Republic FC Complete Vegas Hat Trick with Another Shutout Win
Three meetings, three wins, three clean sheets in 2025 against Las Vegas.
Sacramento Republic FC closed out a pivotal four-match road stretch with a commanding 2-0 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC on Friday night at Cashman Field. The result completed a season sweep over Las Vegas — three wins in three meetings across all competitions — with a combined scoreline of 11-0 and three clean sheets.
It was the second league win over the Lights this year and the third matchup overall, following a 5-0 victory in USL Championship play and a 4-0 win in the USL Jägermeister Cup — both in May. On this night, it was the club’s youngest talents who rose to the occasion.
AJ Edwards, 22 years old, opened the scoring in the 50th minute with his first career USL Championship goal, bending a shot from an impossible angle past the goalkeeper after a setup from veteran Rodrigo Lopez. Seventeen minutes later, 18-year-old Blake Willey made club history by becoming the youngest player to record an assist, threading a perfectly timed through ball for Russell Cicerone, who calmly finished his team-leading fourth goal of the league season.
Willey becomes the fourth player from Republic FC’s youth academy to log an assist for the first team — and the first to do so while still a teenager. His performance, paired with Edwards’ composed finish, served as a testament to the strength of Sacramento’s developmental pipeline — and a glimpse at the club’s future.
But the night was about more than just individual accolades. This win marked a turning point in the club’s season trajectory. Just weeks ago, Republic FC found themselves slipping down the table, as low as 10th place in the Western Conference, sitting outside the playoff line. A difficult stretch of form, compounded by a heavy travel schedule, had created more questions than answers.
Now, they return home having climbed back to fifth, and more importantly, regained momentum. With a game in hand on several of their rivals and just five points separating them from first-place New Mexico United, Sacramento is suddenly right back in the thick of the title race.
Friday night’s performance was arguably the most complete of the road trip. The Quails outshot Las Vegas 20 to 6, held them to zero shots on target, and won the physical battle in midfield. The defensive unit — led by Freddy Kleemann, Lee Desmond, and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello — recorded the club’s fifth clean sheet of the regular season, and third straight shutout of the Lights this year.
Veterans like Lopez and Cicerone continue to lead the way, but the emergence of players like Willey and Edwards offers new dimensions in attack. Sacramento now has depth, balance, and confidence — all of which were on full display under the desert lights.
With two more matches at home on the horizon, Republic FC has a real opportunity to solidify their position in the upper half of the table. In a Western Conference separated by the thinnest of margins, every point counts — and Sacramento, finally, looks like a team ready to make a real run.
After weathering the longest road stretch of their season, the Quails are flying home with more than just three points. They’re returning with belief.
Thanks. Couldn't believe our position in the table when I checked.. the frontrunners aren't creating that much separation. It's a good year to not be that great!