2015 Sacramento Republic FC season

Sacramento Republic FC
2015 season
OwnerWarren Smith
Head coachPreki (Through July 11)
Paul Buckle (From July 12)
StadiumBonney Field;
Hughes Stadium (February 28th)
USL Pro Playoffs1st round
U.S. Open Cup4th round
Top goalscorerLeague: Rodrigo López (9)
All: Rodrigo López (11)
Highest home attendanceLeague: 11,442
(Multiple matches)
All: 20,231
(Feb. 28 vs. NY Cosmos)
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 10,906 (Twice)
All: 9,794
(Feb. 21 vs. San Jose)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 11,303
All: 11,556

The 2015 Sacramento Republic FC season was the club's second season of existence. The club played in the newly rebranded United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as USL Pro, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. After offseason expansion of the USL from 14 to 24 teams and division into an Eastern and Western Conference, Sacramento Republic FC competed in the new Western Conference.[1] The Republic entered the season as defending champions, having defeated the Harrisburg City Islanders 2–0 in the USL final on September 27, 2014.[2] The season began on March 21 and concluded on September 20.[3]

Background

Winter 2014–15, USL Pro's off season, saw numerous headlines for Sacramento Republic FC. Owner Warren Smith, Technical Director Graham Smith, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and other delegates met with MLS officials, including Commissioner Don Garber, several times to continue their push for a MLS franchise. MLS announced February 2015 that Las Vegas was no longer in contention for an MLS franchise, narrowing the list of potentials to Sacramento and Minneapolis.

Republic's efforts with MLS as well as their successes on and off the pitch rallied many to help invest in the club to push further Republic FC's efforts for an MLS franchise. These investors include co-founder and ex-CEO of Envision Pharmaceutical Kevin Negal, UFC fighter Urijah Faber, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, San Francisco 49ers owners the York Family.

As success and popularity grew, demand for more seating at Bonny Field grew. The Board of Directors of Cal Expo approved expanded seating at Bonney Field and the endline stands were removed and replaced with 30-row bleachers, increasing the capacity to around 11,000.[4]

For the 2015 season, USL Pro expanded to 24 teams, including Portland Timbers 2, concluding Portland's USL affiliation with the Republic.

Club

As of June 19, 2015.[5]

No. Position Nation Player
1 GK  USA Dominik Jakubek
2 DF  EIR Derek Foran
3 FW  USA Cameron Iwasa
4 MF  USA Matthias Bonvehi
5 DF  USA Danny Barrera
6 MF  USA Agustin Cazarez
7 MF  BRA Gilberto
8 MF  USA Rodrigo López (vice-captain)
9 FW  LBR Gabe Gissie
10 FW  NIR Thomas Stewart
11 FW  USA Max Alvarez
12 DF  MNE Nemanja Vuković
13 FW  CRO Adnan Gabeljic
14 FW  MEX David Estrada
15 FW  PAK Kaleemullah Khan
16 MF  USA Zev Taublieb
17 FW  USA Justin Braun (captain)
18 MF  SRB Ivan Mirković
19 MF  MEX Octavio Guzmán
20 DF  USA James Kiffe
21 DF  USA Michael Daly
22 MF  MEX Gabe Gonzalez
23 DF  MNE Emrah Klimenta
24 GK  USA Patrick McLain
25 FW  SLV Joaquin Rivas
26 MF  USA Alfonso Motagalvan

Technical Staff

As of June 25, 2015.

Position Name
Technical director Graham Smith
Head coach Paul Buckle
Assistant head coach Adam Charles Smith
Assistant coach Chris Malenab
Assistant coach Antonio Sutton
Goalkeeping coach Simon Sheppard
Strength & Conditioning Coach Luke Rayfield

Competitions

Preseason

February 7, 2015 Fresno Fuego 2–2 Sacramento Republic Fresno, California
19:00 PST Ellison  18'
Chaney  66'
Kazinsky 75', 83'
Grande  80'
Report Gissie  38'
Cardozo 70', 74'
Gonzalez  87'
Stadium: Chukchansi Park
Attendance: 4,000
March 14, 2015 UC Davis Aggies 0 - 1 Sacramento Republic Davis, California
15:00 PST  51'
 65'
Gonzalez 7'
AHC Adam Smith  45'
Kiffe  65'
Stadium: Aggie Soccer Field
Attendance: 1,344
Note: Preki forfeited the match in the 66', citing concerns with the physicality of the match.

