Republic FC Navigates Brutal Opening Stretch with Momentum Building
No team in the USL Championship has a tougher start to the 2025 season than Sacramento Republic FC. Four consecutive matches against proven contenders — including both 2024 conference leaders and the defending league champion — is a challenge for any squad. For a team with a new head coach and a retooled roster still finding its rhythm, it’s something else entirely.
But through the first two games, Sacramento has done more than just survive. They’ve shown early signs of a team that could be dangerous once it fully gels.
Republic FC has taken four points from a possible six — defeating New Mexico United 2-1 at home to open the season, then playing the defending champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks to a dramatic 2-2 draw at Heart Health Park this past Saturday. It’s not just that they’ve earned results against two of the league’s most complete squads — it’s how they’ve done it.
Against Colorado Springs, Sacramento looked organized, composed, and sharp for much of the match. Jack Gurr’s first-half goal and Russell Cicerone’s composed finish in the 75th minute gave Republic a two-goal cushion. But two late penalties — one in the 86th minute and another deep into stoppage time — saw that lead slip away, and the Switchbacks escape with a point. It was a frustrating finish, but the performance reinforced what this team is capable of.
The cohesion is still coming, but it’s coming quickly.
Under new head coach Neill Collins, Republic FC is trying to blend continuity and change. There’s a returning core that includes experienced USL talent, but also a wave of new faces — six of whom were added just last week to bolster the squad ahead of a long season. That depth will be essential, not only for maintaining form but for navigating the growing fixture list that includes the U.S. Open Cup and the new USL Jägermeister Cup.
In this league, early form matters. Dropped points in March and April can become the difference between a home playoff game and an uphill road later in the season. For Sacramento, the chance to set the tone is front-loaded into the calendar. After opening with New Mexico and Colorado Springs, they’ll now face two more playoff-caliber sides: FC Tulsa and Louisville City.
First, it’s a trip to Oklahoma to face FC Tulsa on March 28 — a club that’s quietly become one of the league’s more dangerous sides. Tulsa overhauled their roster midseason in 2024 and have already posted 1-0 wins over both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Phoenix Rising. Even in their recent 0-1 loss to North Carolina FC, they showed signs of depth and resilience, especially considering they played midweek in the U.S. Open Cup.
Then it’s back to Heart Health Park, where Republic will host Louisville City on April 5. Louisville needs no introduction — two-time USL Championship winners, two-time runners-up, and last year’s Eastern Conference regular season champions. Another heavyweight challenge for a Sacramento squad that has yet to play a lower-table team.
It’s a four-game stretch that few teams would want to open a season with. But for Republic FC, it presents an opportunity. If this group can continue to earn results while they’re still building chemistry and learning one another’s tendencies, they’ll emerge from this run not just intact — but ahead of the pack.
The difference this season could come down to what happens now. This isn’t just about picking up early points — it’s about building trust, establishing roles, and learning how to win under pressure. The schedule will eventually even out. The system will become second nature. And as cup matches stack up and rotations begin, the foundation laid now could pay off in the form of long-term stability and top-tier consistency.
Republic FC may not be at full speed yet. But they’re already showing what they’re made of — and if this is just the beginning, the rest of the West should be paying close attention.