Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
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2017 SPR SCHEDULE DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
Sat., March 25
OKC Energy FC
W 3-1
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Wed., March 29
Portland Timbers 2
W 1-0
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Sat., April 15
Sacramento Republic FC
W 1-0
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Sun., April 23
Phoenix Rising FC
L 3-4
Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex
Sat., April 29
Real Monarchs SLC
L 1-2
Rio Tinto Stadium
Fri., May 5
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
W 3-1
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Sat., May 13
Rio Grande Valley FC
L 0-1
H-E-B Park
Fri., May 26
San Antonio FC
L 0-1
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Sat., June 3
San Antonio FC
T 0-0
Toyota Field
Sun., June 11
Tulsa Roughnecks FC
W 3-1
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Sun., June 18
Phoneix Rising FC
T 2-2
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Wed., June 21
Colo. Springs Switchbacks
W 2-1
Children's Mercy Victory Field
Tues., June 27
Tulsa Roughnecks FC
W 2-1
ONEOK Field
Fri., June 30
LA Galaxy II
W 1-0
StubHub Center
Sat., July 8
Rio Grande Valley FC
W 4-0 Children's Mercy Victory Field
Wed., July 12
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
W 1-0
Sun., July 16
Portland Timbers 2
W 1- 0 Providence Park
Thurs., July 20
Seattle Sounders FC 2
W 2-0 Starfire Stadium
Sun. July 30
Reno 1868 FC
L 4-1
Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sat., Aug. 5
Saint Louis FC
T 0-0
WWT Soccer Park
Sat., Aug. 12
Orange County SC
T 1-1
Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Fri., Aug. 18
Real Monarchs SLC
T 2-2
Children’s Mercy Victory Field
SPR in 2016 USL Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinal: 3-0 W vs LA Galaxy II Western Conference Semifinal: 2-1 W (AET) vs Orange County Blues FC Western Conference Final: 3-0 W vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2 USL Cup Final: 5-1 L at New York Red Bulls II
Wed., Aug. 23
Sacramento Republic FC
T 2-2
Bonney Field
Sat., Aug. 26
Reno 1868 FC
L 1-0
Greater Nevada Field
Sat., Sept. 2
OKC Energy FC
W 2-0 Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sat., Sept. 9
Orange County SC
L 2-1
SPR in 2017 USL Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinal: 1-1 T (4-2 in PK’s) vs Phoenix Rising FC Western Conference Semifinal: 1-0 W vs Sacramento Republic FC Western Conference Final: 0-0 T (7-6 in PK’s) vs OKC Energy FC
Sun., Sept. 17
San Antonio FC
W 5-2 Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sat. Sept. 23
Colo. Springs Switchbacks
W 3-1
Wed., Sept. 27
LA Galaxy II
W 3-0 Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sat., Sept. 30
Rio Grande Valley FC
T 2-2
H-E-B Park
Sun., Oct. 8
OKC Energy FC
L 4-1
Taft Stadium
Wed., Oct. 11
Seattle Sounders FC 2
W 2-1
Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sun., Oct. 22
Phoenix Rising FC
T 1-1
Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Sat., Oct 28
Sacramento Republic FC
W 1-0
Children’s Mercy Park
Sat., Nov. 4
OKC Energy FC
T 0-0
Children’s Mercy Park
USL RECORD: 20-6-9
USL RECORD: 18-8-9
2017 USL CUP COMPETITION: Swope Park Rangers at Louisville City FC DATE: Monday, November 13 KICKOFF: 9:00 PM ET LOCATION: Louisville Slugger Field (Louisvillle, Kentucky) REFEREE: Ramy Touchan ARS: Adrienne McDonald and Jeremy Kieso 4TH/5TH OFFICIALS: Victor Rivas and Cory Richardson TV/RADIO: Live on ESPNU and SiriusXM FC
MATCH PREVIEW The Swope Park Rangers will become the first team in USL history to play in back-to-back USL Cup Finals when the Western Conference champions take the field on Monday night in Louisville. The 2017 USL Cup Final caps the longest (233 days) and largest (30 teams, 495 games) season in league history (2011-present).
INJURY REPORT As of Wednesday, November 8
OUT: - Tyler Pasher (concussion) - Darrin MacLeod (shoulder)
VENUE
Thunderbird Stadium
Orange County Great Park Weidner Field
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
HEAD COACH Nikola Popovic was named Swope Park Rangers head coach ahead of the 2017 season after serving as an assistant in the club’s inaugural campaign in 2016. Popovic arrived in Kansas City following a stint as an assistant coach with Benfica B in Portugal. A dual citizen of Portugal and Serbia who was born in Belgrade, Popovic began his coaching career in Portugal with CD Olivais e Moscavide in the Segunda Division, initially with an internship in the 2005-06 season where the side won the title and gained promotion to the Segunda Liga, before being hired as an assistant for the following season. After leaving CD Olivais e Moscavide at the conclusion of the 2006-07 season, Popovic headed to FC Vihren Sandanski in the Bulgarian A Football Group as an assistant but returned to Portugal later that same year with Segunda Liga side Varzim SC, where he won the Liga Intercalar. In 2010, the 43-year-old enjoyed a stint as an assistant coach with the Cape Verde National Team, before joining Spanish Segunda Division B side AD Ceuta. Popovic’s next stop was with Al Dahfra in the United Arab Emirates for the 2011-12 season, where he was an assistant to Baltemar Brito – Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach – winning the Vice President Cup. Popovic earned his first head coaching job the following season, taking charge of Sertanense FC in the Portuguese Second Division. Popovic then joined Qatar’s Aspire Academy in 2014, before returning to Portugal and Benfica B in 2015.
ASSISTANT COACH Paulo Nagamura is in his first season of coaching with the Swope Park Rangers, having announced his retirement from professional soccer at the conclusion of the 2016 MLS season with Sporting Kansas City. Nagamura, 33, enjoyed a 12-year MLS career that saw him win two MLS Cup championships and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles. He made 269 appearances in MLS, including 240 starts, recording 15 goals and 21 assists. In five seasons with Sporting Kansas City, Nagamura tallied seven goals and eight assists in 119 appearances across all competitions. He played a vital role in some of Sporting Kansas City’s biggest moments in club history, converting penalty kicks in shootouts of the 2012 and 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups as well as the 2013 MLS Cup. A native of Brazil, Nagamura began his youth career with hometown club Sao Paulo FC in 1994 before moving to Arsenal FC of the English Premier League in 2001. He signed for the LA Galaxy in 2005, where he won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in his first professional season at the senior level.
GOALKEEPER COACH Gavin McInerney is in his first season with the Swope Park Rangers, having joined the club from fellow USL side the Rochester Rhinos ahead of the 2017 season. McInerney served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Rhinos in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Last season, McInerney oversaw Rochester’s starting goalkeeper Tomas Gomez, who posted the lowest goals against average in the league with 0.55 – earning him the USL Golden Glove award. The 32-year-old was a key member of the Rhinos’ coaching staff as the side claimed the USL Regular-Season Championship and the USL Cup in 2015, setting a league record by conceding just 15 goals in 28 regular-season games and only losing one game all season. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, McInerney moved to the U.S. to play college soccer at the University of Memphis in 2004 before returning to Ireland after the 2005 NCAA season to sign a professional contract with St. Patrick’s Athletic FC of the League of Ireland. A move to fellow top-flight side Bray Wanderers followed in 2008 before returning to the U.S. in 2009.
