SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While Sacramento Republic FC’s first team prepares for the upcoming 2016 USL season, Republic FC’s Academy teams are right in the middle of their own and making a strong statement in their first season.
Although Republic FC Academy is in its inaugural year, as a part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the program has already experienced a bit of success, both in conference play and individually, such as U-15/U-16 Academy goalkeeper Mason Finnell’s call-up to attend a U-15 U.S. Boys’ National Team Camp.
But its the oldest group of the Academy, the U-17/U-18 team, that are experiencing a fantastic season in their first year in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
The team is composed of players from all over the Sacramento region who have extensive experience at local youth clubs. FC Elk Grove, San Juan Soccer Club, Sacramento United, Davis Legacy, Placer United and Almaden FC are all represented in the Republic FC U-17/U-18 team.
Just this past January, defender David Burns was invited to participate in the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team Camp and in early February, seven Republic FC players signed Letters of Intent to play at university soccer programs across California.
All seven players will compete in NCAA D1 soccer programs and several will be facing their Academy teammates in conference play.
Defenders David Burns, Mackenzie Harrington, Samuel Dadzie and Nabilai Kibunguchy committed to Cal, Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and UC Davis, respectively. Midfielder Will DuBay committed to Loyola Marymount University, while fellow midfielder Jeff Dukes committed to San Jose State. The lone forward in the group, Joseph Restani, committed to Saint Mary’s College.
Mackenzie Harrington chose to stay in Sacramento because of his love for the city and local relationships. Harrington previously played for Sacramento State Head Coach Michael Linenberger at Sacramento United before joining the Republic FC Academy.
“I just thought, I love this city and I want to go college, and luckily enough for me there is a university with a D1 soccer program right here in Sacramento,” said Harrington. “When they approached me, the decision was pretty easy.”
Of the seven players, five have chosen universities in Northern California for their collegiate soccer journey.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While Sacramento Republic FC’s first team prepares for the upcoming 2016 USL season, Republic FC’s Academy teams are right in the middle of their own and making a strong statement in their first season.
Although Republic FC Academy is in its inaugural year, as a part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, the program has already experienced a bit of success, both in conference play and individually, such as U-15/U-16 Academy goalkeeper Mason Finnell’s call-up to attend a U-15 U.S. Boys’ National Team Camp.
But its the oldest group of the Academy, the U-17/U-18 team, that are experiencing a fantastic season in their first year in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
The team is composed of players from all over the Sacramento region who have extensive experience at local youth clubs. FC Elk Grove, San Juan Soccer Club, Sacramento United, Davis Legacy, Placer United and Almaden FC are all represented in the Republic FC U-17/U-18 team.
Just this past January, defender David Burns was invited to participate in the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team Camp and in early February, seven Republic FC players signed Letters of Intent to play at university soccer programs across California.
All seven players will compete in NCAA D1 soccer programs and several will be facing their Academy teammates in conference play.
Defenders David Burns, Mackenzie Harrington, Samuel Dadzie and Nabilai Kibunguchy committed to Cal, Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and UC Davis, respectively. Midfielder Will DuBay committed to Loyola Marymount University, while fellow midfielder Jeff Dukes committed to San Jose State. The lone forward in the group, Joseph Restani, committed to Saint Mary’s College.
Mackenzie Harrington chose to stay in Sacramento because of his love for the city and local relationships. Harrington previously played for Sacramento State Head Coach Michael Linenberger at Sacramento United before joining the Republic FC Academy.
“I just thought, I love this city and I want to go college, and luckily enough for me there is a university with a D1 soccer program right here in Sacramento,” said Harrington. “When they approached me, the decision was pretty easy.”
Of the seven players, five have chosen universities in Northern California for their collegiate soccer journey.
Harrington (Sacramento State), Kibunguchy (UC Davis) and Dadzie (Cal State Northridge) will play against each other in the Big West Conference. DuBay (Loyola Marymount University) and Restani will be facing off in the West Coast Conference, while Burns (Cal/Pac-12) and Dukes (San Jose State/Western Athletic Conference) will be the only two of the group not to face Academy teammates in their collegiate conferences.
