Academy

Republic FC’s development academy recently concluded another strong season at youth soccer’s highest level. The club was again one of the best in the country, with the U17 side reaching the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs for the third straight year – the only Sacramento area side to earn a chance at national hardware. Republic FC was one of just four Northern California clubs to reach the tournament across all age groups this season. Sacramento’s U15 side wrapped its campaign with three matches undefeated at the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase, including two clean sheets. The U13 and U14 squads again recorded a stellar campaign in their respective regional divisions.

Republic FC again finishes the season as one of the best in MLS NEXT, combining for an impressive 77 wins, 21 losses and 13 draws in league play. The U13 and U15 sides each finished in second place in the Northwest Division standings. Sacramento continued as the region’s top destination for players, pacing area clubs in providing opportunities at the Youth National Team level and seeing three local products make their first team debut.

“Our Academy worked hard to get better every week and showed what it means to be indomitable,” said Republic FC Academy Director Eder Quintanilla. “As a staff, we’re very proud of our players and what they accomplished this year. We have a tremendous base to build on as we turn our focus to next season.” 

2023 MLS NEXT Cup Results

The club’s season included a number of highlights and impressive moments. In October, The U15 and U17 squads went unbeaten for two straight weeks against MLS opposition as they took on their counterparts from Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers. The U13 squad posted an 11-match winning streak from November to February, and the U14’s a nine-game winning streak between February and April. A combined 10-0-1 record against local rival Sacramento United for the season solidified the club’s youth soccer dominance of the region.

In addition to the club’s team success, the club’s players had another stellar season filled with impressive individual accomplishments. 18 earned invitations to YNT Talent ID camps, allowing an opportunity to impress national talent evaluators. Two players earned a call up to their respective Youth National Teams.

In April, three players – Ethan Kelly, Ezekiel Padilla, Blake Willey, and Ermias Yohannes – earned USL Academy Contracts, providing each an opportunity to play and train with the first team. Yohannes and Kelly each made their first-team debuts in the U.S. Open Cup on April 5, followed by Padilla on July 1 against Rio Grande Valley FC. Republic FC remains the only club in the area offering a direct professional pathway – allowing talented players to rise through the ranks and earn a contract with their hometown pro club.

Republic FC’s youth Academy teams will return to the pitch in August, when they begin training and preparation for the 2023-24 MLS NEXT Season.

The U-13 and U-14 Academy squads concluded their 2022-23 seasons over the weekend, traveling to the Bay Area to face off against De Anza Force.  U-14s earned a shoutout victory to highlight the day as each squad capped off another stellar campaign representing the Indomitable Club.  

The Results

Coming off a strong showing at the Nexen Manchester City Cup, the U-14s kicked off the day with a shutout win. A strike from forward Warren Boyce opened the scoring in the second half, before Sean Hanafee added another in the 65^th minute.  A strong defensive performance saw out the match for the squad’s 26^th win this season, securing them 2^nd place in the Northwest Division.

The U-13s fell 4-2 in the day’s second match. Second-half scores by Sacramento’s Gerardo Gonzalez and Jonah Douhab fueled a late comeback from Sacramento’s youth, each putting one over the line in the second half. But the effort wouldn’t be enough as De Anza answered each score.

What Lies Ahead

Saturday’s results closed out the 2022-23 season for Sacramento’s U-13 and U-14 sides. Each completes an impressive campaign; The U13 side finishes third in a very competitive Northwest Division with 27 wins, four losses and three draws, headlined by big wins over San Jose Earthquakes and crosstown rival Sacramento United.  The U-14 squad finish second in their division with 26 wins, five losses and three draws.

Next week, Republic FC’s older teams depart for the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup in Frisco Texas. The U-17s will play for national hardware for the third straight year in the NEXT Cup Playoffs, while the U-15s will square off against top competition in the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase. Match schedules and broadcast information will be released in the coming days.

Following the U-15’s and U-17’s stellar tournament showings, all four of Republic FC’s Youth Academy squads were on the pitch in a big weekend of league contests. Regional derbies stood before each squad against crosstown foe Sacramento United. An undefeated slate was the result, as the club’s youth sides all claimed a victory.