TECHNICAL STAFF Technical Director: Peter Vermes Director of Player Personnel: Brian Bliss
Fitness Coach: Joey Harty Team Administrator: Chris Farabee
Equipment Manager: Andy Garay Head Trainer: Jacob Brownback
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers News and Notes
#LOUvSPR Win One for the West In 2015 and 2016 -- the first two years with an Eastern Conference and Western Conference in the USL -- the Regular Season Championship and the USL Cup Championship were won by Eastern Conference clubs achieving the double. In 2017, Real Monarchs became the first Western Conference club to claim USL hardware as the top team in the regular season and now the Swope Park Rangers can become the first Western Conference champion to knock off the East in the USL Cup Final. Year 2015 2016 2017
Team Rochester Rhinos New York Red Bulls II Real Monarchs SLC
Conf. East East West
Championships Regular Season and USL Cup Regular Season and USL Cup Regular Season
2nd Division Champions The 2017 USL Cup Final is the league’s first as a second division in American soccer. In January, U.S. Soccer granted provisional Division II status to the USL for the 2017 season after sanctioning USL as Division III for the league’s previous six seasons.
Year Team 2016 New York Cosmos 2015 New York Cosmos 2014 San Antonio Scorpions 2013 New York Cosmos 2012 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2011 NSC Minnesota Stars 2010 Puerto Rico Islanders 2009 Montreal Impact 2008 Vancouver Whitecaps 2007 Seattle Sounders 2006 Vancouver Whitecaps 2005 Seattle Sounders 2004 Montreal Impact 2003 Charleston Battery 2002 Milwaukee Rampage 2001 Rochester Rhinos 2000 Rochester Rhinos 1999 Minnesota Thunder 1998 Rochester Rhinos 1997 Milwaukee Rampage 1996 Seattle Sounders 1996 California Jaguars
League NASL NASL NASL NASL NASL NASL D2 Pro League USL D-1 USL D-1 USL D-1 USL D-1 USL D-1 A-League A-League A-League A-League A-League A-League A-League A-League A-League USISL Select
Soccer Capital of America The Swope Park Rangers berth in the 2017 USL Cup marks the fifth straight year in which a professional soccer team from Kansas City has reached a league championship. No city in the United States has more professional soccer championships -- men or women, indoor or outdoor -- in the last four years than Kansas City’s four league titles across Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Women’s Soccer (NWSL) and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Year 2013 2013 2014 2014 2015 2016 2017
Champion Missouri Comets Sporting KC Missouri Comets FC Kansas City FC Kansas City Swope Park Rangers Swope Park Rangers
Result Lost series 2-0 T 1-1 (W 7-6 in PKs) Won series 2-1 W 2-1 W 1-0 L 5-1
Opponent Baltimore Blast Real Salt Lake Baltimore Blast Seattle Reign FC Seattle Reign FC New York Red Bulls II Louisville City FC
#BringTheCupHome The Swope Park Rangers will aim to make history in the 2017 USL Cup Final by snapping Louisville’s eight game home unbeaten run and becoming the first road team to claim the championship. In each of the previous six USL Cup Finals, the hosts have lifted the USL Cup trophy in front of the home faithful. Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Champions Orlando City SC Charleston Battery Orlando City SC Sacramento Republic Rochester Rhinos New York Red Bulls II
Score 2-2 (3-2) 1-0 7-4 2-0 2-1 5-1
Runners-Up Attendance Harrisburg City Islanders 11,220 Wilmington Hammerheads 4,963 Charlotte Eagles `20,886 Harrisburg City Islanders 8,000 LA Galaxy 5,247 Swope Park Rangers 5,547
Louisville will aim to become the sixth finalist to lift the USL Cup trophy without playing a postseason match on the road during their championship campaign. Nevertheless, the Rangers will have a second trend in their favor. Since the USL and MLS partnered in 2013, an MLS affiliate has won the USL Cup each season. Year 2013 2014 2015 2016
Champions Orlando City SC Sacramento Republic Rochester Rhinos New York Red Bulls II
Score 7-4 2-0 2-1 5-1
MLS Affiliate(s) MVP Sporting Kansas City Dom Dwyer* Portland/San Jose Rodrigo Lopez New England Revolution Asani Samuels New York Red Bulls Brandon Allen*
*On loan from MLS affiliate
The Swope Park Rangers, the USL affiliate of Sporting KC, have featured eight players on loan from SKC during the playoff run: Adrian Zendejas, Colton Storm, Amer Didic, Erik Palmer-Brown, James Musa, Kevin Oliveira, Kharlton Belmar, Tyler Pasher.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers News and Notes
The Man in the Middle The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) announced on Wednesday that Ramy Touchan has been assigned the 2017 USL Cup Final. Touchan has officiated 10 USL matches in 2017, including SPR’s 2-1 loss at Orange County on Sept. 9 in which both sides were awarded a penalty kick and SPR’s 1-0 win in the Conference Semifinal.
#LOUvSPR Monday Night Futbol The 2017 USL Cup Final will be the first professional league final in men’s outdoor soccer not held on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday since the launch of Major League Soccer in 1996. The last time a men’s soccer professional league final was held outside the weekend window came on Thursday, October 12, 1995 when the Seattle Sounders prevailed in penalties over the Atlanta Ruckus in the A-League championship in a match featuring the likes of Dominic Kinnear, John Doyle, Bruce Murray and Marcus Hahnemann. The last time a men’s outdoor professional league final was held on a Monday was September 4, 1995 in the USISL Professional League championship between the Long Island Rough Riders -- led by Chris Armas, Tony Meola and Giovanni Savarese -- and the Minnesota Thunder. The 2017 USL Cup Final will also be the first Monday match for SPR in the team’s two-year history. Louisville City FC’s only Monday match came on July 4, 2016 in a 2-0 win over FC Montreal at Louisville Slugger Field. In addition, the match comes during the Nov. 6-15 FIFA international break. Louisville City FC goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh declined a call-up by Trinidad and Tobago for international friendlies versus Grenada and Guyana.
SPR Snubbed For the first time in league history, a USL Cup finalist will not be represented on the USL All-League First Team or Second Team. Of the 22 players picked by team management and a league-wide media panel, none came from the SPR roster. Among the candidates for inclusion were SPR goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas, whose 10 clean sheets and 0.90 goals against average outperformed Earl Edwards Jr. (9 clean sheets and 1.13 goals against average), and SPR forward Kharlton Belmar, who has directly contributed to 18 goals (15 goals, 3 assists) this year -- more than Juan Pablo Caffa (9 goals, 8 assists) and Corey Hertzog (14 goals and 2 assists). Louisville City FC defender Paco Craig was placed on the USL All-League First Team and named a finalist for USL Defender of the Year, while members of Louisville City FC are also candidates for Coach of the Year (James O’Connor) and Rookie of the Year (Richard Ballard). The latter received the nod over SPR defender Colton Storm, who earned far greater playing time (started 22 more games, played 1513 more minutes) and led SPR defenders with 230 duels, 69 tackles and 47 interceptions.
