In more ways than one way, Sacramento Republic FC is approaching their preseason like a marathon, not a sprint, making adjustments as a team along the way as they prepare for the 2016 USL regular season.
That’s not to say that Republic FC are pacing themselves slowly, with their eight-week preseason schedule full with friendlies against MLS teams and PDL teams like Fresno Fuego and Ventura County Fusion, not to mention a series of open and closed scrimmages against other teams throughout California. Rather, the club is focusing on identifying all the pieces they need to succeed during the USL regular season.
With three preseason friendlies under the belts, Republic FC are currently at the midway mark for their preseason, with four weeks to go until they open their USL regular season campaign on the road at Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Friday, March 25. After two narrow losses to MLS clubs and a win against the Sacramento State Men’s Soccer Team, Republic FC are feeling confident in their preparation for the regular season.
“Well you just keep building on the positives,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle after the team’s friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes. “I think what I have to do as we go forward is identify my best team… There’s lots to think about, but when we get our full team on the pitch we’re going to be dangerous.”
Republic FC opened up their preseason schedule with a 0-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids (MLS) on Saturday, Feb. 13, just a day after returning from a grueling preseason training camp in Mexico. The five-day trip served as crash-course in readying the team for the long two-month preseason and seven-month USL regular season ahead.
Despite the final score, Buckle and his squad felt confident of their performance.
“I think after just nine days of preseason, which is a lot less than what our opposition had going into this game, we should be very proud of the performance,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle after the friendly against the Rapids. “We had a really tough week in Mexico where I have worked the players very hard, so it was a good workout and I think that all the boys that got on the field did themselves justice.”
“We had to get the jitters out a little bit,” added defended Chris Christian, who made his debut appearance for Republic FC after signing with the club during the offseason. “The tempo always starts high when it is the first game; there is a lot of excitement.”
The pieces began to click for Republic FC when they played their MLS affiliates, the San Jose Earthquakes, in another preseason friendly on Saturday, Feb. 20. Sacramento Republic FC scored an early goal in the 8th minute, although the Quakes came from behind in the waning minutes of the friendly to win 2-1.
“I think our team put on a good performance and showed what we are building for the season,” said forward Mackenzie Pridham, who scored Republic FC’s goal.
In more ways than one way, Sacramento Republic FC is approaching their preseason like a marathon, not a sprint, making adjustments as a team along the way as they prepare for the 2016 USL regular season.
That’s not to say that Republic FC are pacing themselves slowly, with their eight-week preseason schedule full with friendlies against MLS teams and PDL teams like Fresno Fuego and Ventura County Fusion, not to mention a series of open and closed scrimmages against other teams throughout California. Rather, the club is focusing on identifying all the pieces they need to succeed during the USL regular season.
With three preseason friendlies under the belts, Republic FC are currently at the midway mark for their preseason, with four weeks to go until they open their USL regular season campaign on the road at Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Friday, March 25. After two narrow losses to MLS clubs and a win against the Sacramento State Men’s Soccer Team, Republic FC are feeling confident in their preparation for the regular season.
“Well you just keep building on the positives,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle after the team’s friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes. “I think what I have to do as we go forward is identify my best team… There’s lots to think about, but when we get our full team on the pitch we’re going to be dangerous.”
Republic FC opened up their preseason schedule with a 0-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids (MLS) on Saturday, Feb. 13, just a day after returning from a grueling preseason training camp in Mexico. The five-day trip served as crash-course in readying the team for the long two-month preseason and seven-month USL regular season ahead.
Despite the final score, Buckle and his squad felt confident of their performance.
“I think after just nine days of preseason, which is a lot less than what our opposition had going into this game, we should be very proud of the performance,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle after the friendly against the Rapids. “We had a really tough week in Mexico where I have worked the players very hard, so it was a good workout and I think that all the boys that got on the field did themselves justice.”
“We had to get the jitters out a little bit,” added defended Chris Christian, who made his debut appearance for Republic FC after signing with the club during the offseason. “The tempo always starts high when it is the first game; there is a lot of excitement.”
The pieces began to click for Republic FC when they played their MLS affiliates, the San Jose Earthquakes, in another preseason friendly on Saturday, Feb. 20. Sacramento Republic FC scored an early goal in the 8th minute, although the Quakes came from behind in the waning minutes of the friendly to win 2-1.
“I think our team put on a good performance and showed what we are building for the season,” said forward Mackenzie Pridham, who scored Republic FC’s goal.
Republic FC’s offense carried over to their next preseason test, as they traveled down the road to play Sacramento State on Wednesday. Republic FC captured a comfortable 1-0 win in their friendly against Sacramento State, dominating the match with 15 shots to their opponents’ five.
“It was a good game,” said newcomer Harry Williams, who scored against Sacramento State. “I thought we controlled it. Maybe we could have gotten a few more goals, but I enjoyed it.”
Republic FC are also using the preseason to fine tune their defense. Wednesday’s friendly was the club’s first shut out of the preseason.
“The defense is happy because we got the shutout, it’s our first shut out of the year,” said goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek.
The club plans to build on their momentum over the next week as they continue their preseason with four friendlies on the road at Sonoma County Sol (Feb. 27), Fresno Fuego (Mar. 3), UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer Team (Mar. 5) and Ventura County Fusion (Mar. 6).
Republic FC travel to Santa Rosa, Calif. to take on the Sonoma County Sol on Saturday, Feb. 27. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Santa Rosa High School. Tickets to the match are available on SonomaSol.com. Republic FC fans may receive 20% off tickets with the promo code: SOLLOVESREPUBLIC.
Live updates for Saturday’s friendly will be available on Twitter via @SacRepublicFC.
Republic FC’s offense carried over to their next preseason test, as they traveled down the road to play Sacramento State on Wednesday. Republic FC captured a comfortable 1-0 win in their friendly against Sacramento State, dominating the match with 15 shots to their opponents’ five.
“It was a good game,” said newcomer Harry Williams, who scored against Sacramento State. “I thought we controlled it. Maybe we could have gotten a few more goals, but I enjoyed it.”
Republic FC are also using the preseason to fine tune their defense. Wednesday’s friendly was the club’s first shut out of the preseason.
“The defense is happy because we got the shutout, it’s our first shut out of the year,” said goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek.
The club plans to build on their momentum over the next week as they continue their preseason with four friendlies on the road at Sonoma County Sol (Feb. 27), Fresno Fuego (Mar. 3), UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer Team (Mar. 5) and Ventura County Fusion (Mar. 6).
Republic FC travel to Santa Rosa, Calif. to take on the Sonoma County Sol on Saturday, Feb. 27. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Santa Rosa High School. Tickets to the match are available on SonomaSol.com. Republic FC fans may receive 20% off tickets with the promo code: SOLLOVESREPUBLIC.
Live updates for Saturday’s friendly will be available on Twitter via @SacRepublicFC.
