Soccer notes: Republic FC Academy player gets call from national team

Republic FC Academy defender David Burns from El Dorado Hills is one of 36 players participating in the Under-20 men’s national team’s 10-day camp in Miami.

Burns, 18, is a member of Republic FC’s inaugural Under-18 Academy team that started play in September. Burns, who attends Charter University Prep in El Dorado, has verbally committed to Cal.

Burns has been a key player for Republic FC’s U-18 team that is in third place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Northwest Division. He also played for the Republic in a November friendly against Los Angeles Galaxy II in Bakersfield.

“This is another fantastic moment for the club,” Republic FC coach and technical director Paul Buckle said in a statement. “Burns is someone high on our list at the club, which is one reason he experienced first-team action in the L.A. Galaxy II friendly.”

Burns is the second Republic FC Academy player selected for a national team camp. Under-16 Academy goalkeeper Mason Finnell, a student at Folsom’s Vista del Lago High School, was selected for a U-15 camp last November.

The U-20 team, coached by former Major League Soccer and national team player Tab Ramos, is beginning preparations for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. The camp, which will continue through Wednesday, included two matches against local sides Friday with two more Tuesday.

Most of the players selected have come from Major League Soccer academy programs. Six Major League Soccer players and two others who play professionally in Europe are among those selected.

USL’s roller coaster week – The announcement Thursday that San Antonio was joining the USL as the league’s 31st franchise came just days after the league took over the Rochester Rhinos, the 2015 champion.

The USL terminated the ownership agreement with Adirondack Sports Club “for failing to meet USL standards” after a dispute between the group and the city of Rochester, N.Y., over the lease and operation agreement for the city-owned $32 million Shalen’s Stadium. The city had ended the lease with Adirondack for non-payment of rent and fees.

The USL hopes to put together a new ownership group that can keep the team in Rochester, where the Rhinos have played for 20 years.

San Antonio is unlikely to have financial issues.

The team will be operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, which includes the San Antonio Spurs and franchises in the WNBA, NBA Development League and American Hockey League.

Like Republic FC, the San Antonio group is bullish on moving up to MLS.

San Antonio is the second NBA ownership group in the USL. Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon has been awarded a franchise in Reno for the 2017 season.

Hornets to play Republic FC – Sacramento State will host Republic FC in an exhibition Feb. 24 at Hornet Field.

“It’s the third year in a row that we’ve played them but the first time we are able to sell tickets and promote it and try to get a good crowd out,” longtime Sac State coach Michael Linenberger said. “It will be a little bit of a fundraiser for our soccer program, and it’s exciting.”

Linenberger said the match also is a great measuring stick for his players who aspire to be pros. Republic FC midfielder Max Alvarez played for Sac State.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and youths. They are available at the Hornet ticket office in the Athletics Center, by phone at (916) 278-4323 or online at hornetsports.com.

Third-division Republic FC also will play preseason matches against three fourth-division teams: Burlingame Dragons FC on Feb. 17 at Cosumnes River College, Feb. 27 against Sonoma County Sol at Santa Rosa High School and March 3 against Fresno Fuego at Chukchansi Park in Fresno for the annual “Highway 99 Derby.”

Republic FC already has announced that it will play friendlies against MLS’ Colorado Rapids on Feb. 13 and Republic’s MLS affiliate, the San Jose Earthquakes, on Feb. 20, both at Bonney Field.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Soccer notes: Republic FC Academy player gets call from national team."