Date 3/25/17 4/22/17 4/29/17 5/13/17 5/20/17 5/27/17 6/10/17 6/14/17 7/15/17 7/29/17 8/5/17 8/12/17 9/2/17 9/9/17 9/23/17 10/8/17 10/20/17 10/28/17
Match Phoenix Rising FC vs Toronto FC II Sacramento Republic vs Portland Timbers 2 Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Stars Miami FC vs Indy Eleven Rio Grande Valley FC vs LA Galaxy II Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Reno 1868 Phoenix Rising vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 LA Galaxy vs Orange County SC Seattle Reign vs Boston Breakers New York Cosmos vs Miami FC LA Galaxy II vs Phoenix Rising FC North Carolina FC vs Jacksonville Armada FC Real Monarchs SLC vs San Antonio FC Orange County SC vs Swope Park Rangers San Francisco Deltas vs FC Edmonton North Carolina Courage vs Chicago Red Stars Real Monarchs vs Sacramento Republic Swope Park Rangers vs Sacramento Republic
Competition USL USL NWSL NASL USL USL USL Open Cup NWSL NASL USL NASL USL USL NASL NWSL USL USL
Anatomy of Rangers Roster Below is a transaction timeline for SPR players with 300+ minutes played: November 20, 2015 - Christian Duke signed as club’s first player January 6, 2016 - Nansel Selbol signed from Sporting KC Academy January 11, 2016 - Oumar Ballo signed from Houston Dynamo January 20, 2016 - SPR signs rookie Mark Anthony Gonzalez February 3, 2016 - Kevin Oliveira signed from Benfica B March 2, 2016 - Tyler Pasher and Amer Didic signed by SPR June 30, 2016 - Adrian Zendejas signed from Club Tijuana November 30, 2016 - Parker Maher and James Musa signed from St. Louis FC December 5, 2016 - Liam Doyle signed from Harrisburg City Islanders December 19, 2016 - Kharlton Belmar signed from Portland Timbers 2 January 6, 2017 - Felipe Hernandez signs from Sporting KC Academy January 10, 2017 - Sporting KC signs Cameron Iwasa from Sacramento January 13, 2017 - Sporting KC selects Colton Storm in MLS SuperDraft February 6, 2017 - Lebo Moloto signed from Pittsburgh Riverhounds February 20, 2017 - Robert Mirosavic signs from Högaborgs BK February 22, 2017 - SPR signs rookie Darrin MacLeod February 24, 2017 - SPR signs rookie Dakota Barnathan March 29, 2017 - Erik Palmer-Brown loaned to SPR from Sporting KC July 11, 2017 - Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal signs from Sporting KC Academy
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers News and Notes
Called Into Action A total of 13 players signed to USL contracts by the Swope Park Rangers have received call-ups from Sporting Kansas City either in the form of short-term loans for the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League or as first-team signings.
#LOUvSPR From A-Z: Adrian Zendejas One of eight goalkeepers to play for SPR in the last two seasons, Adrian Zendejas has started 33 matches since arriving last summer from Club Tijuana. The results? A 23-4-6 record with 15 clean sheets and a 0.89 goals against average. His postseason performances are particularly impressive, with four clean sheets in six games and a 4-1-1 record. In the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, Zendejas is yet to concede a goal -- posting shutouts in the Conference Semifinal and Conference Final for a 231-minute shutout streak entering the USL Cup Final -- with seven saves in the run of play and another four saves in the penalty shootout against OKC Energy FC. Zendejas also converted the decisive penalty in the 11th round of the Western Conference Final to end the longest shootout in USL history.
Pathway to the Pros In 2017, nine Sporting Kansas City Academy alums have featured for the Swope Park Rangers. Captain Christian Duke has played every minute for the club, while 19-yearold Felipe Hernandez (26 games) and 20-year-old Nansel Selbol (30 games) have made major impacts for the Western Conference champions. In total, 14 Academy alums have garnered professional minutes for SPR in the last two seasons. Player Name SPR GP Christian Duke* 69 Nansel Selbol* 54 Felipe Hernandez* 26 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal* 13 Daniel Salloi* 13 Jon Kempin 12 Will Little 9 Max Rugova* 7 Erik Palmer-Brown* 6 Kevin Ellis* 4 Ezra Armstrong 2 Jaylin Lindsey 2 Joe Amico* 2 Patrick Wilkinson 1 *Appearances in 2017
USL to MLS Contracts: Tyler Pasher, Adrian Zendejas, Amer Didic, James Musa, Kevin Oliveira, Kharlton Belmar Short-Term Loans Current players: Felipe Hernandez, Parker Maher, Nansel Selbol Past players: Tomas Granitto, Alex Molano, Ualefi, Kris Tyrpak In addition, nine players who have featured for SPR this year have received call-ups to their national teams in 2017: Daniel Salloi (Hungary U21’s), Amer Didic (Canada U23’s/MNT), Kevin Oliveira (Cape Verde MNT), James Musa (New Zealand MNT), Felipe Hernandez (U.S. U19’s/U20’s), Tyler Pasher (Canada MNT), Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Canada U23’s), Erik Palmer-Brown (U.S. U20’s), Soony Saad (Lebanon MNT).
No Experience Needed The average age of SPR’s starting lineup has ranged from 22.2 to 24.5 this season for a squad which, outside of Sporting KC loanees, has no players under contract with a first division league appearance in their careers. Looking at the 20 players on the SPR gameday rosters for the last two rounds of the USL Cup Playoffs, James Musa was the only player with more than 45 minutes of first division experience. Player Name (age) 1st Div GP League/Country Max Rugova (17) 0 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (19)* 0 Felipe Hernandez (19)* 0 Nansel Selbol (20) 0 Kevin Oliveira (21)^ 3 MLS (35 minutes played) Amer Didic (22)^ 0 Adrian Zendejas (22)^ 0 Robert Mirosavic (22) 0 Joe Amico (22)* 0 Tyler Pasher (23)^ 1 MLS (45 minutes played) Colton Storm (23)*^ 0 Dakota Barnathan (23)* 0 Mark Anthony Gonzalez (23) 0 David Greczek (23)* 0 Kharlton Belmar (24)^ 1 MLS (6 minutes played) Parker Maher (24) 0 James Musa (25)^ 46 MLS (1), Australia (3), New Zealand (42) Liam Doyle (25) 0 Christian Duke (26) 0 Lebo Moloto (27) 0 *Rookie season ^Sporting KC loanee
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers News and Notes
#LOUvSPR Back-to-Back Finalists The Swope Park Rangers are the first expansion team in the modern era of American men’s outdoor professional soccer to reach a league final in each of the club’s first two seasons. Head coach Nikola Popovic and club captain Christian Duke have each proven pivotal in this feat. Duke -- a Kansas City native, Sporting KC Academy product and Sporting KC draft pick -- was the first signing in SPR history and has played in all 69 matches for the club in 2016 and 2017, including every minute of this year’s campaign. The 2017 USL Cup Final will be his third league championship appearance in the past five seasons after winning USL Cup in 2013 as a rookie on loan with Orlando City SC.
How the West Was Won Conference Quarterfinals: Tied Phoenix Rising FC 1-1 (won 4-2 on penalties) After a swampy first 45 minutes played amidst torrential rain on the night of Saturday, October 21, the match was postponed and resumed at the start of the second half the following afternoon. With the sunshine eventually came goals, as Didier Drogba’s 99th-minute tally was canceled out by Amer Didic’s headed equalizer 10 minutes later. In the decisive shootout, SPR goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod pushed aside Kevon Lambert’s attempt in round one to pave the way for a Rangers victory. Conference Semifinals: Defeated Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 A shift from Swope Soccer Village to Children’s Mercy Park did little to throw off the Rangers’ postseason mojo. After a scoreless first half, SPR drew first blood less than a minute after the restart when Kharlton Belmar nodded home his team-leading 15th goal of the campaign after Tyler Pasher had raced in behind the Sacramento defense. Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas made four saves at the opposite end, none better than his 75th-minute stop to deny Villyan Bijev. Conference Final: Tied OKC Energy FC 0-0 (won 7-6 on penalties) Alas, the Adrian Zendejas Game. SPR’s 22-year-old goalkeeper recorded his second straight playoff clean sheet, then made four saves in a jaw-dropping shootout before converting the game-winning attempt himself in the 11th round of spot kicks. SPR’s second shootout of the postseason run goes down in the record books as the longest tiebreaker in USL history.
In total, Duke is one of 11 players to feature for SPR in both 2016 and 2017.
Back from the Brink
Popovic arrived in Kansas City as an assistant coach for SPR in 2016, bringing a UEFA PRO coaching license and international experience from previous coaching roles in Portugal, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Spain, UAE and Qatar. At the end of the 2016 USL season, Popovic was promoted to head coach following the departure of Marc Dos Santos to the San Francisco Deltas.