The Results

The U-17s continued their great form from the MLS NEXT Tournament, posting a convincing 5-0 win Saturday. Center back Angad Singh’s 27^th minute score proved to be enough for the squad to claim all three points, but the club wasn’t done after that. Adrian Yepez, Ethan Kelly, Ermias Yohannes and Harper Thweatt each got their names on the score sheet in the second half.

Six scores for the U-15s pushed them to victory against their counterparts. The squad got off to the races early on into the game with midfielder Austin Thum’s fourth minute tally. Defender Felix Contreras earned a first-half brace, scoring twice in six minutes from the 13^th to the 19^th.

The U-14s made it 3-of-3 wins against Sac United for the season as a four-score performance propelled the squad to victory. Rylan Hashimoto, Warren Boyce, Da’vian Kimbrough and Cooper Stang all netted scores which cemented the squad’s second-place positioning in the Northwest League with one game remaining in the season. The U-13s closed out the day with a 7-1 win as six different players put their name on the score sheet before the final whistle sounded.

What Lies Ahead

The U-13 and U-14 squads will head to Oceanside as they are set to compete in the 2023 Manchester City Cup Thursday and Friday. In 2022, the two sides put in a dominant showing, combining for 11 wins – including victories for the U-13’s against Dallas Cup Champion Legends FC and the U-13 side of Premier League champion Manchester City FC – and just one loss. The U-17s will continue to prepare for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in June in Dallas, Texas.

This weekend the U-15 and U-17 Academy squads featured in the MLS NEXT Flex Tournament – pitting each side against top competition from across the nation. With a playoff berth on the line, each stood tall in their opening two matches of the tournament, combining for three victories in four games.

The Results

What Lies Ahead

Each squad will close out group play tomorrow in Maryland, with the U-17s facing Solar SC at 5:30 a.m. PST and the U-15s facing Philadelphia Union at 10 a.m. PST. The U-17s results have already secured the squad top spot in their group, netting them automatic qualification for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs next month. The U-15’s contest with the Pennsylvania club is a must-win for the club to secure a playoff berth.

All season long, Republic FC’s Youth Academy teams have battled hard on the pitch against top regional competition. This week, the U-15 and U-17 squads continue their quest for the postseason, heading to the East Coast for an important slate of matches. Three contests apiece in the MLS NEXT Flex tournament will pit Sacramento’s youth against elite competition from across the country. A berth in the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs is in reach should they emerge on top of their group.  

While the whole weekend will be filled with big games, Sunday’s match for Sacramento’s U-17 squad is especially notable. Against one of the top youth academies in the nation – Philadelphia Union – the contest is one of eighteen from the tournament that will be broadcast live on Apple TV through MLS Season Pass. Sacramento’s squad enters the tournament on a high note, claiming a win in each of its last two contests, including a clean sheet win against regional rival Sacramento United.

Match Schedule

Just 64 teams from each age group qualified for MLS NEXT Flex from their performance so far this season. The tournament grants clubs an additional player identification platform, and should they win their group, a berth in the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs before the end of their league schedules. Only 16 teams will claim a spot in the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs through competition.

Republic FC’s U-15’s and U-17’s each qualified for the postseason in 2022, marking the second consecutive season the club’s youth squads challenged for national silverware. So far this season, the U-15 side has recorded 14 wins, three draws, and five losses, while the U-17s have tallied 11 victories, 9 losses and two draws.  

Republic FC’s Academy squads closed out April with a high scoring weekend, claiming three wins in four games against Bay Area opposition. The U-13s and U-14s earned big wins over San Francisco Seals, and the U-17s earned a big shoutout win against Silicon Valley SA to continue stellar campaigns in the Northwest Division.

The Results

Forward Jackson Martin netted two scores in the first half to claim all three points for the U-17s against Silicon Valley SA Sunday afternoon. Fellow forward Ezekiel Padilla connected with Martin on both goals, setting him up in the 15^th and 31^st minutes. A strong defensive showcase in the second half propelled goalkeeper Jordan Victor to a clean sheet performance.

