Indomitable City Soccer - 2020 Sacramento Republic player postmortemsA Sacramento Republic FC community2020-12-25T07:11:00-08:00http://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/rss/stream/213296332020-12-25T07:11:00-08:002020-12-25T07:11:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Jordan McCrary
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<figcaption>Courtesy of LA Galaxy II</figcaption>
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<p>Minutes leader was a rock all season.</p> <p id="R3P33v">Jordan McCrary returned for his second season with <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC in 2020. A regular starter at right back in 2019, McCrary came back and ended up being the minutes leader, playing nearly every game during the season and absolutely locking down his position.</p>
<p id="qtBIAF">McCrary had previously bounced around MLS and the USL Championship, but I hadn’t realized how much he had moved around before. Drafted into MLS by the <a href="https://www.thebentmusket.com">New England Revolution</a>, he was loaned out and had a cup of coffee with Rochester Rhinos, before a good run with <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com">Toronto FC</a> II, then a year in the <a href="https://www.sounderatheart.com">Seattle Sounders</a> system for both the MLS and USL teams.</p>
<p id="TKs9eu">In Sacramento he seems to have found a home and a team where he can be a key player and really be the heart and soul of the squad, to an extent.</p>
<p id="WJj1JM">Here are McCrary’s statistics for the season:</p>
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<p id="CIODUC">McCrary basically locked down the right back spot, and unlike the multiple options on the other side of defense, McCrary was healthy and a clear first choice throughout. He turned 27 during the season, and while Sacramento’s age distribution on their roster was pretty well spread out, I think having key players in McCrary’s age is ideal for a contender.</p>
<p id="jph4n4">So I’m high on McCrary. I think the current situation is best for his career at this point and for Sacramento, having a two-way fullback who wants to be the big fish. I think he’s capable of being an All-League selection if Sacramento has a really outstanding season and players aside from the goal scorers get national attention. </p>
<p id="kJ8e0M">So 2020 was a good season for McCrary, and he’ll be back for more in 2021 after the club picked up his contract option, which is a no-brainer move. He’s a good player, seems like a good locker room guy, and I think he can continue to be an anchor for a contender in this league in 2021.</p>
<p id="99GNQi">What do you think? Leave a comment below</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/25/22198474/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-jordan-mccraryAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-24T07:20:00-08:002020-12-24T07:20:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Hayden Sargis
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<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC.</figcaption>
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<p>Academy product was breakout player of the season.</p> <p id="ID09kD">Hayden Sargis was one of <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC’s historic signings in 2020, the first academy product to sign a professional deal with the club alongside midfielder Mario Penagos ahead of the season. While Sac Republic’s academy was already producing players who were turning pro elsewhere, showing there was talent in the pipeline, Sargis and Penagos were the first players to come through the system and up to the first team.</p>
<p id="6PY9l7">The timing was interesting, with Sac Republic on the way to MLS in two years (since pushed back to three years), and this interim spell in the USL Championship either being a dead period in terms of working towards the MLS era or a time to really get ready for the move up. In signing the two youngsters, they signaled they would be taking the latter approach.</p>
<p id="RvzVTy">Ok, so Sargis, a young central defender, would he actually get playing time in 2020? Coaches are often extremely reluctant to throw inexperienced players in at center back, since it can be awfully risky to take a flyer on young players in a critical position. Fortunately, Republic FC head coach Mark Briggs had no such qualms, and Sargis played almost every game during the season, becoming a rock and finishing with the second-most minutes played on the team.</p>
<p id="aZJCu3">Here are Sargis’ statistics for the 2020 season:</p>
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<p id="xp6LkV">Not only did Sargis play, but he became an indispensable player in the Republic FC XI. He mostly spent his time paired up with Tomas Hilliard-Arce in central defense, but also got time alongside Matt Mahoney and Dekel Keinan, too, so he got to see a variety of teammates in central defense over the course of the season.</p>
