Looking to bolster depth of the squad after defender Emrah Klimenta went down with a torn ACL, Sacramento Republic FC announced last week the loan of MLS veteran Jeremy Hall to the club from the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL.

The 27-year-old Puerto Rico international slotted right into the starting lineup of the Republic’s 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, playing 78 minutes in a holding midfield role.

The versatile Hall, who has spent time at five different MLS clubs, is expected to help out in a variety of different positions for Sacramento.

“He can play all the way across the back four,” head coach Paul Buckle told The Enterprise. “We’ve got (starting holding midfielder) JJ Koval who’s been carrying a hernia for quite some time now. We’ve rested JJ. It’s not always been easy in the middle of the pitch to get a flow going, but certainly Jeremy brings a stability to that. He’s still mobile.

“He’s lacking match practice so we’ll have to watch that, but he’s someone who’s got a smile on his face. I like that,” Buckle added. “He’s fit in well. Sometimes you have to wait a little while for a player to fit in, but like I said, he’s got experience, he’s worked out what we’re about and he’s fit in nicely.”

Hall arrives at the club in the midst of a five-game road trip that Buckle joked was a conspiracy by the schedule makers, and therefore hasn’t had much time to acclimate himself to the area.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not happy to be at the Republic.

“I’ve known a few players who have played here before so I’ve kept up with them and seen the crowds and stuff. It’s been amazing to watch,” Hall said with an ear-to-ear grin on his face. “When I found out I was coming here, I did a little more research. I’m really excited about it. I’ve been here a little over a week now and really been embraced by everybody.”

“The team’s been great,” he added. “We’ve been on the road a little bit. I’m looking forward to coming home and playing here. The stadium’s amazing. The field is great. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Hall’s first home match will be Saturday, Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. against San Antonio FC.

After a standout college career at Maryland and in the U.S. U-17 residency program, Hall began his professional soccer career in New York after he was selected 11th overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Red Bulls.

He then made stops in Portland, Dallas, Toronto, New England and his hometown of Tampa before arriving at the Republic with the reputation as a solid player who never could quite land a consistent starting role perhaps because he was too versatile.

“First and foremost, I just want to help out the team any way I can,” Hall said. “Just being able to help the team, we’re in a good spot in the standings right now, just trying to get into the playoffs and win. This sport is all about winning. Hopefully we can come here and win a championship.”

Terms of the loan’s length weren’t made public by the Republic.

Three involved with Republic academy honored

After a strong debut year saw the Republic U-17/U-18 academy squad finish in the quarterfinals of the US Soccer Development Academy playoffs, three people involved with the team have been honored in US Soccer’s postseason awards.

Aggie soccer fans will no doubt be happy to see that incoming UC Davis freshman Nabilai Kibunguchy was named to the West Conference Starting XI.

Joining Kibunguchy on that team was goalkeeper Cameron Douglas, a U.S. U-18 national team member committed to UCLA.

Also honored was coach Benjamin Ziemer, who was named the West Conference Coach of the Year.

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