League News

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Keko was named to the league’s Team of the Week for Week 11. The Spanish attacker tallied a goal and assist each in Saturday’s win over Oakland Roots SC, helping his club to a 3-1 win and earning Man of the Match honors.

Keko helped Sacramento start the contest on the front foot, finding the net in the 12^th minute for his second goal of the season. After receiving the ball from Jack Gurr on the right flank, the Spaniard put a move on a defender before placing a curling shot off the back post and into the net, past the outstretched dive of the opposing goalkeeper. Later on, he assisted Russell Cicerone’s game winning score early in the second half, winning the ball in the middle of the field before flicking it along to the forward in stride.

The selection is Keko’s third all time, and the first of the 2023 season. In 2022, he was named to the league’s top squad in Weeks 24 and 28. This is the second straight week a Sacramento player has earned the honor, after Russell Cicerone was named to the Best XI for Week 10. Republic FC has been represented on Team of the Week in 8 of 11 match-weeks this season.

Keko’s 12^th minute goal has also been nominated for Goal of the Week – voting is open now through 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 25 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.

Republic FC kicks off a three-match road trip this Friday, when the club travels to the East Coast to face Hartford Athletic for the first time. Kickoff from Trinity Heath Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC returns home to Heart Health Park on Saturday, June 17 to take on regional foe Monterey Bay F.C.

Today, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Keko has been nominated for Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week for Week 11. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m, on Thursday, May 25 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App. 

The Spanish attacker got Sacramento ahead early on in Saturday’s win over NorCal rival Oakland Roots SC, netting a spectacular strike from distance in the 12^th minute.  After defender Jack Gurr took possession in the attacking third, he dished to his teammate on the wing, who put a move on a defender before putting a long-distance curler off the back post and into the net. The score was his second on the season, and the sixth time this season Republic FC has scored in the opening 15 minutes of a match.

This is Keko’s first career nomination for the league’s top weekly score, and the second for the club in as many weeks. Last week, Russell Cicerone was up for the honor for the first of his three goals scored in a hat trick against Indy Eleven on May 13. Luis Felipe earned the club’s first nod in Week 6 for his score in the club’s 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15.

Fans can register to vote now at USLChampionship.com or on the USL App. Voting is open now through Thursday, May 25 at 9:00 a.m.   Republic FC kicks off a three-match road trip this Friday, when the club travels to the East Coast to face Hartford Athletic for the first time. Kickoff from Trinity Heath Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC returns home to Heart Health Park on Saturday, June 17 to take on regional foe Monterey Bay F.C.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone was named to Team of the Week for Week 10. Cicerone netted a hat trick in the club’s 3-1 win Saturday vs. Indy Eleven at Heart Health Park, the club’s ninth straight unbeaten result in league play this season.  

Cicerone’s first two scores came within five minutes of each other after the opening whistle sounded. In just the third minute, the forward chipped the ball in from outside the penalty area after aggressive play from Sebastian Herrera left an open net for Sacramento’s fastest goal this season. Another in the eighth minute doubled his club’s advantage and went down as the winner, before he netted his third of the match late in the second half. Sacramento charged down the field in transition, with substitute Zeiko Lewis assisting the game-sealing goal with four minutes remaining.

In addition to his three scores, Cicerone tallied four shots, putting each on target. The performance marked the Michigan native’s second career hat trick, with the first coming on August 23, 2021 while he was a member of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, and his third multi-goal game this season. It was the first hat trick scored by a Republic FC player since March 24, 2019, when Cameron Iwasa scored three times in the first half against Oklahoma City Energy FC at Heart Health Park, and the fifth all-time.

The selection is the 17^th of Cicerone’s career. Including this week, Cicerone has been named to the league’s top squad on three occasions this season, previously earning the honor in Week 1 and again in Week 4. His 3^rd minute score has been nominated for the league’s Goal of the Week – voting is open now and closes at 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 18 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on the league’s Twitter, Instagram Stories, and on the USL App.

Republic FC continues the 2023 USL Championship season on the road this coming Wednesday. On May 17, the Indomitable Club travels south to Irvine to face Orange County SC for the first time this season. Kickoff from Championship Soccer Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC returns home next Saturday for a derby match at Heart Health Park with Oakland Roots SC on May 20.

Today, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC’s Russell Cicerone is nominated for Fans’ Choice Goal of the Week for Week 10. Voting is open now through 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 18 at USLChampionship.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram Stories, and the USL App.

Cicerone’s first goal of the night came in the 3^rd minute, as the club’s leading goal scorer took advantage of a mistake from Indy Eleven’s keeper that was forced by Sebastian Herrera’s aggressive play. The ball found its way to Cicerone outside of the 18-yard box, who chipped in his 5^th goal of the season on the first touch. The Michigan native finished the night with a hat trick – the second of his career and first for Republic FC since 2019 – in the club’s 3-1 win and 9^th straight undefeated game in league play.

This is Cicerone’s first nomination for the league’s top weekly score this season and the club’s second. Luis Felipe earned the first nod in Week 6 for his score in the club’s 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15.

Fans can register to vote now at USLChampionship.com or on the USL App. Voting is open now through Thursday, May 18 at 9:00 a.m.