On three occasions in the regular season, SPR overcame deficits to win in addition to twice earning draws despite trailing by two goals. The comebacks have continued in the playoffs as each stage of the postseason has seen SPR survive a scare that threatened to end the team’s run.
Career Year in the Making Kharlton Belmar’s 15 league goals are not just the most among SPR players, they’re the most in the USL this season when removing penalty kicks from Golden Boot candidates Dane Kelly (15), Romario Williams (15) and Enzo Martinez (15). Moreover, when excluding penalties, the 15 league goals are one shy of the modern era single-season record for professional outdoor soccer players in Kansas City. Year 2000 2014 2014 2016
Goals 16 16 16 16
Player Name Miklos Molnar Dom Dwyer Amy Rodriguez Dom Dwyer
Team (League) Kansas City Wizards (MLS) Sporting Kansas City (MLS) FC Kansas City (NWSL) Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Belmar was the USL’s Rookie of the Year in 2015 with Portland Timbers 2, where he contributed 16 goals and six assists in his first two professional seasons.
In the Western Conference Quarterfinal, the Rangers trailed 1-0 in extra time after Didier Drogba opened the scoring. Amer Didic would come to the rescue for SPR, heading home the equalizer in the 109th minute to send the match into penalties. From there, rookie goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod -- playing with a shoulder injury suffered earlier in the match -- produced the decisive save. The Swope Park Rangers are now six for six in home playoff matches, however the Western Conference Semifinal nearly wasn’t played in Kansas City at all. Though Sacramento was the lower seed, the USL initially scheduled the fixture to be played in California before reversing the decision and allowing the match to be held at Children’s Mercy Park. SPR stayed focused on the task at hand and secured a comfortable 1-0 victory inside the MLS venue. Most recently, four SPR players stepped to the penalty spot during the Western Conference Final shootout with the outcome of the game, and the team’s season, on the line. All four converted their pressure-packed penalties and Adrian Zendejas put an end to the drama with his 11th-round heroics: stopping his counterpart’s attempt then successfully converting his own.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers News and Notes
#LOUvSPR Culture of Success While Sporting Kansas City have reached the postseason in seven straight campaigns and the Swope Park Rangers are back-to-back USL Cup finalists, the success doesn’t stop there. In fact, Sporting KC was the only MLS club which had their top four teams all qualify for the playoffs in both 2016 and 2017.
Passing It On The Swope Park Rangers and Louisville City FC are the top two passing teams in the USL this season. SPR leads the league in both attempted passes (18,484) and passing accuracy (83%). Louisville ranks a distant second with 16,133 attempted passes. Louisville City FC have turned their possession into the most shots (549) and second most goals (64) in the USL this season. Much of the playmaking comes from midfielder Oscar Jimenez, who leads the USl with 75 chances created and whose 257 crosses are second most in the USL (and more than all SPR players combined). SPR’s Christian Duke (1,848 passes) and Amer Didic (1,715 passes) both rank in the top four among all USL players in attempted passes, while Louisville’s Sean Totsch (1,685 passes) ranks sixth.
SPR Stat Sheet
Team (Competition) 2016 2017 Sporting Kansas City (MLS) Knockout Round Knockout Round Swope Park Rangers (USL) USL Cup Final USL Cup Final SKC Academy U18’s (USSDA) Quarterfinals Group Stage SKC Academy U16’s (USSDA) Group Stage Quarterfinals
Overall Home Away 2017 Record 18-8-9 12-2-5 6-6-4 All-Time Record 32-19-15 22-6-6 10-13-9 2017 Scoring First All-Time Scoring First 2017 Conceding First All-Time Conceding First
15-0-3 27-2-6 3-8-3 5-16-6
9-0-2 17-2-2 3-2-2 5-4-3
6-0-1 10-0-4 0-6-1 0-12-3
17 Goal Scorers in 2017
2017 Leading at Half All-Time Leading at Half 2017 Trailing at Half All-Time Trailing at Half 2017 Tied at Half All-Time Tied at Half
9-0-2 18-0-3 2-7-2 3-13-2 7-1-5 11-5-10
7-0-2 13-0-2 2-1-1 3-2-1 3-1-2 6-4-3
2-0-0 5-0-1 0-6-1 0-11-1 4-0-3 5-1-7
2017 Leading at 75’ All-Time Leading at 75’ 2017 Trailing at 75’ All-Time Trailing at 75’ 2017 Tied at 75’ All-Time Tied at 75’
17-0-2 29-0-3 0-8-2 0-16-3 1-0-5 3-2-9
11-0-1 19-0-1 0-2-1 0-5-1 1-0-3 3-1-4
6-0-1 10-0-2 0-6-1 0-11-2 0-0-2 0-1-5
A total of 17 players have scored for the Swope Park Rangers this season, most in the USL. Collectively, the club has scored 57 times -- fifth most in the USL -- to average a goal every 55 minutes. • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Home goals: 37 (Kharlton Belmar 8, Nansel Selbol/Lebo Moloto 6) Away goals: 20 (Kharlton Belmar 7, Nansel Selbol 3) Goals by subs: 15 (Nansel Selbol 4, Kharlton Belmar/Mark Anthony Gonzalez 3) Game-winning goals: 18 (Kharlton Belmar 5, Lebo Moloto 4) Right-footed goals: 45 (Kharlton Belmar 11, Nansel Selbol 9) Headed goals: 8 (Kharlton Belmar 4, Amer Didic 2) Left-footed goals: 3 (Cameron Iwasa/Christian Duke/Liam Doyle 1) Other goals: 1 (Kevin Garcia own goal) Penalties scored: 7 (Nansel Selbol 2, Kevin Oliveira 2) Penalties missed: 1 (Kevin Oliveira) Goals inside the penalty area: 49 (Kharlton Belmar 15, Nansel Selbol 8) Goals outside the penalty area: 8 (Felipe Hernandez 2, six players tied with 1) Goals from set pieces: 3 (Felipe Hernandez 2, Liam Doyle 1)
Defensively, SPR has allowed 38 goals (1.09 per game), conceding 18 times at home and allowing 20 goals away. The Rangers have recorded 13 clean sheets and have given up six penalties (Amer Didic 2, Darrin MacLeod/David Greczek/Oumar Ballo/ Tyler Pasher 1) as well as one red card (Soony Saad).
Swope Park Rangers All-Time Leaders (2016-2017) Goals 1. Mark Anthony Gonzalez 17 2. Kharlton Belmar 15 3. Nansel Selbol/Kris Tyrpak 10
Assists 1. Kevin Oliveira 9 2. Christian Duke 8 3. Tyler Pasher/Ayrton 7
Biggest win: 4-0 (two times) | Worst loss: 5-1 at New York (10/24/2016) Top crowd: 11,569 at Sacramento (8/24/17) | Low crowd: 572 vs Portland (3/30/17) Fastest goal: 2’ (three times) | Fastest goal against: 1’ vs Reno (7/30/17) Latest goal: 109’ vs Phoenix (10/22/17) | Latest goal against: 99’ vs Phoenix (10/22/17) Most goals in a game by an SPR player: 2 (eight times)
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
ADRIAN ZENDEJAS
1
PRONUNCIATION: zen-DAY-haas POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 8/30/95 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-5 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: Chula Vista, Calif. BIRTHPLACE: Chula Vista, Calif. COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Club Tijuana (Liga MX) Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final as Man of the Match with three saves during the run of play and four more saves in the penalty shootout. Converted the decisive PK in the 11th round.
ERIK PALMER-BROWN 2 PRONUNCIATION: POSITION: Defender BORN: 4/24/97 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Lee’s Summit, Mo. BIRTHPLACE: Napoleon, Ohio COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Quarterfinal, a 1-1 draw with Phoenix Rising FC on Oct. 22.
2017: Has made 24 starts on loan from Sporting KC, recording 10 clean sheets and posting a 0.90 goals against average with 54 saves.
