2026 Stats Recap #1: 3/7-4/4

We are five matches into the Republic's regular season, and that means it is time for the first stats update of the season. For those new here, I keep a running spreadsheet of the Republic's season that you can access using the link at the bottom of this page. And from there, I provide regular updates on who is performing well in the different categories. This will be the first update for 2026, and I will provide one after every five matches except for the last one, which will be at the end of the season, playoffs or not.

If you want to read the match recaps for the past 5 matches:

• 3/7/26: 2-0 vs. FC Tulsa
• 3/14/26: 0-0 at Lexington SC
• 3/21/26: 1-1 vs. Monterey Bay FC
• 3/28/26: 1-2 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
• 4/4/26: 2-0 vs. Phoenix Rising FC

This stats recap will only reflect matches in the USL Championship. So, no Open Cup or USL Cup stats will be part of these stats recaps. But, if you want to read the match recaps for those competitions, you can check them out here:

• 3/18/26: 2-0 vs. El Farolito SC
• 3/31/26: 4-0 at Valley 559

If you also want to read relevant stats recaps from last year, you can check these out. One will be from the 2025 season after the first five matches in last year's campaign, and the other will be the overall stats recap at the end of the season.

• 2025 Stats Recap #1: 3/8-4/12
• 2025 Stats Recap FINALE

One thing I do want to emphasize is that we have not seen a fully healthy Republic side at any point so far this season. Players like Ryan Spaulding, Rohan Chivukula, and Memo Rodriguez went down with injuries this season. And all three of them were looking bright in this first group of matches. And then there are players who have not recorded a minute yet as they work through off-season injuries, such as Jack Gurr, Pierre Reedy, and Jared Timmer. So there is definitely room for improvement as the club gets back to full health, and that will be an overarching question as this season rolls on.

Goals:

1. Michel Benitez, Dominik Wanner, Freddy Kleeman, Blake Willey, Kyle Edwards, Forster Ajago - 1 goal each.

Shots:

1. Memo Rodriguez and Forster Ajago - 7 shots taken each. Memo (0 on target, 6 off target, 1 blocked). Ajago (3 on target, 3 off target, 1 blocked).
2. Arturo Rodriguez - 6 shots taken (3 on target, 2 off target, 1 blocked).
3. Freddy Kleeman, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Kyle Edwards - 5 shots taken each.

Total xG (Expected Goals):

1. Michel Benitez - 1.06.
2. Forster Ajago - 0.96.
3. Arturo Rodriguez - 0.56.

Assists:

1. Arturo Rodriguez - 2 assists.
2. Michel Benitez, Ryan Spaulding, Forster Ajago - 1 assist each.

Five matches into the season, and there are a bunch of names leading the attacking statistics that I wouldn't have guessed at the start of the season. But it is a welcome sight to see multiple players getting on the scoresheet and a goalscoring threat from different areas of the field. At the same point last season, there also wasn't a clear number one scoring option for the Republic. And that seems to be a common theme for them. We need a number 9 who can single-handedly grab hold of a match and take command. And that's what I hope a player like Forster Ajago develops into. Apart from his Open Cup performances, I think I need to see more from Forster Ajago in league play to fully trust him to lead the Republic line. The brace against El Farolito was great. But given the difficulty of the opponent, I need to see him deliver that level of performance against similarly skilled opponents. But shoutout to Michel Benitez, Freddy Kleeman, and Blake Willey getting goals early this season. Also, Lee Desmond in the Open Cup, even if it isn't reflected here, has also notched a goal. One name to keep an eye on in this group is Dominik Wanner. He's been getting plenty of looks off the wing and has capitalized on them. I'll be curious to see if he can continue being a consistent threat from there.

Touches on the Ball:

1. Lee Desmond - 401 touches.
2. Freddy Kleeman - 375 touches.
3. Danny Crisostomo - 348 touches.

Passes Completed:

1. Lee Desmond - 337 passes completed (295 short passes, 42 long passes).
2. Freddy Kleeman - 327 passes completed (289 short passes, 38 long passes).
3. Danny Crisostomo - 301 passes completed (282 short passes, 19 long passes).

