1. U.S. Open Cup tournament kicks off on Wednesday
With the preliminary rounds over, the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off this Wednesday across the country in 23 First Round matches. While Sacramento Republic FC do not enter the U.S. Open Cup until the Second Round on Wednesday, May 18, there are two notable matches for Sacramento Republic FC fans.
First, San Francisco City FC faces off against CD Aguiluchos USA on Wednesday, May 11 at the Beach Chalet fields in Golden Gate Park. Republic FC will face the winner of this match on Wednesday, May 18 in the Second Round of the Open Cup. Kickoff for the Second Round match is 7:30 p.m. at Bonney Field. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Meanwhile, local NPSL side Sacramento Gold FC will face Burlingame Dragons FC, the PDL affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday in another First Round U.S. Open Cup match. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. at Capital Christian School. Admission is $10 for 13 and over, $5 for children ages 8-12 and free for children under age 8.
Republic FC goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek and midfielder Max Alvarez are Sacramento Gold FC alumni.
2. Republic FC Academy look to solidify playoff positioning
With just three matches left in the 2016-2017 U.S. Soccer Development Academy regular season, Republic FC’s Academy teams are busy preparing for the postseason.
The U-13/14s are gearing up for their summer showcase on June 20-23, 2016, at Toyota Park in in Frisco, Tex. With an 18-3-3 overall record, the U-13/14s have lost just one of their past 10 matches and have outscored their opponents 37-7.
Meanwhile, the U-15/16s are just out of playoff position, sitting in fifth place in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference with a 12-9-5 overall record. The U-15/16s ran away on Saturday with a 3-0 win against De Anza Force Academy.
Lastly, the U-17s/18s are ranked third in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference with a 15-8-6 overall record and currently sit in the 20th playoff spot. Both the U-17/18s and U-15/16s hope to qualify for their respective postseason tournaments, which start in early July.
All three Academy sides have home matches against Santa Cruz Breakers Academy this Saturday at the in Mather Sports Complex. The U-17/18 match kicks off at 10 a.m. followed by the U-15/16s at 12:30 p.m. and then the U-13/14 match at 3 p.m. All Republic FC Academy matches are free and open to the public to attend.
3. FC Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead performs emergency goalkeeping duties.
FC Dallas defender and Sacramento native Ryan Hollingshead found himself in a unique position Saturday night. Late in their match against Toronto FC, FC Dallas found themselves down a goal and in trouble when goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez was forced off late after a heavy collision with Toronto midfielder Will Johnson in the 87th minute. With all FC Dallas substitutions already used, Hollingshead replaced Gonzalez in goal for the waning moments of the match and even made a save off a dangerous free kick opportunity for Toronto FC.
1. U.S. Open Cup tournament kicks off on Wednesday
With the preliminary rounds over, the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off this Wednesday across the country in 23 First Round matches. While Sacramento Republic FC do not enter the U.S. Open Cup until the Second Round on Wednesday, May 18, there are two notable matches for Sacramento Republic FC fans.
First, San Francisco City FC faces off against CD Aguiluchos USA on Wednesday, May 11 at the Beach Chalet fields in Golden Gate Park. Republic FC will face the winner of this match on Wednesday, May 18 in the Second Round of the Open Cup. Kickoff for the Second Round match is 7:30 p.m. at Bonney Field. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Meanwhile, local NPSL side Sacramento Gold FC will face Burlingame Dragons FC, the PDL affiliate of the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday in another First Round U.S. Open Cup match. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. at Capital Christian School. Admission is $10 for 13 and over, $5 for children ages 8-12 and free for children under age 8.
Republic FC goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek and midfielder Max Alvarez are Sacramento Gold FC alumni.
2. Republic FC Academy look to solidify playoff positioning
With just three matches left in the 2016-2017 U.S. Soccer Development Academy regular season, Republic FC’s Academy teams are busy preparing for the postseason.
The U-13/14s are gearing up for their summer showcase on June 20-23, 2016, at Toyota Park in in Frisco, Tex. With an 18-3-3 overall record, the U-13/14s have lost just one of their past 10 matches and have outscored their opponents 37-7.
Meanwhile, the U-15/16s are just out of playoff position, sitting in fifth place in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference with a 12-9-5 overall record. The U-15/16s ran away on Saturday with a 3-0 win against De Anza Force Academy.
Lastly, the U-17s/18s are ranked third in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference with a 15-8-6 overall record and currently sit in the 20th playoff spot. Both the U-17/18s and U-15/16s hope to qualify for their respective postseason tournaments, which start in early July.
All three Academy sides have home matches against Santa Cruz Breakers Academy this Saturday at the in Mather Sports Complex. The U-17/18 match kicks off at 10 a.m. followed by the U-15/16s at 12:30 p.m. and then the U-13/14 match at 3 p.m. All Republic FC Academy matches are free and open to the public to attend.
3. FC Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead performs emergency goalkeeping duties.
FC Dallas defender and Sacramento native Ryan Hollingshead found himself in a unique position Saturday night. Late in their match against Toronto FC, FC Dallas found themselves down a goal and in trouble when goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez was forced off late after a heavy collision with Toronto midfielder Will Johnson in the 87th minute. With all FC Dallas substitutions already used, Hollingshead replaced Gonzalez in goal for the waning moments of the match and even made a save off a dangerous free kick opportunity for Toronto FC.
Hollingshead, who is in his third year with FC Dallas, is a Granite Bay High School and Placer United alum. The UCLA product was drafted by FC Dallas with the 20th overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, but chose to step away from soccer for a year to help his brother build a church in Sacramento and do humanitarian work in Haiti.
Hollingshead, who is in his third year with FC Dallas, is a Granite Bay High School and Placer United alum. The UCLA product was drafted by FC Dallas with the 20th overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, but chose to step away from soccer for a year to help his brother build a church in Sacramento and do humanitarian work in Haiti.