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product has started six matches on loan from Sporting Kansas City, for whom he made 10 MLS appearances and two U.S. Open Cup appearances. Captained the United States Under-20 Men’s National Team to the quarterfinals at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Named No. 2 on USL 20 Under 20 list.
COLTON STORM 23
NANSEL SELBOL 31
PRONUNCIATION: POSITION: Defender BORN: 7/6/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Mechanicsburg, Penn. BIRTHPLACE: Mechanicsburg, Penn. COLLEGE: North Carolina LAST CLUB: --
PRONUNCIATION: NAHN-sul POSITION: Forward BORN: 5/31/97 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-4 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Jos, Nigeria BIRTHPLACE: Jos, Nigeria COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, converting his penalty kick in the seventh round of the shootout.
Last Game: Came off the bench in the 70th minute of the Western Conference Final and converted SPR’s opening penalty kick in the shootout.
2017: Has made 29 appearances on loan from Sporting KC, inlcluding 28 starts , with one goal and three assists in his rookie season. Leads all SPR defenders with 230 duels, 69 tackles and 47 interceptions.
2017: Has made 30 appearances, inlcluding eighteen starts , recording nine goals and two assists. He leads all USL players 20 and younger with nine goals; four of his goals have come off the bench. The Sporting KC Academy product won USL Goal of the Month in June, July and August. He’s third leading scorer (10 goals) in club history. His 28 shots on goal this season lead all SPR players.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
CHRISTIAN DUKE
32
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 6/5/91 (26 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: University of San Diego LAST CLUB: OKC Energy FC (USL)
JOE AMICO 33 PRONUNCIATION: uh-MEE-co POSITION: Defender BORN: 4/17/95 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Indianapolis, Ind. BIRTHPLACE: Indianapolis, Ind. COLLEGE: J acksonville University LAST CLUB: --
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, shooting second in the shootout and seeing his attempt saved.
Last Game: Amico last appeared on October 8 as a second-half substitute in a 4-1 loss at OKC Energy FC.
2017: SPR captain and Sporting KC Academy product has played every minute this season, tallying a team-high seven assists and two goals. The Sporting KC Academy product ranks second in the USL with 1,849 attempted passes. He leads the team in tackles (74), duels (342), duels won (189) and fouls won (69). He’s played in all 69 matches in team history and is second on the team’s all-time assists chart (8).
2017 : The Sporting KC Academy product has come off the bench twice for the Rangers this season, making his professional debut on Sept. 27.
JAMES MUSA 41
LEBO MOLOTO 42
PRONUNCIATION: MOO-suh POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 4/1/92 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Plymouth, United Kingdom BIRTHPLACE: Plymouth, United Kingdom COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Saint Louis FC
PRONUNCIATION: muh-LOE-toe POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 5/21/90 (27 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Polokwane, South Africa BIRTHPLACE: Polokwane, South Africa COLLEGE: L indsey Wilson College LAST CLUB: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, converting a penalty kick in the eighth round of the shootout.
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final. After converting the decisive penalty in the Western Conference Quarterfinal, Moloto stepped to the spot with the same opportunity but missed his attempt.
2017: The New Zealand international was voted the Swope Park Rangers team MVP having started 23 games on loan from Sporting KC. He leads the team with 66 interceptions. Musa debuted for Sporting Kansas City on August 12. His 66 interceptions this season are most among all SPR players.
2017: Has appeared in 32 games, including 28 starts, recording seven goals and four assists. The oldest player on the SPR roster, he has four game-winning goals and leads the team with 48 shots.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
ROBERT MIROSAVIC 43 PRONUNCIATION: mirro-SAV-itch POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 2/6/95 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Ängelholm, Sweden BIRTHPLACE: Ängelholm, Sweden COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Högaborgs BK (Sweden)
PARKER MAHER 44 PRONUNCIATION: Marr POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 7/12/93 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Joplin, Missouri BIRTHPLACE: Fort Smith, Ark. COLLEGE: M issouri State University LAST CLUB: Saint Louis FC (USL)
Last Game: Started and played 45 minutes in SPR’s 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Oct. 11 in the club’s regular season finale.
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, converting his penalty kick in the 10th round of the shootout.
2017: Has appeared in 12 games, including six starts.
2017: Has appeared in 28 games, earning 20 starts and contributing two assists. He leads the team with 58 tackles won. In June, was called up by Sporting KC for a short-term loan.
MARK ANTHONY GONZALEZ
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PRONUNCIATION: - POSITION: Forward BORN: 9/9/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Bolton, Ontario BIRTHPLACE: Toronto, Ontario COLLEGE: University of Evansville LAST CLUB: -- Last Game: Played 25 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on September 23 but left the match in the second half due to injury. 2017: Has appeared in 19 games, including 10 starts, recording five goals and two assists. The team’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year and all-time leading scorer (17 goals) was selected to the Canada Under-23 Men’s National Team for the first time this year.
WILL LITTLE 49 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 4/9/98 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Johnson City, Tenn. BIRTHPLACE: Johnson City, Tenn. COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA) 2017: The Sporting KC Academy product signed first professional contract in January after making eight substitute appearances for SPR in 2016, including his pro debut on his 18th birthday.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
LEROY ENZUGUSI 50 PRONUNCIATION: EN-zuh-GOO-see POSITION: Forward BORN: 6/13/99 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Marion, Iowa BIRTHPLACE: Nairobi, Kenya COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product is currently in his freshman season at Drake University.
DAKOTA BARNATHAN 58 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 11/9/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 195 lbs. HOMETOWN: Massapequa, N.Y. BIRTHPLACE: Massapequa, N.Y. COLLEGE: V irginia Commonwealth University LAST CLUB: --
AMER DIDIC 55 PRONUNCIATION: UH-meer JIH-ditch POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/28/94 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 195 lbs. HOMETOWN: Edmonton, Alberta BIRTHPLACE: Zenica, Bosnia COLLEGE: B aker University LAST CLUB: -Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final. His penalty was saved in the ninth round of the shootout. 2017: Has made 24 appearances, including 23 starts, on loan from Sporting KC recording two goals, including a 109th minute equalizer in the Western Conference Quarterfinal. The 2016 USL All-League First Team selection ranks fourth in the USL in attempted passes (1,715) and received his first invitation to the Canada Men’s National Team this year. He leads all SPR players with 141 clearances and 18 blocks.
PATRICK WILKINSON 60 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 5/19/99 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 145 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, converting his penalty kick in the sixth round with the match on the line. 2017: Has made 14 appearances, including 12 starts, at central defense and in the holding midfield role during his rookie season.
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product is currently in his freshman season at Saint Louis University.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
LIAM DOYLE 66 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Defender BORN: 7/1/92 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 200 lbs. HOMETOWN: Isle of Man, United Kingdom BIRTHPLACE: Isle of Man, United Kingdom COLLEGE: O hio State University LAST CLUB: Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) Last Game: Started and played the full 90 minutes on Oct. 8 in a 4-1 loss at OKC Energy FC, scoring a stunning free kick in the 88th minute.
DARRIN MACLEOD 70 PRONUNCIATION: muh-CLOUD POSITION: GK BORN: 3/4/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Waterloo, Ontario BIRTHPLACE: Waterloo, Ontario COLLEGE: D rake University LAST CLUB: -Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Quarterfinal on Oct. 22 before turning away the opening penalty in the shootout despite suffering a shoulder injury earlier in the playoff match.
