Republic’s Tucker Bone Making an Immediate Impact for His New Club
May 13, 2021, 2:39 PM | Updated: 2:39 pm
photo via the Sacramento Republic FC
Last year, forward Tucker Bone was an enemy to the fans and players of the Sacramento Republic FC, scoring goals for the rival Reno 1868 FC. After Reno surprisingly folded at the end of a very successful season, Bone found himself searching for a new club. Sacramento wasted little time in acquiring him, and have already been rewarded for their decision.
In his first two matches for the Republic, the 25-year-old forward has already bagged a pair of goals; the game winner in Los Angeles, and the go-ahead goal in Wednesday night’s home opener against Las Vegas. It’s hard to expect Bone’s one-goal-a-game average to continue through the entire season, but it’s not hard to imagine him as one of the top scorers in Sacramento, and the USL.
As a forward, there’s always pressure to score quickly for your new club. Bone admitted that the first goal in LA was a weight off his shoulders.
“There’s definitely something unsaid there. It can tax on you throughout the season, especially through the first few games, if you’re not getting goals early so yeah, to get that first one out of the way is big. I don’t think about it too much, my job is to score goals, and I’m going to keep doing that…”
Bone’s second goal was an unconventional one, but it changed the momentum of the match, giving the Republic their lead back after conceding a penalty.
“I was able to put a little bit of body on (the Las Vegas defender) and he fell into the keeper. They were trying to get a foul call and nothing came of it. When the ball came to Pete (Pennanen)’s feet I told him to shoot, I knew that the keeper was out of the goal so something was going to happen. Little bit of a chaotic moment – ball came out to me, we were men up, I had plenty of options…I took my opportunity there and I was happy to bag that goal for the team and put us over the top.”
Bone is no stranger to the Sacramento soccer scene. Tucker was a two-sport athlete at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, and played for youth soccer clubs Placer United and Sacramento United.
“Since day one with us, Tucker has shown an energy and desire to bring a top level every day,” said Republic head coach Mark Briggs, “To start the season with two goals in two games is fantastic for us as a group, and Tucker as an individual. To have his family in the stands, able to watch him represent his home town, makes it all the more special”.
Last season for Reno, Bone started in 24 regular season matches and two playoff matches, scoring four goals and tallying one assist. He was also a multi-time USL Team of the Week award winner.
Sacramento is looking to add three more to their six point total to start the season in their road match against Orange County SC on Saturday, May 22nd. The Republic’s next home match will be against the rival Phoenix Rising FC, who controversially eliminated Sacramento from last season’s playoffs, on May 29th.