USL

March 21, 2015 1 Seattle Sounders 2 4 - 2 Sacramento Republic FC Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila
19:30 Craven 49'
Garza 70'
Rossi 75'
Roldan 88'
Report Braun 64'
Guzman 90'
Attendance: 2,951
Referee: Baboucarr Jallow
March 28, 2015 2 LA Galaxy II 2 - 3 Sacramento Republic FC StubHub Center, Carson
19:30 Steres 8'
Covarrubias  22'
Auras  35'
Bli  37'
Bowen 66'
Report Guzman 13' (pen.), 25' (pen.),  77'
Rivas  54'
Mirković  84'
López 90+'
Attendance: 1,292
April 2, 2015 3 Portland Timbers 2 2 - 1 Sacramento Republic FC Merlo Field, Portland
19:00 Belmar 62'
Peay  69'
Evans 87'
Report Foran  35'
Daly  59'
Iwasa 61'
Attendance: 2,501
April 11, 2015 4 Sacramento Republic FC 3 - 1 LA Galaxy II Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 López 22'
Klimenta 27'
Estrada 45'
Daly  77'
Report McBean  19'
Villarreal  32'
Lassiter 58'
Attendance: 10,906
April 15, 2015 5 Sacramento Republic FC 2 - 0 Whitecaps FC 2 Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 Kiffe  20'
López 32', 71'
Daly  47'
Report Parker  19' Attendance: 10,906
April 18, 2015 6 Sacramento Republic FC 3 - 0 Portland Timbers 2 Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 López 13'
Daly 37'
Mirković  44'
Braun  56'
Alvarez  66'
Taublieb 82'
Report Attendance: 11,242
April 24, 2015 7 Sacramento Republic FC 1 - 2 Orange County Blues Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 Braun 7'  88' Report Slager 38'
Filipović  41'
Crettenand 45'
Ramírez  53'
Petričević  60'
Barron  83'
Attendance: 11,242
April 29, 2015 8 Real Monarchs 1 - 0 Sacramento Republic FC Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
18:00 Rauhofer  51' 67' Report Braun  56'
Alvarez  65'
Attendance: 2,477
May 9, 2015 9 Sacramento Republic FC 3 - 0 Seattle Sounders 2 Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 Vuković 19'
Daly  28'
López 62'
Gabeljic 73'
Report Frano  27'  65'
Lowe  34'
McCormick  58'
Attendance: 11,242
Referee: Victor Rivas
May 17, 2015 10 LA Galaxy II 0 - 1 Sacramento Republic FC StubHub Center, Carson
17:00 Report López 65'
May 23, 2015 11 OKC Energy 2 - 1 Sacramento Republic FC Taft Stadium, Oklahoma City
17:00 Dalgaard 20'  60'
König 35'
Doue  66'  80'
Report López  9'
Iwasa  44'
Foran  45'
Vuković  45'
Gabeljic 62'
Attendance: N/A
May 30, 2015 12 Sacramento Republic FC 1 - 1 Real Monarchs Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30 Rauhofer 7'  70'
Orozco  15'  89'
Ovalle  76'
Report Estrada 19'
Vuković  65'
Mirković  87'
Attendance: 11,442
June 6, 2015 13 Sacramento Republic FC 0 - 1 Austin Aztex Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 Foran  24'
Braun  57'
Report Golden  52'
Typrak 58'
Attendance: 11,442
June 13, 2015 14 Arizona United 1 - 2 Sacramento Republic FC Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale
19:30 Tan 9'
Garcia  44'
Report Cazarez 76'
Barrera 83'
Attendance: 3,318
June 20, 2015 15 Sacramento Republic FC 2–1 OKC Energy Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 Andrews 39' (o.g.)
Mirković  45'
Vuković  72'
Gissie 80'
Report König 19'
Greig  22'
Attendance: 11,442
June 25, 2015 16 Tulsa Roughnecks 1 - 3 Sacramento Republic FC ONEOK Field, Tulsa
17:30 Mata 72' Report Estrada 20'
López 37', 76'  80'
Kaleemullah  66'
Attendance: 3,708
June 27, 2015 17 Austin Aztex 0 - 0 Sacramento Republic FC House Park, Austin
18:00 Report Daly  18' Attendance: 2,860
July 1, 2015 18 Real Monarchs 1 - 1 Sacramento Republic FC Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
18:00 Tavares 61'
Rauhofer  74'
Arnone  77'
Report Braun 19'
Mirković  76'
Attendance: n/a
July 11, 2015 19 Sacramento Republic FC 0 - 4 LA Galaxy II Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 Guzman  49' Report Villarreal 17'
Lassiter 47'
Auras 50'
Covarrubias  55'
McBean 76'
Attendance: 11,442
August 1, 2015 20 Sacramento Republic FC 2 - 0 Seattle Sounders 2 Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 Stewart 36', 83' Report Sanyang  76'
Rossi  88'
Attendance: 11,442
August 8, 2015 21 Sacramento Republic FC 0 - 1 Colorado Springs Switchbacks Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 López  37' Report Argueta 3' 80'
Gonzalez  88'
Attendance: 11,442
August 14, 2015 22 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3 - 3 Sacramento Republic FC Sand Creek Stadium, Colorado Springs
18:00 Argueta  10'
Vercollone 21' (pen),38'
Hoffman 78'
Armstrong  90'
Report Stewart 2'
Vuković  19'
Daly 82'
Mirković 90'
Attendance: 3,152
August 22, 2015 23 Sacramento Republic FC 1 - 1 Real Monarchs Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 Braun  56' 67'
Mirković  61'
Klimenta  90'
Report Kavita  14'
Orozco  60'
Welshman  84'
Baldin 86'
Attendance: 11,442
August 29, 2015 24 Sacramento Republic FC 3 - 1 Tulsa Roughnecks Bonney Field, Sacramento
20:00 [1]
September 6, 2015 25 Whitecaps FC 2 1 - 2 Sacramento Republic FC Sand Creek Stadium, Colorado Springs
15:00 [2]
September 12, 2015 26 Portland Timbers 2 0 - 3 Sacramento Republic FC Providence Park, Portland
19:00
September 16, 2015 27 Orange County Blues 0 - 0 Sacramento Republic FC Anteater Stadium, Irvine
19:30
September 19, 2015 28 Sacramento Republic FC 0 - 0 Arizona United Bonney Field, Sacramento
19:30