2017: Has made eighteen appearances, including eighteen starts, with two goals. 2017: Has made five apperances, all starts, in his rookie season and none were bigger than the Western Conference quarterfinal. He saved a penalty in his professioal debut at Saint Louis FC earlier this year and was up to the task again in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
DAVID GRECZEK 71 PRONUNCIATION: GREH-check POSITION: GK BORN: 10/29/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: Fairfield, N.J. BIRTHPLACE: Fairfield, N.J. COLLEGE: R utgers University LAST CLUB: --
WAN KUZAIN WAN KAMAL
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PRONUNCIATION: COO-zane KUH-mahl POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 9/14/98 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Carbondale, Ill. BIRTHPLACE: Carbondale, Ill. COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
Last Game: Started and played the full 90 minutes to earn his first professional clean sheet on June 3 in a scorless draw at San Antonio FC.
Last Game: Came off the bench in the 84th minute of the Western Conference Semifinal to close out a 1-0 win against Sacramento Republic FC.
2017: Has made three appearances, all starts against postseason participants (Real Monarchs SLC, Phoenix Rising FC and San Antonio FC) in his rookie season.
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product has made 13 appearances, including nine starts, in his rookie season. He is the club’s most recent signing, receiving a full USL contract in July. His 91.3 passing accuracy leads all SPR players.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
TYLER PASHER 77 PRONUNCIATION: POSITION: Defender/Forward BORN: 4/27/94 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Elmira, Ontario BIRTHPLACE: Elmira, Ontario COLLEGE: -LAST CLUB: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
MAX RUGOVA 79 PRONUNCIATION: ruh-GO-vuh POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 2/17/00 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Overland Park, Kan. BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, Kan. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
Last Game: Started and played 71 minutes in the Western Conference Final before exiting due to injury.
Last Game: Made his first professional start on October 11 in the regular season finale, playing 45 minutes in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2.
2017: Has made 27 appearances, including 25 starts, on loan from Sporting KC with three assists. He is third on the team’s all-time assists chart with seven. Made his MLS debut with Sporting KC in May and was called up by the Canada Men’s National Team in June.
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product has made seven appearances, scoring his first professional goal in a 5-2 win over San Antonio FC to become the fourthyoungest goal scorer in the USL this season.
OUMAR BALLO 81
FELIPE HERNANDEZ 85
PRONUNCIATION: OH-mar BAHL-oh POSITION: Defender BORN: 4/2/91 (26 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 190 lbs. HOMETOWN: Baltimore, Md. BIRTHPLACE: Bamako, Mali COLLEGE: U niv. of Maryland - Baltimore County LAST CLUB: Houston Dynamo (MLS)
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 6/8/98 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Nashville, Tenn. BIRTHPLACE: Ibague, Colombia COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
Last Game: Started and played the full 90 minutes in the regular season finale, a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Oct. 11.
Last Game: Came off the bench to play 33 minutes in the Western Conference Final. His penalty kick, taken in the 5th round of the shootout, was on target but saved.
2017: Has made 20 appearances, including sixteen starts, and scored his first professional goal against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on September 23rd. Also added an assist in a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2 on July 20th.
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product has appeared in 26 games, including 19 starts, in his rookie season with two goals (both on free kicks outside the penalty area) and three assists. He was called up to the United States Under-19 and Under-20 Men’s National Teams this year and was signed by Sporting KC on a short-term loan in June.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers
KEVIN OLIVEIRA 88 PRONUNCIATION: OLL-EE-vay-rah POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 6/8/96 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 145 lbs. HOMETOWN: Sao Vincente, Cape Verde BIRTHPLACE: Sao Vincente, Cape Verde COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: Benfica (Portugal) Last Game: Started and played 87 minutes in the Western Conference Final.
KHARLTON BELMAR 90 PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Forward BORN: 12/1/92 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Virginia Beach, Va. BIRTHPLACE: Virginia Beach, Va. COLLEGE: V irginia Commonwealth University LAST CLUB: Portland Timbers 2 (USL) Last Game: Started and played the full 120 minutes in the Western Conference Final, converting his penalty kick in the third round of the shootout.
2017: Has made 19 appearances, including 14 starts, on loan from Sporting KC recording three goals and five assists. Oliveira has appeared in four Sporting KC matches across all competitions. He has now appeared in five different competitions this year: USL regular season, USL Cup Playoffs, MLS regular season, MLS Cup Playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup. In October, he made his international debut for Cape Verde in World Cup qualifying. He is first on SPR’s all-time assists chart with nine.
2017: Has made 31 appearances, including 24 starts, on loan from Sporting KC with a career-high 15 goals to go along with three assists. Belmar has appeared in two SKC matches across all competition. His 15 goals are most in the USL when excluding penalties and rank second on the team’s all-time goals scored chart. Seven came on the road versus eight at home, and he led the team with five game-winning goals.
STEVEN TEKESKY 98
CHASE BROMSTEDT 99
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: GK BORN: 1/20/98 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Raymore, Mo. BIRTHPLACE: San Bernadino, Calif. COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product is currently in his freshman season at West Virginia.
PRONUNCIATION: -POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 5/26/98 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 130 lbs. HOMETOWN: Parkville, Mo. BIRTHPLACE: Sioux City, Iowa COLLEGE: - LAST CLUB: SKC Academy (USSDA)
2017: The Sporting KC Academy product is currently in his freshman season at Tulsa.
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers vs. OKC Energy FC 3-1 W on March 25 GK Adrian Zendejas D Parker Maher D Dakota Barnathan D Kevin Ellis D Colton Storm M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (Oumar Ballo 75) M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Lebo Moloto 56) F Daniel Salloi F Kharlton Belmar (Nansel Selbol 86) F Latif Blessing Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 1 (Parker Maher 1) 42 Latif Blessing 1 (Daniel Salloi 1) 62 Daniel Salloi 1 (Christian Duke 1) 71 at Real Monarchs SLC 2-1 L on April 29 GK David Greczek D Colton Storm D Erik Palmer-Brown D Amer Didic D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 46) M James Musa M Christian Duke M Lebo Moloto (Felipe Hernandez 70) F Kharlton Belmar F Kevin Oliveira (Nansel Selbol 82) F Cameron Iwasa Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 3 (Unassisted) 48 at San Antonio FC 0-0 T on June 3 GK David Greczek D Parker Maher D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez (Louis Bennett 78) M Christian Duke F Nansel Selbol F Robert Mirosavic (Cameron Iwasa 46) F Kharlton Belmar
