Sacramento State facing familiar faces in today's friendly with Republic FC

Former Hornet standout Max Alvarez and a host of other former Big West foes will suit up for Republic FC today in a friendly at Hornet Field at 3 p.m.

It's the third year in a row the two teams will meet but the first time Sacramento State has sold tickets and promoted it ahead of time.

The match will be the first for the Hornets since they went 2-1-1 against pro teams during their trip to Costa Rica last month.

"We thought we performed well in Costa Rica and got better and better with each game, so this will be another fantastic test for us against another professional team," head coach Michael Linenberger said in a news release on the team's website.

Alvarez, who has made 25 appearances and scored two goals since joining Republic FC in 2014, played four seasons with Sacramento State from 2009-2012. He scored 20 goals and added 13 assists in 71 games for the Hornets.

Republic FC also has a healthy collection of players who played against Sacramento State in college, including recent signing Mackenzie Pridham (Cal Poly), Cameron Iwasa (UC Irvine), Agustin Cazarez (Saint Mary's), Joaquin Rivas (UNLV), Matt La Grassa (Cal Poly) and UC Santa Barbara trio Danny Barrera, Alfonso Motagalvan and James Kiffe.

Linenberger told the Sacramento Bee the game will "feel like going against a Big West all-star team."