<p id="2Wy2c1">Rafael Diaz’s surprise emergence as the starting goalkeeper may have been the biggest single story of the season for Sacramento, but Sargis’ quick ascension was not far behind. Not only did he play regularly, he played very well and looks like he can be a star. He was a finalist for USL Championship Young Player of the Year and I think his profile will continue to rise.</p>
<p id="l9aoyO">Obviously, one challenge for a young player coming off a good season is to continue to build and get better. We’ve seen players burst onto the scene and then quietly regress after that, and that’s a pitfall to avoid.</p>
<p id="DmHM6C">I think it’s early for this, but there’s also the opposite issue, that the hype and pressure can get to young players. I think Sargis playing in the USL Championship will benefit him in this regard. Even if Sac Republic are a big club by league standards, he’s not going to be getting overwhelming hype, and that should help him keep the distractions at bay and just continue to work hard.</p>
<p id="w1P9op">But I think Sargis’ ceiling is really high at this point. He’s 18, he already has good size, and he was instantly a starting center back at USL Championship level. I think there’s a chance he could get real attention from MLS teams before 2023, and Sacramento’s presumable plan to have him on the field on opening day in 2023 may not be easy to accomplish if his progress continues to rocket up in the next couple years.</p>
<p id="sszNJK">Beyond that, if Sargis really continues to come on in leaps and bounds, I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets interest from European clubs. Interest and a transfer are two different things, of course, but he showed in his debut professional season he’s an unusual player, and I think his ceiling could be all the way to Europe if things break the right way.</p>
<p id="r6qXon">Regardless, if he stays healthy and his progress continues, all of this is good news for Sac Republic. If Sargis develops in the club and can play in MLS with them in 2023, then that will fulfill a goal for the club. If an MLS team wants to buy him, Sac Republic should get a decent payday and/or good assets to help build their team otherwise. And if a European team wants to buy him, Sac Republic should get an even better payday for the player.</p>
<p id="Z9m97t">Again, it’s been just one season, but Hayden Sargis looks like the real deal so far. Keep your eye on this year’s breakout player for Sacramento Republic in 2021 and beyond.</p>
<p id="Lylgcr">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/24/22198375/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-hayden-sargisAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-19T18:06:37-08:002020-12-19T18:06:37-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Dariusz Formella
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<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC</figcaption>
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<p>Leading scorer made big jump up in second season stateside.</p> <p id="Ioc93b">In talking to <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC head coach Mark Briggs ahead of the 2020 season, I asked him which players had impressed him in preseason. After doing a common coach strategy and demurring on naming players specifically, he eventually volunteered Dariusz Formella as a player who had impressed him in the run up to the season.</p>
<p id="OQa83Z">In the end, that confidence in the player was well-founded.</p>
<p id="FjVqe2">Formella was a real bright spot on the season, leading the team in scoring far and away with eight goals. The Polish attacker was by far the most consistent player on the team in terms of attacking production, and scored in batches, including four goals against Tacoma Defiance across the season.</p>
<p id="7khPsZ">Here are Formella’s stats for 2020:</p>
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<p id="GwqD8Y">There were a few elements of Formella’s game, aside from the goals themselves, that stood out in 2020. First, he was definitely the most shoot-happy player overall. While he was second on the team in total shots, one behind Cameron Iwasa, he led the way in shots on target and had a quick trigger. Shooting alone doesn’t necessarily mean success, but with Sac Republic struggling to score consistently in 2020, they needed players who weren’t afraid to take a chance. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take, and all that.</p>
<p id="mgZPwP">Second, Formella was a streaky player, and when he was on, <em>he was on.</em> There are games when you need a player to just carry the team on a night, and I think he showed glimpses that he can do that. He’s 25, he has a good level of experience, but he can build on that and potentially get better in the future.</p>
<p id="TjHO7n">To be fair, I think the flipside is that Formella’s streaky side meant there were games where he was really ineffective. In general, he was either clicking or he was hitting shot after shot that got blocked by a defender two feet in front of him. It was seldom anything in between. And that showed in the number of games he scored in, five in his 15 appearances, because he scored three braces.</p>
