SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A pair of California rivals square off in the postseason for the first time in almost a decade when No. 2 seed Sacramento Republic FC hosts No. 7 seed Orange County SC on Sunday night in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix in the lone meeting between two former USL Championship title-winners on the opening weekend of the postseason. Kickoff at Heart Health Park is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Here’s what you need to know.

How They Got Here

Sacramento Republic FC (13-8-9, 48pts) – The 2014 title-winners progressed positively in their first season under the new leadership of Head Coach Neill Collins, with a stellar defensive record helping the side earn a top-two finish in the Western Conference for the fourth time since the 2015 season and advance to the Final of the 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup before falling narrowly against Hartford Athletic. Sacramento’s defense allowed only 27 goals in the regular season as goalkeeper Danny Vitiello recorded a league-leading 12 shutouts to move into a tie for the all-time regular season shutouts record. The side had more ups and downs in attack, as Russell Cicerone led the club with eight goals in the regular season, but Republic FC’s only loss at home came in the final game of the regular season after it had clinched the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Now it will be hoping to reach a second Final this season and send off club legend Rodrigo López into retirement in style.

Orange County SC (10-11-9, 39pts) – The 2021 title-winners earned their third consecutive trip to the playoffs with a strong close to the regular season that saw the side go undefeated in its final five games, including a pair of late victories in the final two weeks that proved pivotal in the Western Conference playoff race. The side was led by Ethan Zubak, who recorded 11 goals for his second consecutive season with double-digit goals since joining the club, while Chris Hegardt logged eight assists, but the side struggled to find consistency overall, especially on the road, where it went only 2-9-4 for the third-fewest away wins in the campaign. Most notably, Orange County was one of the teams that proved least able to earn results when conceding first in the campaign, recording only three points gained from losing positions across the regular season.

All-Time Series

Sacramento Republic FC and Orange County SC have each claimed 12 victories across the regular season, playoffs and USL Jägermeister Cup with six games ending all square, with OCSC taking two wins to Sacramento’s one this season after claiming a 1-0 win in the Cup’s group stage at Championship Soccer Stadium.

Opta Says

37 – Sacramento Republic FC conceded 10 goals in the final 15 minutes and stoppage time in the regular season, accounting for 37 percent of the goals it conceded overall.

9 – Orange County SC scored nine goals from outside the penalty area in the regular season, tied for the most in the league with Louisville City, with Bryce Jamison, Chris Hegardt and Nico Benalcázar each scoring twice from long range.

Players to Watch

Sacramento Republic FC – Rodrigo López: The 38-year-old announced this will be his final season in the professional ranks prior to the final game of the regular season but is coming off a campaign in which he led the club with six assists in the regular season and notched 33 chances created.  

Orange County SC – Nico Benalcázar: The 24-year-old has produced a strong first season in Orange County, leading the team with 167 duels won at a 63 percent success rate while also recording four goals and three assists to rank second on the team with a +6.20 Goals Added mark.

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