July 23, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release
Today, USL Championship announced that Republic FC players Kieran Phillips, Nick Ross, and Jared Timmer have been named to the Week 20 Team of the Week, while Head Coach Mark Briggs has been named Coach of the Week following the club’s strong 5-2 win over Oakland Roots SC on Sunday afternoon. The victory moved Republic FC into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference table and marked the largest single-game goal differential for the club this season.
Mark Briggs has been at the helm for every Republic FC match against Oakland resulting in a 5-2-5 record, including one U.S. Open Cup match. His changes made to the starting lineup produced immediate results in Sunday’s match. The five-goal affair marks the Indomitable Club’s highest scoring match of 2024 and the three first-half goals set the club’s highest-scoring half this season. With the win, Republic FC claims the season series against Oakland, with both team winning away, but Sacramento leading with a +2 goal differential. More than halfway through the season, the club is the only undefeated road team in USL Championship.
Kieran Phillips – making his first start since June 15 – set the tone early with the first of two goals in the matinee match. In the fourth minute, Phillips opened the scoring off a turnover which he converted off his left foot. Moments after the second half whistle sounded, Phillips cleaned up a deflection from a cross from Jack Gurr to net the club’s fourth goal – his second of the night. Sunday’s performance secured his second regular season brace for Sacramento.
Ross was named the Man of the Match after recording a goal and an assist. The veteran midfielder found the back of the net just before halftime, scoring the eventual game-winner and earning Republic FC its highest-scoring half of the year. He later assisted Trevor Amann’s goal in the 85th minute, his fifth assist of the year. He also won five of five tackles and eight of 14 duels, and made seven recoveries defensively.
Timmer earned his first career Team of the Week selection after recording his first assist since 2022. A free kick from Justin Portillo was delivered on a dime to Timmer at the back post and the defender headed the ball across the box to Shane Wiedt who headed home Republic FC’s second goal of the match. Defensively, Timmer won six of seven duels and led all players with nine possessions won.
With this…