<p id="hsuqdp">So consistency is a question. However, had Sacramento had another player who was approaching double-digit goals on the season — the next closest scorer had three — then the ebbs and flows for Formella might have been smoothed out. And again, he was performing, so while it wasn’t flawless, a scoring rate of about a goal every two games is really good, honestly.</p>
<p id="7dBK3B">And he’ll get more of a chance to show what he can do in 2021, after he was re-signed this past week by Sac Republic. He’s at a good age, he’s coming off a solid season, and I think there’s a hope he can continue to improve. As a secondary scoring option, he may thrive even more, as he wouldn’t be the main player for opposing defenses to hone in on. Given his mercurial skills, he would likely benefit even more from second banana status.</p>
<p id="zeJ3gx">But regardless, 2020 was a strong season for Formella. I think he’s someone who if he really makes a leap, could be a USL Championship Best XI-caliber player. If he doesn’t hit that height, he can still be a key player for a team that is looking to compete for a title, and every team needs players like that.</p>
<p id="i7RcVP">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/19/22190994/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-dariusz-formellaAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-18T07:41:00-08:002020-12-18T07:41:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Drew Skundrich
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<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC</figcaption>
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<p>Two-way midfielder was a key player for Republic FC.</p> <p id="uh1LeZ">Drew Skundrich returned for his second season with <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC in 2020, and played a key role for the club. In fact, there’s a shout he may have been the team’s MVP on the season.</p>
<p id="nr3jou">Skundrich played a box-to-box role in central midfield that wouldn’t immediately scream “MVP!” because he didn’t rack up goals and assists. Yes, he did score a couple goals, but having a full two-way role in midfield meant much of his work was not displayed in three-minute highlights for games.</p>
<p id="g2jhrz">Still, he was not only proficient in his role, but Skundrich brought a little bit of everything. He played some defense, some attack. He makes a tackle and hits a good pass. He’s got a good soccer IQ and can be a leader — something made tangible with Mark Briggs giving him the captain’s armband for much of the season.</p>
<p id="WdqHmi">Here are Skundrich’s stats in 2020:</p>
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<p id="PGFSYA">Skundrich was a fixture in the lineup until he suffered an injury just before the end of the regular season. It wasn’t a catastrophic injury, and he made it back to play in the playoff game at Phoenix Rising, but I think his being a bit hobbled hurt Sac Republic more than many realize. Yes, Sacramento took Phoenix to the brink in that playoff game, but if Skundrich was fully healthy and in form for that game, he may have helped push open the door just enough to get an all-important go-ahead goal for Republic FC.</p>
<p id="Oa4YSH">Needless to say, I’m very high on Skundrich and think he is one of the highest-upside players on the team. In fact, I think he deserves a look from an MLS team, honestly. He was drafted by the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com">LA Galaxy</a> out of Stanford in 2018, but wasn’t signed. I think the body of work he’s built in the USL Championship between Sacramento and his rookie stint with Bethlehem Steel show he can play at MLS level. I think while the USL Championship absolutely stands up on its own merits, one of its purposes is to give players like Skundrich playing time and reps so they can develop and then get another chance in the top flight.</p>
<p id="nnm1Oo">Will that happen? I don’t know. Skundrich won’t be returning to Sac Republic for 2021, with the player reportedly asking to go elsewhere as a free agent. His wife, Andi Sullivan, plays professional soccer on the other side of the country, and I imagine personal reasons are a big reason why he wants to leave, the couple having been separated for much of 2020 during a pandemic. I think an Eastern Conference USL club would jump at a chance to sign him.</p>
<p id="XnjTth">At the same time, like I said, I think Skundrich deserves a look in MLS. I hope he gets one, because I think he has the potential to not only play in MLS but to even become a starter for many MLS clubs. We’ll see what the future brings for the midfielder.</p>
<p id="GFSq5K">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/18/22179862/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-drew-skundrichAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-14T07:39:00-08:002020-12-14T07:39:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Villyan Bijev
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<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC.</figcaption>