vs. Portland Timbers 2 1-0 W on March 29 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Erik Palmer-Brown (Dakota Barnathan 46) D James Musa D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 65) M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez F Lebo Moloto (Max Rugova 61) F Kharlton Belmar F Nansel Selbol Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 2 (Nansel Selbol 1) 15 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 3-1 W on May 5 GK Adrian Zendejas D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 59) D Erik Palmer-Brown D Amer Didic D Colton Storm M James Musa M Christian Duke M Kevin Oliveira F Kharlton Belmar (Max Rugova 73) F Lebo Moloto F Nansel Selbol (Robert Mirosavic 64) Scoring: Nansel Selbol 1 (Kevin Oliveira 1) 8 Lebo Moloto 1 (Colton Storm 2) 28 Kharlton Belmar 4 (Lebo Moloto 1) 38 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC 3-1 W on June 11 GK Adrian Zendejas D Parker Maher D Liam Doyle D Oumar Ballo D Dakota Barnathan M James Musa M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Lebo Moloto 60) F Kharlton Belmar F Robert Mirosavic (Cameron Iwasa 46) F Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 64) Scoring: Cameron Iwasa 1 (Parker Maher 2) 56 Mark Anthony Gonzalez 2 (penalty kick) 91+ Mark Anthony Gonzalez 3 (Lebo Moloto 2) 93+
vs. Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 W on April 15 GK Andrew Dykstra D Colton Storm D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 71) D Erik Palmer-Brown D Amer Didic M Christian Duke M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez (Kevin Oliveira 46) F Robert Mirosavic (Kharlton Belmar 59) F Mark Anthony Gonzalez F Cameron Iwasa Scoring: Mark Anthony Gonzalez 1 (unassisted) 70
at Phoenix Rising FC 4-3 L on April 23 GK David Greczek D Colton Storm D Erik Palmer-Brown D Amer Didic D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Kevin Oliveira 34) F Robert Mirosavic (Kharlton Belmar 34) F Mark Anthony Gonzalez F Cameron Iwasa (Lebo Moloto 63) Scoring: Kevin Oliveira 1 (Penalty Kick) 79 Kevin Oliveira 2 (Colton Storm 1) 90 Christian Duke 1 (Unassisted) 93+ at Rio Grande Valley FC vs. San Antonio FC 1-0 L on May 13 1-0 L on May 26 GK Andrew Dykstra GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Parker Maher D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Liam Doyle D Amer Didic D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 46) D Colton Storm M James Musa M James Musa M Christian Duke M Christian Duke M Kevin Oliveira (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 71) M Kevin Oliveira F Nansel Selbol (Robert Mirosavic 68) F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto F Lebo Moloto (Cameron Iwasa 59) F Kharlton Belmar F Nansel Selbol
vs. Phoenix Rising FC 2-2 T on June 18 GK Adrian Zendejas D Tyler Pasher D Liam Doyle D Amer Didic D Parker Maher M James Musa M Christian Duke M Kevin Oliveira (Louis Bennett 77) F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto (Cameron Iwasa 65) F Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 71) Scoring: Kevin Oliveira 3 (penalty kick) 26 Nansel Selbol 2 (penalty kick) 62
vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-1 W on June 21 GK Adrian Zendejas D Parker Maher D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Kevin Oliveira (Oumar Ballo 86) M Christian Duke F Nansel Selbol (Kharlton Belmar 63) F Lebo Moloto F Daniel Salloi (Diego Rubio 60) Scoring: Liam Doyle 1 (Kevin Oliveira 2) 67’ Christian Duke 2 (unassisted) 75’
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers at Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-1 W on June 27 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle D Tyler Pasher M Dakota Barnathan M Lebo Moloto M Christian Duke F Kevin Oliveira (Amer Didic 79) F Diego Rubio (Cameron Iwasa 62) F Daniel Salloi (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 60) Scoring: Diego Rubio 1 (unassisted) 27
at LA Galaxy II 1-0 W on June 30 GK Adrian Zendejas D Parker Maher D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle (Oumar Ballo 80) D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Lebo Moloto M Christian Duke F Kevin Oliveira (Robert Mirosavic 72) F Mark Anthony Gonzalez F Cameron Iwasa (Nansel Selbol 61) Scoring: Nansel Selbol 3 (Tyler Pasher 1) 63
vs. Rio Grande Valley FC 4-0 W on July 8 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher M James Musa M Lebo Moloto (Cameron Iwasa 71) M Christian Duke F Kevin Oliveira
at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 1-0 W on July 12 GK Adrian Zendejas D Dakota Barnathan D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher M James Musa M Lebo Moloto (Felipe Hernandez 78) M Christian Duke F Kevin Oliveira
F Nansel Selbol (Kharlton Belmar 66) Scoring: Lebo Moloto 2 (Kevin Oliveira 3) 39
F Nansel Selbol (Kharlton Belmar 62) Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 5 (Kevin Oliveira 5) 65
F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Robert Mirosavic 83) F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Cameron Iwasa 75)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez 4 (Cameron Iwasa 1) 63’
Mark Anthony Gonzalez 5 (Lebo Moloto 3) 48+
at Portland Timbers 2 1-0 W on July 16 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher M Lebo Moloto (Felipe Hernandez 75) M James Musa M Christian Duke F Kevin Oliveira (Cameron Iwasa 57)
at Seattle Sounders FC 2 2-0 W on July 20 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Parker Maher M James Musa M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez F Cameron Iwasa F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Kharlton Belmar 46) F Lebo Moloto F Nansel Selbol F Kharlton Belmar Scoring: Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 6 (Nansel Selbol 3) 61 Lebo Moloto 3 (Oumar Ballo 1) 47 Nansel Selbol 4 (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 1) 83
vs. Reno 1868 FC 4-1 L on July 30 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Parker Maher (Tyler Pasher 60) M James Musa M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Nansel Selbol 60) F Cameron Iwasa (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 46) F Lebo Moloto F Kharlton Belmar Scoring: Felipe Hernandez 1 (free kick) 60
at Saint Louis FC 0-0 T on August 5 GK Darrin MacLeod D Colton Storm (Tyler Pasher 46) D Amer Didic D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar
vs. Orange County SC 1-1 T on August 12 GK Adrian Zendejas D Tyler Pasher D Liam Doyle D Oumar Ballo D Parker Maher (Colton Storm 58) M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Christian Duke M Lebo Moloto F Kharlton Belmar F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Cameron Iwasa 79) F Nansel Selbol (Felipe Hernandez 57) Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 7 (Christian Duke 2) 4
at Sacramento Republic FC 2-2 T on August 23 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Tyler Pasher M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Lebo Moloto (Felipe Hernandez 75) M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar (Parker Maher 79) F Soony Saad F Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 75) Scoring: Soony Saad 1 (Christian Duke 3) 4 Kharlton Belmar 9 (Christian Duke 4) 68
at Reno 1868 FC 1-0 L on August 26 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Tyler Pasher
Colton Storm 1 (Lebo Moloto 4) 49 Cameron Iwasa 2 (Kevin Oliveira 4) 84
vs. Real Monarchs SLC 2-2 T on August 18 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle D Tyler Pasher M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Nansel Selbol 46) F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Cameron Iwasa 84)
F Lebo Moloto F Robert Mirosavic (Kharlton Belmar 46) Scoring: Nansel Selbol 5 (Kharlton Belmar 1) 60 Kharlton Belmar 8 (Tyler Pasher 2) 82
F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Cameron Iwasa 74)
F Nansel Selbol (Lebo Moloto 59)
M Dakota Barnathan (Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 72)
M Lebo Moloto M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar (Cameron Iwasa 77) F Soony Saad
F Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Robert Mirosavic 46)
