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USL Sacramento Republic FC

The Squad in Camp: Meet Sacramento's Midfielders - Pt. 2

March 3, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


This past offseason, Republic FC's midfield unit easily was the most significantly bolstered on paper. As the season draws closer, take a look at the final four players that'll man the middle for Sacramento this coming season. Check out Part 1 here.

Mario Penagos

Penagos shined in his sophomore season, proving he belonged at the professional level by leading all past or present academy players in appearances and match-day selections.

Entering his third pro season, things won't get any easier for the youngster, who will now fight for minutes with a number of established veterans. But a challenge has never fazed the midfielder, and he'll be ready to continue proving what Sacramento's youth products are capable of both off the bench and in the starting XI. He's faced off with some of the USL's best in each of the last two seasons, and broke out in 2021, appearing in 21 matches and notching two assists.

Rodrigo Lopez

Sacramento put a smile on the face of the fans in January when they announced the acquisition of one of the club's most storied players. Coming over in a transfer from Rio Grande Valley, 2022 will mark Rodrigo Lopez's third stint with the club and his second in three seasons. The 33 year-old has already proved he's got plenty left in the tank - since returning to the United States in 2020, also with Republic FC, he's been as reliable as ever. He led his club to the Western Conference semifinals in 2021, and before then appeared in all but one match, tallied a career-high for minutes in a season with just over 2,300, and notched six goals and six assists. He's led the charge thus far in training camp for Sacramento, most recently scoring three times in two scrimmage matches.

"I'm excited to be back for another stint with this club," Lopez told The Breakaway in February. "I feel like some of the vibes coming into this season have been excellent, and the group we have is really strong both on the pitch and off it."

Rafa Jauregui

Coming off his second professional season, the 17 year-old is in a really good spot to continue his development as a first-team caliber player.

Jauregui proved he could hang with established pros again in 2021. He may only have appeared nine times, but that number appears ready to rise in 2022, especially with what he's shown in training this preseason alongside a squad full of established playmakers and decorated vets. The sky remains the limit for the academy product, and Mark Briggs technical staff remains excited about his potential, even with a tough schedule ahead this coming season.

Nick Ross

Ross's signing with Republic FC may have flown under the radar when it was announced. But on the pitch, Sacramento is getting a stalwart from one of the league's strongest sides the past three seasons in El Paso. The midfielder didn't miss a match in 2021- starting 26 of 32 contests and coming off the bench in the remainder. While his stat line may not blow you away, his contributions elsewhere was a big reason his club scored the sixth-most goals in the league and was the best in the business in passing and distribution. He completed nearly 90% of his passing attempts, and created 35 chances on the year - good for second on his club.

Upon his signing, Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant echoed those same attributes. "Nick is a strong box to box midfielder who can make a difference anywhere on the field," he said. "He's going to bring a lot of leadership and experience to our organization this coming season."

Check out the Sacramento Republic FC Statistics



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