Average Passing Accuracy (minimum 200 passes):

1. Danny Crisostomo - 92.38% average passing accuracy on 301 passes completed.
2. Lee Desmond - 87.16% average passing accuracy on 337 passes completed.
3. Freddy Kleeman - 86.06% average passing accuracy on 327 passes completed.

Even with a formation change, mainly to a four-at-the-back system, the importance of a steady backline still remains for the Republic. Danny Crisostomo also factors in here, as he drops back into the backline to help distribute the ball and is often an outlet for the backline as the Republic tries to move the ball up the field. This trio provides a steady presence at the heart of the Republic formation. And behind these three Chibi Ukaegbu and Aaron Essel have looked promising to start this season. And that's not to mention Jared Timmer who is working his way back from injury.

Chances Created:

1. Arturo Rodriguez - 8 chances created.
2. Michel Benitez, Ryan Spaulding, Mayele Malango - 4 chances created each.
3. Aaron Essel, Forster Ajago - 3 chances created each.

This would normally be the place where Jack Gurr's name pops up. But due to his injury, the Republic was left with a creative gap that needed to be filled. In comes Arturo Rodriguez. His attacking profile and the looks he gives to the Republic frontline are different from what Jack Gurr provides, despite attacking from a similar but not identical position. But one thing that the Republic improved upon in comparison to where they were at this point last year was the number of different players who can provide a scoring chance. Last year, Russell Cicerone, Rodrigo Lopez, and Jack Gurr separated themselves from the rest of the roster as the main opportunity creators. But with all three of them gone or injured, there seems to be a strong contingent of players who can generate a chance from different parts of the field. The wing combinations will be fun to see how they develop. Michel Benitez, paired with either Dominik Wanner or Mayele Malango, will be tough for any defender to keep track of, as all three of them will run at you if you give them a yard of space. And then on the right, we have the aforementioned Arturo Rodriguez. Now, on this side, I'll be curious to see who emerges later on in the season to be regularly paired with Arturo because both Jack Gurr and Ryan Spaulding went down earlier this season with injuries. And so, the Republic have signed Brandon Cambridge as a short-term replacement. I'll be honest, Cambridge has already sold me on earning a roster spot, and if he does, I wonder how he fits into this puzzle.

Tackles:

1. Mark-Anthony Kaye - 16 tackles committed.
2. Michel Benitez - 10 tackles committed.
3. Arturo Rodriguez - 9 tackles committed.

Fouls Won:

1. Ryan Spaulding and Mark-Anthony Kaye - 10 fouls won each.
2. Arturo Rodriguez and Forster Ajago - 9 fouls won each.
3. Lee Desmond - 5 fouls won.

Duels Won:

1. Mark-Anthony Kaye - 38 duels won on a 62% duel win rate.
2. Freddy Kleeman - 37 duels won on a 76% duel win rate.
3. Lee Desmond - 30 duels won on a 65% duel win rate.

You know, one thing I didn't really account for heading into this season was the physicality Mark-Anthony Kaye brings to the midfield. I expected him to be kind of a deep-lying playmaker when the Republic were on the attack. But he has a defensive presence that rivals the Republic's centerbacks. Michel Benitez, Freddy Kleeman, and Lee Desmond are all continuing their form from last season. But add a player like Mark-Anthony Kaye in front of them, and that is a tough center of the park for any opponent to try to break through.

Yellow Cards:

1. Michel Benitez - 3 yellow cards
2. Dominik Wanner, Freddy Kleeman, Forster Ajago - 2 yellow cards each
3. Danny Vitiello, Danny Crisostomo, Blake Willey, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Aaron Essel, Arturo Rodriguez - 1 yellow card each

I think the game against Phoenix inflated the Republic's yellow card numbers by quite a bit. But players are going in on tackles and making it hard for the opponents to try to build up some actual tempo against them.

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 thanks to Sacramento Republic FC).