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
23 10 5 8 35 29  +6 35 6 2 4 18 12  +6 4 3 4 17 17  0

Source:

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
StadiumAAAAHHHAHAAHHAHAAAHHHAHHAAAH
ResultLWLWWWLLWWLDLWWWDDLWLDDWWWDD
Updated to match(es) played on February 24, 2015. Source:
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
2 Oklahoma City Energy 28 13 8 7 44 36 +8 47 Conference semi-finals
3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 28 14 4 10 53 35 +18 46 First round
4 Sacramento Republic 28 13 7 8 43 31 +12 46
5 LA Galaxy II 28 14 3 11 39 31 +8 45
6 Seattle Sounders 2 28 13 3 12 45 42 +3 42
Source: 2015 USL schedule
Rules for classification: 1) head-to-head; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) home goals scored; 9) home goal differential; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots

USL Pro Playoffs

 
First roundConference SemifinalsConference FinalsUSL Championship
 
              
 
 
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos2
 
September 26
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II0
 
#4 New York Red Bulls II (a.e.t.)4
 
October 10
 
#5 Pittsburgh Riverhounds2
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos1
 
September 26
 
#2 Louisville City FC0
 
#3 Charleston Battery (a.e.t.)2
 
October 3
 
#6 Richmond Kickers1
 
#2 Louisville City FC (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#3 Charleston Battery0
 
 
October 16
 
 
#1 Rochester Rhinos (a.e.t.)2
 
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
 
October 3
 
 
#1 Orange County Blues FC0
 
September 26
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
#4 Sacramento Republic FC0
 
October 11
 
#5 LA Galaxy II1
 
#5 LA Galaxy II2
 
September 25
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC1
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2
 
October 4
 
#6 Seattle Sounders FC 20
 
#2 Oklahoma City Energy FC (p)2 (4)
 
 
#3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC2 (3)
 
 
 
 

Playoff Results

September 26, 2015 1st Round Sacramento Republic 0 - 1 LA Galaxy II Sacramento, California
7:30pm López  42'
Kiffe  69'
Jakubek  90'
Vuković  90'
Report Olivera 42' (pen.)
Bowen  36'
Covarrubias  42'
Walker  89'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 11,442