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers vs. OKC Energy FC 2-0 W on September 2 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Dakota Barnathan D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher (Cameron Iwasa 46) M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (Oumar Ballo 74) M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Kevin Oliveira 67) F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto F Tyler Pasher Scoring: Lebo Moloto 4 (penalty kick) 19’ Lebo Moloto 5 (Felipe Hernandez 1) 49’
at Orange County SC 2-1 L on September 9 GK Andrew Dykstra D Colton Storm D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle (Max Rugova 77) D Tyler Pasher M Dakota Barnathan
vs. San Antonio FC 5-2 W on September 17 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez (Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 70) M Christian Duke M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez (Kevin Oliveira 58) F Kharlton Belmar F Kharlton Belmar (Max Rugova 77) F Kevin Oliveira F Lebo Moloto F Cameron Iwasa (Nansel Selbol 62) F Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 63) Scoring: Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 10 (Christian Duke 5) 46 Nansel Selbol 6 (penalty kick) 11
vs. LA Galaxy II 3-0 W on September 27 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm (Joe Amico 73) D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Parker Maher (Kevin Oliveira 46) M James Musa M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto (Nansel Selbol 66) F Tyler Pasher Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 13 (Colton Storm 3) 37 Lebo Moloto 6 (Christian Duke 6) 53 Amer Didic 1 (Felipe Hernandez 3) 58
at Rio Grande Valley FC 2-2 T on September 30 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle D Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 73) M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Kevin Oliveira (Felipe Hernandez 66) M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto F Nansel Selbol (Max Rugova 71) Scoring: Own Goal (Kevin Garcia) 75’ Kharlton Belmar 14 (unassisted) 91+
vs. Phoenix Rising FC 1-1 T (4-2 in PK’s) on October 22 GK Darrin MacLeod D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Erik Palmer-Brown D Parker Maher M Dakota Barnathan M Felipe Hernandez M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto F Tyler Pasher (Nansel Selbol 71) Scoring: Amer Didic 2 (Kharlton Belmar 3) 109
vs. Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 W on October 28 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Dakota Barnathan D Amer Didic D Parker Maher M James Musa
Felipe Hernandez 2 (unassisted) 46+ Nansel Selbol 7 (Tyler Pasher 3) 62 Kharlton Belmar 11 (unassisted) 65 Max Rugova 1 (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 2) 80
at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3-1 W on September 23 GK Darrin MacLeod D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Oumar Ballo D Tyler Pasher M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto (Robert Mirosavic 88) F Nansel Selbol (Mark Anthony Gonzalez 46, Dakota Barnathan 71) Scoring: Oumar Ballo 1 (Kharlton Belmar 2) 20 Kharlton Belmar 12 (Unassisted) 20 Nansel Selbol 8 (Felipe Hernandez 2) 22
at OKC Energy FC 4-1 L on October 8 GK Darrin MacLeod D Colton Storm (Joe Amico 72’) D Oumar Ballo D Liam Doyle D Parker Maher M Dakota Barnathan
vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2 2-1 W on October 11 GK Darrin MacLeod D Tyler Pasher D Colton Storm D Dakota Barnathan D Oumar Ballo M Felipe Hernandez M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (Cameron Iwasa 46) M Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Christian Duke M Christian Duke M Felipe Hernandez F Robert Mirosavic (Parker Maher 46) F Lebo Moloto F Max Rugova (Nansel Selbol 46) F Nansel Selbol (Max Rugova 65’) F Lebo Moloto (Cameron Iwasa 92+) Scoring: Scoring: Liam Doyle 2 (unassisted) 88 Lebo Moloto 7 (Christian Duke 7) 48 Nansel Selbol 9 (penalty kick) 54
vs. OKC Energy FC 0-0 T (7-6 on PK’s) on November 4 GK Adrian Zendejas D Colton Storm D Amer Didic D Dakota Barnathan D Parker Maher M James Musa M Felipe Hernandez (Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 84) M Kevin Oliveira (Felipe Hernandez 87) M Christian Duke M Christian Duke F Kharlton Belmar F Kharlton Belmar F Lebo Moloto F Lebo Moloto F Tyler Pasher (Nansel Selbol 66) F Tyler Pasher (Nansel Selbol 71) Scoring: Kharlton Belmar 15 (unassisted) 46
vs. Louisville City FC November 13
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 PRONUNCIATION GUIDE # PLAYER POS. BIRTHPLACE 1 Adrian Zendejas* GK Chula Vista, Calif. 23 Colton Storm* D Mechanicsburg, Penn. 31 Nansel Selbol F Jos, Nigeria 32 Christian Duke D/M Overland Park, Kan. 33 Joe Amico D Indianapolis, Ind. 41 James Musa* D/M Plymouth, UK 42 Lebo Moloto M Polokwane, South Africa 43 Robert Mirosavic M ร ngelholm, Sweden 44 Parker Maher D/M Fort Smith, Ark. 47 Mark Anthony Gonzalez F Toronto, Ontario 49 Will Little M Johnson City, Tenn. 50 Leroy Enzugusi^ F Nairobi, Kenya 55 Amer Didic* D Zenica, Bosnia 58 Dakota Barnathan D/M Massapequa, N.Y. 60 Patrick Wilkinson^ D Overland Park, Kan. 66 Liam Doyle D Douglas, Isle of Man, UK 70 Darrin MacLeod GK Waterloo, Ontario 71 David Greczek GK Fairfield, N.J. 75 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal M Carbondale, Ill. 77 Tyler Pasher* D/F Elmira, Ontario 79 Max Rugova^ M Overland Park, Kan. 81 Oumar Ballo D Bamako, Mali 85 Felipe Hernandez M Ibague, Colombia 88 Kevin Oliveira* M Sao Vicente, Cape Verde 90 Kharlton Belmar* F Virginia Beach, Va. 98 Steven Tekesky^ GK San Bernadino, Calif. 99 Chase Bromstedt^ M Sioux City, Iowa *Sporting KC loanee ^Academy Contract
LAST CLUB Club Tijuana -- SKC Academy OKC Energy FC -- Saint Louis FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds Hรถgaborgs BK Saint Louis FC -- SKC Academy SKC Academy -- -- SKC Academy Harrisburg City Islanders - -- SKC Academy Pittsburgh Riverhounds SKC Academy Houston Dynamo SKC Academy Benfica Portland Timbers 2 SKC Academy SKC Academy
PRONUNCIATION zen-DAY-haas NAHN-sul -uh-MEE-co MOO-suh muh-LOE-toe mirro-SAV-itch Marr --EN-zuh-GOO-see UH-meer JEE-ditch BAR-nuh-thun --muh-CLOUD GREH-check COO-zane KUH-mahl ruh-GO-vuh OH-mar BAHL-oh -OLL-EE-vay-rah ----
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 PLAYER STATS TOTAL (REGULAR SEASON & POSTSEASON) POSTSEASON ONLY PLAYER GP GS MIN G A GP GS MIN G A Adrián Zendejas 24 24 2190 0 0 Amer Didic 24 23 2141 2 0 3 3 330 1 0 Andrew Dykstra 3 3 270 0 0 Cameron Iwasa 22 7 848 2 1 Christian Duke 35 35 3210 2 7 3 3 330 0 0 Colton Storm 29 28 2533 1 3 3 3 330 0 0 Dakota Barnathan 14 12 1186 0 0 3 3 330 0 0 Daniel Salloi 3 3 210 1 1 Darrin MacLeod 5 5 480 0 0 1 1 120 0 0 David Greczek 3 3 270 0 0 Diego Rubio 2 1 92 1 0 Erik Palmer-Brown 6 6 525 0 0 1 1 120 0 0 Felipe Hernandez 26 19 1559 2 3 3 2 153 0 0 James Musa 23 23 2100 0 0 2 2 237 0 0 Joseph Amico 2 0 35 0 0 Kevin Ellis 1 1 90 0 0 Kharlton Belmar 31 24 2418 15 3 3 3 330 1 1 Kévin Oliveira 19 14 1328 3 5 1 1 87 0 0 Latif Blessing 1 1 90 1 0 Lebo Moloto 32 28 2492 7 4 3 3 330 0 0 Liam Doyle 18 18 1598 2 0 Louis Bennett 2 0 25 0 0 Mark González 19 10 978 5 2 Max Rugova 7 1 160 1 0 Nansel Selbol 30 18 1620 9 2 3 0 122 0 0 Oumar Ballo 20 16 1480 1 1 Parker Maher 28 20 1945 0 2 3 3 330 0 0 Robert Mirosavic 12 6 393 0 0 Soony Saad 2 2 179 1 0 Tyler Pasher 27 25 2081 0 3 3 3 208 0 0 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal 13 9 783 0 0 1 0 6 0 0
Swope Park Rangers www.sportingkc.com/rangers SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2017 GOALKEEPER STATS PLAYER GP GS MINUTES GA GAA SO SAV David Greczek 3 3 270 6 2.00 1 6 Darrin MacLeod 5 5 480 7 1.31 1 17 Steven Tekesky 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 Adrian Zendejas 24 24 2190 22 0.90 10 54 Andrew Dykstra 3 3 270 3 1.00 1 7
2017 USL CUP COMMUNICATIONS CONTACTS SWOPE PARK RANGERS SWOPE PARK RANGERS LOUISVILLE CITY FC Patrik Bergabo Kurt Austin Scott Stewart Email: pbergabo@sportingkc.com Email: kaustin01@gmail.com Email: sstewart@louisvillecityfc.com Cell: (203) 300-9927 Cell: (816) 516-0577 Phone: (317) 966-3130