Kibunguchy, Restani, and Burns all have had the opportunity to train with the first team. Burns played in an exhibition match last fall with Republic FC as a trialist, while Restani and Kibunguchy were both on the match day roster as trialists against the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes. Although neither player was subbed in, entering Bonney Field as a part of the first team provided a peek into where their careers can eventually go.
“The experience with the first team is way different,” said Kibunguchy. “[Walking into Bonney Field], it’s such a different experience from anything. It’s motivation to one day be there playing on that field.”
Although they have had a taste of the next level, the decision to play collegiately wasn’t a hard decision for any of the Academy players. Aside from providing a backup option if an injury were to put an end to their career, stepping onto a collegiate pitch before a professional one also provides the young players a chance to mature and grow before pursuing the next step.
“It’s just a good backup,” said Burns. “It’s still good training in college, and maybe if you purely wanted to go after a career in soccer you’d immediately go pro, but I don’t know. I like having a backup. What I want to get out of [playing at] Cal is a decent education and then to go pro.”
Academy Director Rod Underwood believes the Academy has gotten off to a strong start with the way the U-17/U-18 team has performed this season, as well the U-15/U-16 and U-13/U-14 teams. He is glad to see seven of the academy players heading to play collegiate soccer, but says the Academy program encourages each individual to pursue the best option for themselves.
“We try to figure out if the kids are really on the pro track or a more collegiate track with their abilities, and that fluctuates depending on how they improve or don’t improve, but it’s all about the individual,” said Underwood. “For me, going to college was the right thing to do and for some of these kids it’s the right thing to do, and for others it might be to go pro. We just take it on a case-by-case basis and ensure no matter the career choice for these kids, that they leave the Academy as well-rounded people. ”
The Republic FC U-17/U-18 Academy team is currently in second place in the Northwest division of the Western Conference, just four points below Northwest leader Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-17/U-18. The team has 12 wins, four losses and five ties in a tough division, which also features Republic FC affiliate San Jose Earthquakes’ own academy team.
Harrington (Sacramento State), Kibunguchy (UC Davis) and Dadzie (Cal State Northridge) will play against each other in the Big West Conference. DuBay (Loyola Marymount University) and Restani will be facing off in the West Coast Conference, while Burns (Cal/Pac-12) and Dukes (San Jose State/Western Athletic Conference) will be the only two of the group not to face Academy teammates in their collegiate conferences.
Kibunguchy, Restani, and Burns all have had the opportunity to train with the first team. Burns played in an exhibition match last fall with Republic FC as a trialist, while Restani and Kibunguchy were both on the match day roster as trialists against the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes. Although neither player was subbed in, entering Bonney Field as a part of the first team provided a peek into where their careers can eventually go.
“The experience with the first team is way different,” said Kibunguchy. “[Walking into Bonney Field], it’s such a different experience from anything. It’s motivation to one day be there playing on that field.”
Although they have had a taste of the next level, the decision to play collegiately wasn’t a hard decision for any of the Academy players. Aside from providing a backup option if an injury were to put an end to their career, stepping onto a collegiate pitch before a professional one also provides the young players a chance to mature and grow before pursuing the next step.
“It’s just a good backup,” said Burns. “It’s still good training in college, and maybe if you purely wanted to go after a career in soccer you’d immediately go pro, but I don’t know. I like having a backup. What I want to get out of [playing at] Cal is a decent education and then to go pro.”
Academy Director Rod Underwood believes the Academy has gotten off to a strong start with the way the U-17/U-18 team has performed this season, as well the U-15/U-16 and U-13/U-14 teams. He is glad to see seven of the academy players heading to play collegiate soccer, but says the Academy program encourages each individual to pursue the best option for themselves.
“We try to figure out if the kids are really on the pro track or a more collegiate track with their abilities, and that fluctuates depending on how they improve or don’t improve, but it’s all about the individual,” said Underwood. “For me, going to college was the right thing to do and for some of these kids it’s the right thing to do, and for others it might be to go pro. We just take it on a case-by-case basis and ensure no matter the career choice for these kids, that they leave the Academy as well-rounded people. ”
The Republic FC U-17/U-18 Academy team is currently in second place in the Northwest division of the Western Conference, just four points below Northwest leader Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-17/U-18. The team has 12 wins, four losses and five ties in a tough division, which also features Republic FC affiliate San Jose Earthquakes’ own academy team.