U.S. Open Cup

May 20, 2015 Round 2 Sacramento Republic 4–2 Sonoma County Sol Sacramento, California
19:30 PT Stewart 9',43',61'
Gonzalez 12'
Report Acevedo  14'
Nuno 26', 73'
Arroyo  86'
Boone  90'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 10,386
May 27, 2015 Round 3 Sacramento Republic 7 - 3 Chula Vista FC Sacramento, California
19:30 PT Guzman 9'
Jakubek  39'
Gabeljic 43', 59', 89'
Taublieb  59' 74'
Stewart 52'
López 85'
Report Pinal  25'
Ramirez 40' (pen.)
Estrada 74'
Rubio 81'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 10,018

Friendlies

July 8, 2015 Friendly Sacramento Republic 1 - 4 Club Atlas Sacramento, California
20:00 PT Stewart 13'
Motagalvan  63'
Barrera  71'
Report Vigón 25'
Caballero 58'
Medina 64' (pen.)
Ramírez  69'
Zárate  84'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 10,419
July 18, 2015 Friendly Sacramento Republic 0 - 1 Newcastle United FC Sacramento, California
20:00 PT López  87' Report Kiffe 47' (o.g.)
Haidara  65'
Stadium: Bonney Field
Attendance: 11,442
November 14, 2015 Champions Soccer LLC International Soccer Challenge Sacramento Republic 1–5 LA Galaxy II Bakersfield, California
16:45 PT Trialist Report Villareal
Trialist
Jamieson IV
Lassiter
Stadium: Memorial Stadium

Transfers

In

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
24 GK Patrick McLain Orange County Blues FC Free February 17, 2015 [3]
99 DF Bilal Duckett Charlotte Eagles Free March 6, 2015 [4]
16 MF Zev Taublieb Valparaiso University Free March 6, 2015 [5]
22 MF Gabe Gonzalez Orange County Blues FC Free March 6, 2015 [6]
26 MF Alfonso Motagalvan Pittsburgh Riverhounds Free March 6, 2015 [7]
2 DF Derek Foran St. Patrick’s Athletic Free March 10, 2015 [8]
4 DF Matthias Bonvehi Stallion FC Free March 10, 2015 [9]
13 FW Adnan Gabeljic NK Rudeš Free March 10, 2015 [10]
25 FW Joaquin Rivas Kitsap Pumas Free March 10, 2015 [11]
3 FW David Estrada D.C. United March 20, 2015 [12]
14 FW Cameron Iwasa UC Irvine March 20, 2015 [13]
7 MF Gilberto Marília Return from Loan April 30, 2015
5 MF Danny Barrera Carolina RailHawks June 6, 2015 [14]
15 FW Kaleemullah FC Dordoi Bishkek June 18, 2015 [15]

Out

No. Pos. Player Transferred to Fee/notes Date Source
7 MF Gilberto Marília Loan January 15, 2015
22 DF Harrison Delbridge Portland Timbers 2 February 19, 2015 [16]
9 FW Dakota Collins NK HAŠK February 20, 2015 [17]
43 FW Izzy Tandir Breiðablik March 12, 2015
99 DF Bilal Duckett Charlotte Independence April 9, 2015 [18]
14 FW David Estrada Orange County Blues August 10, 2015 [19]
16 MF Zev Taublieb Wilmington Hammerheads FC August 20, 2015 [20]
22 MF Gabe González Ventura County Fusion August 20, 2015 [21]
28 MF Rodrigo Lopez Celaya FC October 8, 2015 [22]
7 MF Gilberto Marília November 30, 2015
4 DF Matthias Bonvehi Free Agent November 30, 2015
9 FW Gabe Gissie Bethlehem Steel FC December 11, 2015 [23]
21 DF Mikey Daly Bethlehem Steel FC December 11, 2015 [24]
15 FW Kaleemullah Khan Tulsa Roughnecks FC December 17, 2015 [25]

Loan in

No. Pos. Player Transferred from Fee/notes Date Source
16 MF Tommy Thompson San Jose Earthquakes August 29, 2015 [26]
3 MF J.J. Koval San Jose Earthquakes August 29, 2015 [27]
22 FW Mark Sherrod San Jose Earthquakes August 29, 2015 [28]

References

  1. ^ "Expanded USL PRO announces new league alignment, competition format for 2015 season". www.mlssoccer.com. January 21, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  2. ^ "Sacramento Republic capture USL PRO title in first season with 2-0 win over Harrisburg City Islanders". www.mlssoccer.com. September 28, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "League - 2015 schedules". www.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Cal Expo Board of Directors Approves Expanded Seating at Bonney Field". www.sacrepublicfc.com. December 12, 2014. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "2015 Roster". Sacramento Republic FC. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.