Sacramento Republic FC defender Mike da Fonte earned USL Team of the Week honors for Week 15 of the 2016 USL season after scoring the match-winning goal in Republic FC’s 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2.
“Another example of waiting for your opportunity in a team that’s fighting to play… we’ve got every player hungry, which is what I wanted with a smaller squad. Every player is fit and able,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle about da Fonte’s performance.
In Saturday’s win, da Fonte scored the match-winning goal off a set piece in the 78th minute against S2. Midfielder Danny Barrera took a free kick 30 yards out, sending it toward the penalty area. da Fonte connected with the cross with a strong header into the back of the net. The goal is da Fonte’s first with Republic FC and his first of the 2016 USL season.
Buckle further praised da Fonte, who stepped up to a starting position in the backline as fellow defender Derek Foran has worked to recover from a hip injury.
“To lose Foran with the run we’ve been on would normally be a worry, but we’ve got da Fonte there who we’ve managed physically and mentally — because he wants to play, he’s come to Sacramento to play,” said Buckle.
da Fonte is the fourth Republic FC defender to be named to USL Team of the Week this season, joining Emrah Klimenta, James Kiffe and Chris Christian.
da Fonte is joined on this week’s USL Team of the Week by goalkeeper Callum Irving (Rio Grande Valley FC Toros); defenders Amer Didic (Swope Park Rangers), Taylor Mueller (Charleston Battery) and Brett Levis (Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2; midfielders Stefan Defregger (Wilmington Hammerheads FC), Jimmy McLaughlin (FC Cincinnati), Michael Reed (San Antonio FC) and; forwards Michael Cox (Orlando City B), Sammy Ochoa (Tulsa Roughnecks FC) and Long Tan (Arizona United SC).
Read more about Team of the Week at USLSoccer.com.
Sacramento Republic FC defender Mike da Fonte earned USL Team of the Week honors for Week 15 of the 2016 USL season after scoring the match-winning goal in Republic FC’s 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2.
“Another example of waiting for your opportunity in a team that’s fighting to play… we’ve got every player hungry, which is what I wanted with a smaller squad. Every player is fit and able,” said Head Coach and Technical Director Paul Buckle about da Fonte’s performance.
In Saturday’s win, da Fonte scored the match-winning goal off a set piece in the 78th minute against S2. Midfielder Danny Barrera took a free kick 30 yards out, sending it toward the penalty area. da Fonte connected with the cross with a strong header into the back of the net. The goal is da Fonte’s first with Republic FC and his first of the 2016 USL season.
Buckle further praised da Fonte, who stepped up to a starting position in the backline as fellow defender Derek Foran has worked to recover from a hip injury.
“To lose Foran with the run we’ve been on would normally be a worry, but we’ve got da Fonte there who we’ve managed physically and mentally — because he wants to play, he’s come to Sacramento to play,” said Buckle.
da Fonte is the fourth Republic FC defender to be named to USL Team of the Week this season, joining Emrah Klimenta, James Kiffe and Chris Christian.
da Fonte is joined on this week’s USL Team of the Week by goalkeeper Callum Irving (Rio Grande Valley FC Toros); defenders Amer Didic (Swope Park Rangers), Taylor Mueller (Charleston Battery) and Brett Levis (Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2; midfielders Stefan Defregger (Wilmington Hammerheads FC), Jimmy McLaughlin (FC Cincinnati), Michael Reed (San Antonio FC) and; forwards Michael Cox (Orlando City B), Sammy Ochoa (Tulsa Roughnecks FC) and Long Tan (Arizona United SC).
Read more about Team of the Week at USLSoccer.com.