Sacramento Republic FC Gears Up For Playoff Push

By Russell Stiger Jr. | OBSERVER Staff PhotographerRepublic FC have established a winning tradition over their first 10 years, with nine playoff appearances and a championship in 2014. They can enhance that legacy with a strong finish in the regular season’s final three games and four playoff victories, which would equate to the USL championship. After going 2-3 in their previous five matches, the Republic regained their dominant defensive form with a 4-0 home win Sept. 29 against Western Conference leader New Mexico United.“We came out on the front foot, we were aggressive and we were very good in possession,” Coach Mark Briggs said after the match. “We created opportunities and then scored in the first eight minutes, which was really pleasing for us, and gave us that momentum and that positive energy within the stadium to go on and produce the performance that we did.”The four goals were the team’s second most this season, with a 5-2 victory July 21 at the Oakland Roots as the high mark. Entering their Saturday, Oct. 12, game at Memphis 901 FC, the Republic are second in the Western Conference with 48 points and are locked in a close race for playoff seeding...