MATT WIESENFARTH CONTINUES HIS SACRAMENTO SOCCER CAREER AS A PRO
For nearly all of his soccer career, Matt Wiesenfarth has played in his hometown of Sacramento, California, and it continues now that the forward has signed with Sacramento Republic FC of the United Soccer League (USL).
“It’s a dream come true to be honest,” Wiesenfarth said on signing with the Republic. “I’m just really, really grateful that it all worked out.”
From his youth career with San Juan FC to college with UC Davis, then to Sacramento Gold FC of the NPSL, Wiesenfarth has always held the capitol city close.
“This is my hometown; it’s a city I have a lot of pride for. I stayed local and I have a lot of connections to this city and again it’s a dream come true to represent this city.”
Along with his emotional connection, Wiesenfarth scores a lot of goals for his Sacramento clubs. He scored a mind-boggling 110 goals over four years in high school, 13 goals for UC Davis and now nine goals for Sacramento Gold FC.
For the 25-year-old forward however, his game is more than scoring goals himself.
“The key for me as a striker is my movement. I try to get my team as many chances as I can, whether that be taking shots myself or sending guys in myself.”
His opportunity with the Republic comes thanks in part to his time with Sacramento Gold, a team which Wiesenfarth scrimmaged against and admired as a youth product.
“The NPSL is a great league, I love how there are so many teams and it’s so competitive,” Wiesenfarth said. “It was huge for me to come full circle and play for the team I looked up to as a kid.”
Now that he’s joined the professional ranks, Wiesenfarth is working extremely hard to stay there.
“Honestly my goal is to play professionally as long as possible. I would love to stay local and make a career here.”
Sacramento Gold FC Owner John Nunan believes Wiesenfarth will achieve his goal of playing as a professional, but not just in the USL.
“(Wiesenfarth) was a great teammate who brought out the best in the players around him and he inspired everyone with creative play and a striker’s mentality,” Nunan said. “I fully expect to see him on an MLS roster within the next year or two.”
While Wiesenfarth hopes to someday break into the MLS, he is currently focused on his most recent opportunity.
“Eventually the goal might be to try get in a preseason camp with an MLS team. But I just recently reached a goal in getting into the USL, and I’m very content here and I’m looking to make a name for myself here before I take the next step.”
Regardless of where that next step takes him, Wiesenfarth will certainly help the Republic for the remainder of the 2017 season, bringing a proven goalscorer to the squad.