The U-14s victory over the Seals saw nine different names on the score sheet in an 11-1 victory. Brighton Utush and Salem Chandler each netted a brace, and center back Brayden Vu scored netted his first goal of the season in a dominating performance. Harrison Boyce’s first minute strike lifted the U-13s over their opponent while Jonah Douhab’s, second half hat trick put him at 26 goals on the season. Goalkeepers Onyekachi Ukaegbu and Zachary Hinojosa split the minutes, combining for the squad’s 10^th shoutout of the season.  

What Lies Ahead

Each squad will continue to make a push toward the top of the standings in their division as the end of the season inches closer. A local derby is on the docket this coming week from Cosumnes River College, with each squad hosting local foes Sacramento United Sunday. It’s the first matchup between the two clubs since September, when Republic FC claimed two shoutout victories for the U-15s and U-17s.

The Academy squads returned to the pitch Sunday as they hosted De Anza Force for a full slate of games. As the playoffs inch closer, three-of-four squads claimed crucial points to maintain their place in the standings.

The Results

Forward Rylan Hashimoto kicked things off with a four-score performance for the U-14s. After a scoreless first half, Hashimoto’s first strike came five minutes into the second half sand three more followed within 10 minutes of the 65^th minute, securing the victory for his squad.

The U-13s and U-15s spilt points in their contests, with Midfielder Austin Thum scoring in the 39^th minute to secure a point for the U-15s in a 1-1 draw. Trailing 2-0 midway through the second half, Declan Luigs’ score sparked a comeback for the U-13’s. Right back David Quintanilla leveled the game with one minute remaining, rescuing a point and keeping them just two back of second place. .

The U-17s started strong, netting two scores by the 30^th minute. Forwards Ezekiel Padilla and Ethan Kelly each found the back of the net, but a hard-fought second half played out in De Anza’s favor after three goals in the closing 25 minutes.

What Lies Ahead

With this weekend’s results, each squad maintained its position near the top of the standings. The U-15s sit atop of the Northwest Division, while the U-13s and U-14s sit in third with plenty of opportunities to climb in the coming weeks. The U-15s and U-17s will continue to prepare for the MLS NEXT Flex tournament in May in Maryland where they will face top-level squads from across the nation.

This weekend all four academy squads took on Bay Area foes in Northwest Division play, going 2-2-2 on the weekend. Six contests made for an important slate of games for each squad as they begin to set their sights on reaching the MLS NEXT Cup later this spring.

The Results:

The U-17s kicked the weekend off with a crucial win on the road against De Anza Force. A big first-half performance put the squad ahead as they scored all five goals in 18 minutes. Forward Jackson Martin was first on the scoresheet via a through ball from Ethan Kelly, whose 27^th minute score went down as the eventual winner. Sunday at home against Silicon Valley, squad looked to continue the momentum, but fell 4-2 after pulling within one mid-way through the second half.  

For the U-15s, Sean Baitinger and Landon Roberson each tallied a brace against De Anza Force in a 4-2 win. Baitinger’s score in the 37^th minute cancelled out De Anza’s strike early in the match, while his second score – the game winner – came in the 56^th minute. The squad split points Sunday in a scoreless draw to make for an unbeaten weekend.

Two regional derby matches between top squads took place Sunday as the U-13’s and U-14’s battled their counterparts from the San Jose Earthquakes. The U-13s drew 3-3 in a back-and-forth game, with Declan Luigs, Grayson Utus and Jonah Douhab all finding the net.  A narrow 1-0 loss was the result for the U-14 side, who battled hard but couldn’t find an equalizer after San Jose scored off a set piece in the second half.  

What Lies Ahead

As the end of the season approaches, each squad looks close out strong. In their respective age group, the U-15s currently lead their division, while the U-13s sit in second place, the U-14s in third and the U-17s are in fourth in the Northwest Division. The two older squads will get a chance to secure a playoff berth outright come May, when they travel to Maryland for the MLS NEXT Flex tournament to face competition from across the country.