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<p>Tricky attacker had season of contrasts, depending how you look at it.</p> <p id="pkvI11">Villyan Bijev returned for his third full season with <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC in 2020. The attacker had kicked off his career by starting at Liverpool, but in approaching his late-20s, the Bulgarian-American had settled into a good spot at Sac Republic.</p>
<p id="V5HEuX">Coming off a somewhat disappointing season in terms of production in 2019, Bijev had to adjust, just like everyone, this season, and all in all, he did that. In many respects, 2020 was a bounce-back campaign for him.</p>
<p id="BBAVbI">Bijev played in every game in Mark Briggs’ first season as head coach, although the appearances were a mix of starts and appearances off the bench. Ultimately, he ranked second on the team in scoring and tied for third in assists, so pretty much what you’d expect from a key player rank-wise.</p>
<p id="0CAiVT">Here are Bijev’s stats for 2020:</p>
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<p id="UvshzL">I think the flipside to the team ranks for Bijev’s production is that the pure numbers weren’t outstanding. Four goals and two assists from a key attacking contributor aren’t stellar, honestly, even in a shortened season. And with most of the attack struggling to put together consistent numbers, that lack of consistent production was highlighted all the more.</p>
<p id="0QuuTt">At the same time, that is also a compelling argument in the player’s favor, that most players were unable to really put up great numbers, so maybe he deserves a break. If so many players struggled to really click, maybe there was a problem with the roster, or the system that was difficult to overcome.</p>
<p id="HY6PoQ">I’ll also say that in looking a bit deeper in the numbers, they’re still fairly kind to Bijev. His goals per 90, assists per 90 and Goals+Assists per 90 numbers were by far the best in his three seasons in Sacramento, and exceeded his overall career numbers in those categories, and was good for fourth on the team overall, second among players who played a majority of the minutes in 2020. So in that regard, Bijev turned out to be basically the second outlet in scoring and still a playmaker who pitched in.</p>
<p id="yQu0TF">Out of all that, comes the news that Sac Republic appear to be moving on, announcing Bijev’s contract option for 2021 was not picked up and indicating he won’t be coming back. As always, it’s possible the player wanted to move on himself, and we’ll see what happens. It’s also a solid bet he was one of the most expensive players on the roster and Republic FC may have wanted to save some money by parting ways.</p>
<p id="yBOcPv">Bijev was an incredibly popular player and a technical attacker who doesn’t exactly grow on trees. He’s also versatile in terms of role and position in attack, in the mold of a very poor man’s Carlos Vela, and that’s not a common mold for players.</p>
<p id="TqytZi">At the same time, I do think there’s a perpetual hope Bijev will provide more production than he ends up doing. He’s about to turn 28, so capable of playing at a high level for several more years, but his high point in terms of production in the league was an eight-goal, 10-assist season in 2016, his first season in USL with <a href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com">Portland Timbers</a> 2. In a regular-length season, I think it’s fair to say he probably won’t approach double-digits again, because the track record isn’t showing it.</p>
<p id="P4ea1n">Now, after being such a downer, I do think Bijev still had a solid season. I think he won’t be easily replaced, and the aspects that don’t show up on the box score, like his footwork, his ability to juke defenders along the sideline, his workrate, were outstanding. There’s likely a bunch of teams that have been calling to try and get him to join their side, and if Sac Republic face him next year, he could easily punish them.</p>
<p id="4xVHpX">He also had an absolute banger of a goal to really sum up Sac Republic’s final win of the season, a romp over T2. Let’s admire that once again, shall we?</p>
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<p id="KvRm4X">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/14/22172066/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-villyan-bijevAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-13T06:45:00-08:002020-12-13T06:45:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Rafael Diaz
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<figcaption>Courtesy San Diego Loyal SC</figcaption>
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<p>Goalkeeper provided the story of the season.</p> <p id="LmbjGF">2020 looked like it would be a predictable season for Rafael Diaz. The <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC backup goalkeeper would be on call, maybe he’d get a game or three along the way, and otherwise, he’d toil in obscurity.</p>
