MCZ Earworms are back! Here’s a new song that we have stuck in our heads…
Sarah Joyce AKA Rumer has a her first album in four years coming out in August, “Nashville Tears”, exclusively featuring songs by Hugh Prestwood. This is the opening track, “The Fate of Fireflies”.
Visit her official website or preorder her album here.
Sacramento Republic GM Todd Dunivant and Head Coach Mark Briggs continue to make roster moves this week with the pre-season games quickly approaching.
Just after New Year the team signed defender Tomas Hilliard-Arce, the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft (by the LA Galaxy). He made 5 appearances for the MLS team in 2018 and played for Galaxy II in the USL during 2019.
Two 17-year old members of the Republic’s Academy program were signed to professional contracts, defender Hayden Stargis from Turlock CA and midfielder Mario Penagos from Elk Grove CA. They have been with the club since 2015.
January 21st the Republic announced the signing of experienced goalkeeper Adam Grinwis. The Michigan native previously played for Orlando City with a loan spell with Real Monarchs during 2018.
The team announced on January 23rd that forward Stefano Bonomo was retiring from professional soccer after a five year pro career.
With the opening of training camp January 27th at Consumnes River College the team invited Republic Academy goalkeeper Diego Ramos and midfielder Julian Chavez to attend. Also participating were midfielder Ashkanov Apollon, forwards Khalid Balogun and Daawdy Seay.
Here’s what the roster now looks like as the team builds not just for its seventh USL season but also looks towards MLS in 2022:
| No. | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Goalkeeper | Adam Grinwis (USA) |
| 18 | Goalkeeper | Rafael Díaz (DOM) |
| 2 | Defender | Shannon Gomez (TTO) |
| 3 | Defender | Hayden Stargis (USA) |
| 5 | Defender | Matt Mahoney (USA) |
| 4 | Defender | Tomas Hilliard-Arce (USA) |
| 15 | Defender | Juan Barahona (SLV) |
| 21 | Defender | Dekel Keinan (ISR) |
| 30 | Defender | Jordan McCrary (USA) |
| 8 | Midfielder | Rodrigo Lopez (USA) |
| 10 | Midfielder | Dariusz Formella (POL) |
| 11 | Midfielder | Sam Werner (USA) |
| 12 | Midfielder | Drew Skundrich (USA) |
| 20 | Midfielder | Villyan Bijev (BGR) |
| 23 | Midfielder | Mario Penagos (USA) |
| 24 | Midfielder | Jaime Villarreal (USA) |
| 28 | Midfielder | Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu (USA) |
| 9 | Forward | Kharlton Benmar (USA) |
| 29 | Forward | |
| 31 | Forward | Cameron Iwasa (USA) [CAPTAIN] |
BOLD = Signed for 2020 season
Sacramento Republic FC announced this week the return of legendary midfielder Rodrigo “RoRo” Lopez for the 2020 season. The 32-year-old dynamo was Republic FC’s first-ever signing back in 2013 and returns after spells with Celaya (Ascenso MX), Toluca and Veracruz (Liga MX).
He is wrote his name in Republic club history during the 2014 USL Semifinal Playoff against bitter rivals LA Galaxy II (Los Dos). The game became known as, “The Miracle at Bonney Field”. Trailing by two goals Lopez scored three second-half goals to take Sacramento to the USL Cup Final and its first Championship.
Manager Mark Briggs will do doubt be relying on the veteran Lopez to lead the team both on and off the pitch. The Republic continues to build its roster for the upcoming season and for MLS in 2022.