2025 Stats Recap #3: 6/14-7/12

We are now 15 matches into the regular season, and are now halfway through. And with us reaching that interval, it is time for another stats recap! Again, this article aims to show who is excelling in each of the various statistical categories for the Republic. Below are the last five previous match recaps along with the earlier stats recaps for the season. Enjoy!

If you want match recaps for the past five matches:

• 6/14/25: 0-0 vs. San Antonio FC
• 6/18/25: 0-1 at Birmingham Legion FC
• 6/21/25: 2-0 at Rhode Island FC
• 7/4/25: 2-0 at Las Vegas Lights FC
• 7/12/25: 3-0 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

Previous stats recap:

• Stats Recap #1: 3/8/25-4/12/25
• Stats Recap #2: 4/19/25-6/7/25

This analysis only considers games from the USL Championship. These stats reflect the season in its entirety. Therefore, the statistics below are not exclusive to the third set of matches but rather represent a running total for the season up to this point. The most recent game against Lexington is not part of this recap; it will be part of the next one.

Minutes:

1. Danny Vitiello - 1,350 minutes played
2. Michel Benitez - 1,325 minutes played
3. Freddy Kleeman - 1,161 minutes played

The top three for minutes played have remained steady. Michel Benitez and Freddy Kleeman have both impressed as newcomers through the first half of the season and have earned their minutes. I mentioned it in the last recap, but Benitez's tactical versatility has made him a must-starter for Neill Collins as he is the last remaining outfield player to start every match of the regular season. Danny Vitiello has come through big when called upon and has shown why he was given a contract extension. And Freddy Kleeman is still a stalwart in the backline, being a central point of confrontation with the opposing attack.

Goals:

1. Sebastian Herrera and Russell Cicerone - 4 goals scored each
2. Cristian Parano - 3 goals scored
3. Jack Gurr, Trevor Amann, Lewis Jamieson - 2 goals scored each

Shots:

1. Cristian Parano - 23 shots taken (8 on target, 10 off target, 5 blocked)
2. Luis Felipe and Sebastian Herrera - 19 shots taken
3. Russell Cicerone - 15 shots taken (8 on target, 2 off target, 5 blocked)

Total xG (Expected Goals):

1. Russell Cicerone - 3.52
2. Sebastian Herrera - 2.69
3. Lewis Jamieson - 2.05

Assists:

1. Sebastian Herrera and Russell Cicerone - 3 assists each
2. Jared Timmer, Michel Benitez, Blake Willey, and Rodrigo Lopez - 2 assists each
3. Jack Gurr - 1 assist

The Republic's attack has shown itself to be lethal at times, but it is unable to maintain that level of lethality consistently. There is a noticeable gap between the Republic strikers and the rest of the league. There is a seven-goal gap between Herrera and Cicerone and the league leaders in goals. And there are five assists between Herrera and Cicerone and the league leaders in assists. When the team can get going, the attack looks great. However, when they encounter a team that is disciplined defensively, that's where the Republic struggles, and they have found it difficult to break down a stout defense. This will be the big question mark heading into the second half of the season. Can the Republic find another gear in its attack? Hopefully, new signing Khori Bennett can make use of the chances he has and give the Republic an attacking boost.

Touches on the Ball:

1. Michel Benitez - 856 touches
2. Jared Timmer - 790 touches
3. Jack Gurr - 688 touches

Passes Completed:

1. Jared Timmer - 621 passes completed (520 short passes, 101 long passes)
2. Michel Benitez - 544 passes completed (491 short passes, 53 long passes)
3. Freddy Kleeman - 513 passes completed (431 short passes, 82 long passes)

Average Passing Accuracy (minimum 50 passes):

1. Cristian Parano 87.9% average passing accuracy on 320 passes completed
2. Jared Timmer - 84.2% average passing accuracy on 621 passes completed
3. AJ Edwards - 82.9% passing accuracy on 85 passes completed

Michel Benitez remains on top of the touches on the ball charts. But it is Jared Timmer who has risen in both touches and passes completed. He was third in touches and passes completed in the last update. And although he doesn't have the same volume of passes as the leaders, Cristian Parano remains on top for passing accuracy. Also, shoutout to AJ Edwards for making it onto the average passing accuracy charts.

Chances Created:

1. Russell Cicerone - 24 chances created
2. Jack Gurr and Rodrigo Lopez - 16 chances created each
3. Dominik Wanner - 12 chances created

Russell Cicerone is 8th in the league in chances created. He is three away from tying his mark from last season. It is good for the Republic to have another player that can generate chances and draw attention to himself to free others up on the field. That being said, Cicerone did sustain some injuries last year, which hampered his totals. The Republic will need to have multiple players generating opportunities instead of relying on one player to be that creative force. Jack Gurr, Rodrigo Lopez, and Dominik Wanner are all on the league charts as well. It seems that Jack Gurr has stepped back with his chance creation. Including USL Cup games, Jack Gurr would be on 19 chances created. That is slightly short of the pace he had last season, where he was able to create 50 chances on the season. Crossing has also taken a step back with 94 crosses into the box so far this season, in comparison to his 2024 total of 223.

Tackles:

1. Michel Benitez - 32 tackles committed
2. Luis Felipe - 28 tackles committed
3. Jack Gurr - 23 tackles committed

Fouls Won:

1. Sebastian Herrera - 34 fouls won
2. Jack Gurr - 29 fouls won
3. Michel Benitez - 27 fouls won

Duels Won:

1. Freddy Kleeman and Michel Benitez - 88 duels won each
2. Sebastian Herrera - 74 duels won with a 46% win rate
3. Luis Felipe - 73 duels won with a 57% win rate

This is where players like Michel Benitez and Luis Felipe shine. They can win the ball in the midfield and can act as shields before the Republic backline. Also, we as fans know it's part of his game, but Sebastian Herrera is known to be a pest to opposing backlines and can draw fouls at will. That being said, there are plenty of attempts by him that don't go in the Republic's favor.

Yellow Cards:

1. Michel Benitez - 5 yellow cards
2. Freddy Kleeman and Nick Ross - 4 yellow cards each
3. Jack Gurr and Sebastian Herrera - 3 yellow cards each

On the other hand, Michel Benitez is currently leading the team in yellow cards given. He has already been given one good behavior bonus this season, so he's effectively on 4 yellow cards. The players will need to keep on their toes as they use up their good behavior bonuses heading into the second half of the season, as the first threshold for a suspension is 8 yellow cards.

What do you think of these stats? Who performed to your expectations? Who exceeded them? Let me know in the comments below!

Check out the full spreadsheet here!

(Photo Credit to Sacramento Republic FC)