Republic FC continues the 2023 USL Championship season on the road this coming Wednesday. On May 17, the Indomitable Club travels south to Irvine to face Orange County SC for the first time this season. Kickoff from Championship Soccer Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, and streaming on ESPN+. Republic FC returns home next Saturday for a derby match at Heart Health Park with Oakland Roots SC on May 20.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Thursday, USL Championship announced that Republic FC forward Russell Cicerone has been nominated for USL Championship Player of the Month for April. Voting is open now through May 8 at 9:00 a.m. PT at USLChampionship.com. Fan voting composes 51% of the poll, and the remainder will be conducted by the USL Technical Committee and National media panel. The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 11.

Over the entire month, Cicerone led the league with five scoring contributions, and his three goals marked the second most of any player in April. Through Week 8, he has a league-best Goals Added mark of +3.40. The Michigan native kicked off the month with a brace in the club’s 5-0 win over defending Eastern Conference champion Louisville City FC on April 1 – the first multi-goal performance for a Republic FC player this season and Cicerone’s seventh career game with multiple scores. Two weeks later, he scored the opening goal against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. His fourth goal of the season and the 50^th of his career across all competitions, the score set up the Indomitable Club’s 4-0 win over the 2022 Western Conference runner-up.

Through the first quarter of the 2023 season, Republic FC sit at the top of the USL Championship standings with 18 points and are the only undefeated team remaining. Through eight matches, the club has posted a league-best +12 goal differential and recorded a league-leading six shutouts. 

Republic FC is back in action this Tuesday, May 9 when the club hosts MLS side Colorado Rapids in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Kickoff from Heart Health Park is set for 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available now at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets. Last year’s historic cup run was highlighted by sell-out crowds creating an unrivaled atmosphere as the team defeated MLS clubs San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City to punch its ticket to the final.

Sacramento, Calif. – On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC’s Luis Felipe was named to Team of the Week Bench for his performance in the club’s 1-0 victory over Detroit City FC on April 22. The midfielder contributed on both ends of the pitch to help Republic FC to its seventh straight unbeaten result to begin the 2023 season. 

Luis Felipe netted the game-winner for Republic FC, scoring the game’s lone goal in the ninth minute off an assist from Russell Cicerone. The goal was his third match-deciding score this season after netting the winner in Weeks 3 and 4 at Heart Health Park. He was also excellent on defense, winning possession for his club five times and tallying four successful one-on-one duels.

The selection is his sixth as a member of Republic FC, and the seventh of his USL Championship career. He last earned Team of the Week distinction in Week 3, when he scored the game-winning goal against San Diego Loyal SC at Heart Health Park. So far this season, Republic FC has been included in the league’s weekly top squad in six of seven weeks, with five different players earning the honor.

Republic FC is back in action tomorrow from Heart Health Park in the U.S. Open Cup, facing off with regional rival Oakland Roots SC for the first time this season. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets. The match will not be broadcast, but fans can follow the club’s social channels at @SacRepublicFC for live updates.

On Tuesday, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC’s Danny Vitiello was named to the league’s best XI and Rodrigo Lopez was named to Team of the Week Bench for Week 6. The two players’ contributions on Saturday held secure Sacramento’s 4-0 clean sheet win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, allowing the club to take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference standings.

Each player was integral to Sacramento’s sixth straight unbeaten result to start the 2023 season. For the match, Lopez tallied four chances created on the offensive end, keeping his hold on his league-leading tally with 19. His 37^th minute cross led to the club’s second score, after Russell Cicerone flicked it along to Damia Viader on the back post. Lopez also won six of ten one-on-one duels on the defensive end and won possession for his club four times.

Vitiello continued his strong start to the 2023 campaign with a season-high six saves. His performance helped the club tally its fourth straight clean sheet – a new club record – fifth on the season, and the 30^th of his professional career across all competitions.

This is Lopez’s 21^st career selection to Team of the Week, and Vitiello’s fifth. Lopez last earned Team of the Week honors in Week 2 earlier this season following the club’s draw against Charleston Battery at Heart Health Park. Vitiello’s selection is his first as a member of Republic FC, he previously earned the honor four times as a member of Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2020 and 2021. So far this season, Republic FC has been represented on the league’s weekly top squad in five of six weeks, with Russell Cicerone, Luis Felipe, and Jack Gurr combining for six selections.

Republic FC is back in action this Saturday when Eastern Conference club Detroit City FC visits Heart Health Park for the first time. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets, and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on FOX40, Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, and streaming on ESPN+.

Today, the USL Championship announced that Republic FC’s Luis Felipe is nominated for Fan’s Choice Goal of the Week for Week 6. Voting is open now at USLChampionship.com through Friday, April 21 at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Sacramento’s third score of the night resulted from an excellent build-up as the club worked the ball up the right flank. After defender Jared Timmer took possession in Sacramento’s defensive half, the club’s midfielders put the ball at the feet of Jack Gurr to serve a low cross. A near-post run from Russell Cicerone provided Luis Felipe space to move into the penalty area and put the ball through for a great team score and the midfielder’s third goal of the season.

This is Luis Felipe’s first nomination for the weekly league honor this season. In 2022, he won the vote for Week 18 Goal of the Week and July Goal of the Month after heading through an equalizer in the final seconds against rival Oakland Roots SC at Heart Health Park.

Fans can register to vote now at USLChampionship.com or on the USL App. Voting is open now through Friday, April 21 at 9:00 a.m. PT.  

Republic FC is back in action this Saturday, when Eastern Conference club Detroit City FC visits Heart Health Park for the first time. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets, and the match will be broadcast live in English and Spanish on FOX40, Antenna TV 40.2, FOX40.com and the FOX40 News mobile app, as well as streaming on ESPN+.