<p id="gpFbts">Of course, the season was anything but predictable, and that went for Diaz, too. The veteran not only got sustained playing time for the first time in years, he became his team’s No. 1 goalkeeper for the first time in his pro career.</p>
<p id="ChGqoQ">Again, it didn’t seem like it would go like this heading into the season. Head coach Mark Briggs said later on that Diaz was in a competition with new signing Adam Grinwis to be the starter in preseason, but given Diaz was already there and Grinwis was the shiny new thing, it wasn’t a shock the new guy got the nod.</p>
<p id="OWBBy3">But Grinwis suffered a season-ending knee injury after four games, and Diaz’s number was called. And that’s when he really blossomed.</p>
<p id="Mr33jd">Here are Diaz’s stats in 2020:</p>
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<p id="7SRhw0">Diaz started all but two games the rest of the season, to give new backup Brady Scott a couple games of action while he was in on loan. But Diaz was the undisputed starter in pretty short order after Grinwis went down, the new No. 1 not only coming on in a pinch but elevating Sac Republic’s game every time out.</p>
<p id="zq57jk">Diaz never had a bad game in 2020, and several times, he made the big plays to keep Sac Republic in games they would have otherwise drawn or lost. This wasn’t just an eye test situation — he ranked in the Top 10 in the entire USL Championship in several categories: clean sheets, clean sheet percentage, save percentage and goals against per 90.</p>
<p id="bTyZiu">While Sac Republic didn’t win the league title this year (technically, no team did!), they still had a pretty strong season and Diaz played a major role. He was also the clear story of the season. From a backup who could be counted on in a pinch to a lockdown starter who had to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait for his chance, when he finally got it, he was not only up for the challenge, he thrived in the moment. This is why we watch sports! This is why we get favorites to root for!</p>
<p id="ZYUVLw">Here are some of his highlights from 2020:</p>
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<p id="9ugjR4">Briggs has already said Diaz is the starter for 2021, and the team will be bringing in a backup for him, with Grinwis’ deal not renewed and Scott returning to Nashville SC after his loan. While that’s a tough break for Grinwis, I think it’s deserved for Diaz to not have to wait in the wings any longer. He’s 29, so at the peak or maybe not quite there yet for goalkeepers, and if he stays healthy he could have several good seasons ahead of him. To use a predictable pun, I think Sac Republic are in good hands with Rafael Diaz, and I look forward to seeing what he can do moving forward.</p>
<p id="sFbjyC">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/13/22170845/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-rafael-diazAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-12T07:43:00-08:002020-12-12T07:43:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Tomas Hilliard-Arce
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<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC</figcaption>
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<p>Center back was a useful addition in his lone season at the club.</p> <p id="M8mpCR">Tomas Hilliard-Arce was a savvy pickup by <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC in 2020, the central defender getting some real run in the USL Championship with <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com">LA Galaxy</a> II after being drafted by the Galaxy in 2018. </p>
<p id="QYjVkE">The No. 2 overall pick in that draft, Hilliard-Arce really didn’t get much of a shot at MLS level, and after he was released following the 2019 season, he went back to the USL Championship and signed with Sac Republic, reuniting with his former Stanford teammates Sam Werner and Drew Skundrich.</p>
<p id="ECt39U">Although Hilliard-Arce missed the season opener, he became a regular at center back for Republic FC and settled in quite well in 2020, mostly teaming up with breakout star Hayden Sargis in central defense as the club lost just three times all season.</p>
<p id="pZ3Tbp">Here are Hilliard-Arce’s statistics in 2020:</p>
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<p id="83G4wb">I think Hilliard-Arce was an ideal player for Sac Republic, a defender known for his vocal leadership, in the prime of his career, who was established at this level and could settle quickly. Pretty much what the club wanted, he brought, and it was a successful tenure for Hilliard-Arce at the club.</p>
<p id="KNIscX">Somewhat unfortunately, that tenure lasted just one season, as Hilliard-Arce has announced his retirement as a player. It may be a cliché, but it’s still true, that a Stanford degree is almost certainly more lucrative than a USL Championship pro contract, and Hilliard-Arce always came off as a bright guy. That education is likely going to open a lot of doors, and fair or not, there’s probably some disappointment that he didn’t get a chance to really prove himself at the MLS level after being such a high draft pick.</p>
