jack attempted six crosses on the night to lead the team, completed 32 of 37 passes, and added to the team’s defensive effort with two tackles won.

Cicerone earned Team of the Week Bench honors for his 19^th minute goal that began the scoring in Friday’s matchup. His lone shot of the night was on target and would result in his 50^th USL Championship regular season goal. The tally also marks his 9^th on the season, tied at the top of the league’s leaderboard.

The trio’s selection to the weekly best honors brings the Indomitable Club’s selection to 13 total for the year. In his first season, Herrera claims his first selection, while Gurr (3) and Cicerone (4) have earned multiple nods this season.

Republic FC continues its three-game road trip with another East Coast tilt this coming Saturday, when the club takes to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT from Al Lang Stadium, and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. The club will host a watch party on Saturday at Nitty’s Cider in East Sacramento.