After a standout inaugural season, Sacramento Republic FC U-17/18 Academy team is set to make club history as they compete in their first-ever quarterfinal match of U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) Playoffs.
Republic FC U-17/18s (17-8-7) travel to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-17/18s (19-1-11) on Thursday, July 7 in a quarterfinal match of the USSDA Playoffs. Kickoff is 3 p.m. PT at UBC Dhillon Field.
For players, coaches and staff alike, Thursday’s quarterfinal is just a testament to the club’s hard work and drive during their inaugural season.
“Being able to represent Sacramento and Republic FC at Academy Playoffs is something that we’ve been working for all season,” said U-17/18s captain Heriberto Melgoza. “The success that we’ve had as a team is the product of hard work, perseverance and dedication that everyone on the team had.”
After a standout inaugural season, Sacramento Republic FC U-17/18 Academy team is set to make club history as they compete in their first-ever quarterfinal match of U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) Playoffs.
Republic FC U-17/18s (17-8-7) travel to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-17/18s (19-1-11) on Thursday, July 7 in a quarterfinal match of the USSDA Playoffs. Kickoff is 3 p.m. PT at UBC Dhillon Field.
For players, coaches and staff alike, Thursday’s quarterfinal is just a testament to the club’s hard work and drive during their inaugural season.
“Being able to represent Sacramento and Republic FC at Academy Playoffs is something that we’ve been working for all season,” said U-17/18s captain Heriberto Melgoza. “The success that we’ve had as a team is the product of hard work, perseverance and dedication that everyone on the team had.”
Republic FC U-17/18s advanced to the quarterfinals after going undefeated in the group stage of Playoffs, winning Group C on goal differential over the New York Red Bulls’ Academy team.
Going into the final match of group play, Republic FC U-17/18s needed to beat the Red Bulls Academy on goal differential after winning their first match, then drawing the Red Bulls U-17/18s 1-1 in their second group match. While both Republic FC U-17/18s and Red Bulls U-17/18s won their final matches, Republic FC U-17/18s advanced in a dramatic finish with eight group goals compared to the Red Bulls U-17/18s seven.
“We were at 2-2 and the next thing we knew Red Bulls were cruising at 3-1,” said Academy Director Rod Underwood about the final group play match. “So with ten minutes left in the game we kicked it into gear to go 4-2 and go through.”
For their part, Whitecaps FC U-17/18s advanced to the quarterfinals after winning Group A. Going into their final match, Whitecaps FC U-17/18s faced a must-win scenario against LA Galaxy U-17/18s in order to advance to the next round of Playoffs. Whitecaps FC U-17/18s managed to maintain a 2-1 lead to advance, and as the higher seeded team, were selected to host the Quarterfinal match against Republic FC’s U-17/18s Academy team.
Thursday’s quarterfinal match will be the third meeting between the two youth sides during Republic FC Academy’s inaugural season.
During the regular season, the two youth sides met twice in the Western Conference Northwest Division, where Whitecaps FC U-17/18s captured the division title with 68 points while Republic FC U-17/18s finished second with 58 points. On September 13, the two sides played to a 2-2 draw in Vancouver in their first match-up, while Republic FC U-17/18s fell later in the season to Whitecaps FC U-17/18s in a 1-3 loss at Cosumnes River College on February 2.
Forward Joseph Restani leads the Republic FC U-17/18 team on offense with 13 goals during the regular season, and is followed by midfielder Alexis Dionicio, forward Micah Albert and midfielder Francis Avoce with eight, seven and six goals respectively.
On defense, Republic FC U-17/18s are led by goalkeeper Cameron Douglas and defenders David Burns, Nabilai Kibunguchy and Mackenzie Harrington, all players who have received call-ups to their respective youth national teams. Douglas, Burns and Kibunguchy have all represented the U.S., while Harrington was called up to Canada’s youth national team.
The Whitecaps FC U-17/18 offense is led by forwards Terran Campbell and Gloire Amanda, who—with 17 and 14 goals respectively—are in the top ten goal scorers in the USSDA Western Conference.
Whitecaps FC U-17/18s defense has allowed just 24 goals in regular season play, the best defense in USSDA Northwest Division of the Western Conference with just 0.77 goals against per match.
The winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal match between Republic FC U-17/18s and Whitecap FC U-17/18s will advance to the final four at the StubHub Center (which served as the U.S. Soccer National Training Center) in Carson, Calif. The Semifinals will take place on Thursday, July 14, followed by the Championship match and third place match on Saturday, July 16.
Regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s quarterfinal match, the Academy team is thrilled to represent the Indomitable City, Sacramento region and Republic FC on a national stage.
“From the players, to the coaches, to [our athletic trainer] Dave Redman, everyone has always been convinced that this group was made for success,” said Melgoza. “And all that we’re doing now is proving to everyone else what Sacramento is made of.”
“I shared this with the guys, we as human beings are not built to live in these lavish spotlights, we’re built to work in the mundane and the spotlights are only there to drive us to get there,” added Underwood. “So we’re back here in the mundane and our goal is now to get back to that top of the mountain with the quarterfinal game.”
Republic FC fans may follow Thursday’s USSDA Playoffs quarterfinal match with live score updates on Twitter @SacRepublicFC.
Republic FC U-17/18s advanced to the quarterfinals after going undefeated in the group stage of Playoffs, winning Group C on goal differential over the New York Red Bulls’ Academy team.
Going into the final match of group play, Republic FC U-17/18s needed to beat the Red Bulls Academy on goal differential after winning their first match, then drawing the Red Bulls U-17/18s 1-1 in their second group match. While both Republic FC U-17/18s and Red Bulls U-17/18s won their final matches, Republic FC U-17/18s advanced in a dramatic finish with eight group goals compared to the Red Bulls U-17/18s seven.
“We were at 2-2 and the next thing we knew Red Bulls were cruising at 3-1,” said Academy Director Rod Underwood about the final group play match. “So with ten minutes left in the game we kicked it into gear to go 4-2 and go through.”
For their part, Whitecaps FC U-17/18s advanced to the quarterfinals after winning Group A. Going into their final match, Whitecaps FC U-17/18s faced a must-win scenario against LA Galaxy U-17/18s in order to advance to the next round of Playoffs. Whitecaps FC U-17/18s managed to maintain a 2-1 lead to advance, and as the higher seeded team, were selected to host the Quarterfinal match against Republic FC’s U-17/18s Academy team.
Thursday’s quarterfinal match will be the third meeting between the two youth sides during Republic FC Academy’s inaugural season.
During the regular season, the two youth sides met twice in the Western Conference Northwest Division, where Whitecaps FC U-17/18s captured the division title with 68 points while Republic FC U-17/18s finished second with 58 points. On September 13, the two sides played to a 2-2 draw in Vancouver in their first match-up, while Republic FC U-17/18s fell later in the season to Whitecaps FC U-17/18s in a 1-3 loss at Cosumnes River College on February 2.
Forward Joseph Restani leads the Republic FC U-17/18 team on offense with 13 goals during the regular season, and is followed by midfielder Alexis Dionicio, forward Micah Albert and midfielder Francis Avoce with eight, seven and six goals respectively.
On defense, Republic FC U-17/18s are led by goalkeeper Cameron Douglas and defenders David Burns, Nabilai Kibunguchy and Mackenzie Harrington, all players who have received call-ups to their respective youth national teams. Douglas, Burns and Kibunguchy have all represented the U.S., while Harrington was called up to Canada’s youth national team.
The Whitecaps FC U-17/18 offense is led by forwards Terran Campbell and Gloire Amanda, who—with 17 and 14 goals respectively—are in the top ten goal scorers in the USSDA Western Conference.
Whitecaps FC U-17/18s defense has allowed just 24 goals in regular season play, the best defense in USSDA Northwest Division of the Western Conference with just 0.77 goals against per match.
The winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal match between Republic FC U-17/18s and Whitecap FC U-17/18s will advance to the final four at the StubHub Center (which served as the U.S. Soccer National Training Center) in Carson, Calif. The Semifinals will take place on Thursday, July 14, followed by the Championship match and third place match on Saturday, July 16.
Regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s quarterfinal match, the Academy team is thrilled to represent the Indomitable City, Sacramento region and Republic FC on a national stage.
“From the players, to the coaches, to [our athletic trainer] Dave Redman, everyone has always been convinced that this group was made for success,” said Melgoza. “And all that we’re doing now is proving to everyone else what Sacramento is made of.”
“I shared this with the guys, we as human beings are not built to live in these lavish spotlights, we’re built to work in the mundane and the spotlights are only there to drive us to get there,” added Underwood. “So we’re back here in the mundane and our goal is now to get back to that top of the mountain with the quarterfinal game.”
Republic FC fans may follow Thursday’s USSDA Playoffs quarterfinal match with live score updates on Twitter @SacRepublicFC.