<p id="1k00Fx">Still, he played well for Sac Republic and I have to imagine they would have liked him back for 2021 if he wanted to continue playing. Hilliard-Arce bridged the gap between teenagers like Sargis and aging veterans like Dekel Keinan, and was a good partner to both of those center backs. His leadership was legendary and off the charts, and won’t be easily replaced. </p>
<p id="35O7nQ">Let’s wrap up this post by getting another look at Hilliard-Arce’s goal for Sacramento, scored on his debut with the club:</p>
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<p id="DaJR5M">Best of luck to Tomas in his future pursuits, whether those are in soccer or another walk of life.</p>
<p id="Oad7Pv">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/12/22170568/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-tomas-hilliard-arceAlicia Rodriguez2020-12-11T07:45:00-08:002020-12-11T07:45:00-08:002020 Sacramento Republic player postmortem: Cameron Iwasa
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kZmWiZYRsFpZb94LMDQWH7KOe7U=/1852x1348:5001x3447/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68496745/A40A0012.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Courtesy of Republic FC</figcaption>
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<p>Reliable forward found goals harder to come by in tough year.</p> <p id="tXsKcT">Cameron Iwasa returned for his fifth season with <a href="https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com">Sacramento Republic</a> FC in 2020, the forward coming off another fantastic season with 16 goals scored in regular season play and looking like good form for more.</p>
<p id="M1YOF5">The Sacramento native was a regular in Mark Briggs’ first season in charge of Republic FC, but unlike being a regular starter like he had been for most of his tenure at the club, he came off the bench a third of his regular-season appearances this year, although he found some success in that role at times, too.</p>
<p id="KgBnWR">Here are Iwasa’s stats in 2020:</p>
<div id="zLaSJa"><div data-anthem-component="table:10219101"></div></div>
<p id="PgqXYA">The big flag from these statistics is Iwasa’s scoring numbers, just three goals in 16 appearances all season. While the league played about half as many games as usual, a reduction is not a surprise, but proportionally this was a big dropoff. I think Iwasa’s scoring record was an issue for the team, as the team clearly counted on him to put up numbers and he never really got going. I don’t think you can complain about his effort level on the field — at times, it appeared he was snakebitten in front of goal, and the slump may have been getting in his head. That, and the quest to score his 50th career goal in the league, which did seem to hang around his neck for a few games before he got the important strike.</p>
<p id="lxhA4V">Having said all of that, nearly every Sac Republic attacker struggled to score in 2020. Only Dariusz Formella scored with any regularity. Iwasa’s three goals left him alone in third in scoring on the season, with only Formella’s eight goals and Villyan Bijev’s four beating him out.</p>
<p id="6T4ZXh">What was the culprit of the offensive struggles? The pieces just didn’t match? A few untimely slumps on the squad? Chopping and changing the lineup? The fixture congestion and the crazy nature of the 2020 season and you know, life in general?</p>
<p id="y70loW">I think it’s hard to say it comes down to one factor, it’s likely a combination of reasons. Really, only time and a larger sample size of Briggs’ tenure with Sac Republic and Iwasa’s play moving forward will give us a definitive sense of what didn’t quite click this year.</p>
<p id="S07onI">The future may be a bit opaque for Iwasa. He’s under contract for 2021 and while <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanReam/status/1324091116719759360?s=20">Evan Ream reported</a> the club were looking to move on, they have yet to buy him out or send him elsewhere. Briggs made it clear at the end of the season that he was looking for a new scorer for next season, and given the changes the club has made otherwise, I still expect another forward to come in, but it’s quite possible Iwasa will get another go round next year. He’s still only 27 and I think it’s quite possible he will bounce back next year if given playing time. He really has been an elite striker in the USL Championship in the past, and I think he could absolutely rebound and become a consistent scorer once more.</p>
<p id="ZKq55N">We’ll see what happens, but for now, he’s back for 2021. Let’s take a look back at the highlight of Iwasa’s season, when he came off the bench, drew a penalty, and scored in stoppage time to beat Reno 1868:</p>
<div id="kRZcpb"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zhcXbgMCMvY?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="mDjJ48">What do you think? Leave a comment below.</p>
https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2020/12/11/22167107/2020-sacramento-republic-player-postmortem-cameron-iwasaAlicia Rodriguez