Match Notes: Swope Park Rangers at Birmingham Legion FC | April 20, 2019

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2019 SPR SCHEDULE DATE

2019 RECORD: 0-3-1

2019 RECORD: 2-2-0

#BHMvSPR MATCH: DATE: KICKOFF: LOCATION: WATCH: REFEREE: ASSISTANTS: 4th OFFICIAL:

Rangers at Birmingham Legion FC Saturday, April 20, 2019 4 PM CT BBVA Compass Field (Birmingham, AL) ESPN+ ELVIS OSMANOVIC MARIO CABRERA & AUSTIN HOLT PETER GONZALEZ

MATCH PREVIEW The Swope Park Rangers will play for their first victory of the season on Saturday when they travel to face Birmingham Legion FC in a USL Championship Eastern Conference clash at BBVA Compass Field.

The inaugural matchup between the sides pits the Rangers, USL Cup finalists from 2016 and 2017, against a rising expansion side in Birmingham that has won two of its first four matches this year.

SPR is aiming to rebound from a 3-1 home loss to Indy Eleven on Monday in which forward Wilson Harris scored for the hosts before exiting on the cusp of halftime with a shoulder injury. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side have suffered two defeats on the trot, having slipped in a 4-3 thriller against Bethlehem Steel FC on April 6.

OPPONENT

Sat., March 9 Sat., March 23 Sat,. April 6 Mon., April 15 Sat., April 20 Sat., April 27 Mon., May 6 Sat., May 11 Sun., May 19 Wed., May 22 Sat., May 25 Wed., June 5 Sat., June 8 Sat., June 15 Sat., June 22 Sun., June 30 Sun., July 7 Wed., July 17 Sat., July 20 Sat., July 27 Sat., Aug. 3 Sat., Aug. 10 Fri., Aug. 16 Sat., Aug. 24 Sun., Sept. 1 Sat., Sept. 7 Sat., Sept. 14 Sat., Sept. 21 Wed., Sept. 25 Mon., Sept. 30 Sat., Oct. 5 Tue., Oct. 8 Sat., Oct. 12 Sat., Oct. 19

TIME (CT)

at New York Red Bulls II 12:00 PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS FC 4:00 BETHLEHEM STEEL FC 4:00 INDY ELEVEN 7:00 at Birmingham Legion FC 4:00 at Saint Louis FC 7:30 LOUISVILLE CITY FC 7:00 at Nashville SC 7:00 ATLANTA UNITED 2 4:00 MEMPHIS 901 FC 7:00 at Tampa Bay Rowdies 6:30 LOUDOUN UNITED FC 7:00 CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE 4:00 at North Carolina FC 6:00 at Charleston Battery 6:30 SAINT LOUIS FC 4:00 TAMPA BAY ROWDIES 4:00 HARTFORD ATHLETIC 7:00 at Ottawa Fury FC 6:00 CHARLESTON BATTERY 7:00 NASHVILLE SC 7:00 at Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC 6:00 at Atlanta United 2 6:30 NEW YORK RED BULLS II 7:00 at Bethlehem Steel FC 5:00 at Memphis 901 FC 7:00 NORTH CAROLINA FC 4:00 at Charlotte Independence 6:00 at Loudoun United FC 6:30 BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC 7:00 at Hartford Athletic 6:00 OTTAWA FURY FC 7:00 at Louisville City FC 6:00 at Indy Eleven 6:00

SPR INJURY REPORT

RESULT

L 1-3 T 2-2 L 3-4 L 1-3

as of 4/18/19 OUT: D Justin Bilyeu (concussion) OUT: M Camilo Benitez (left hip) OUT: GK Brooks Thompson (back) QUESTIONABLE: F Wilson Harris (right shoulder) QUESTIONABLE: F Ethan Vanacore-Decker (left knee)

Under the guidance of head coahc Tom Soehn, Legion FC have claimed two straight 3-2 road victories in thrilling fashion. Birmingham most recently prevailed at Saint Louis FC on Saturday, receiving a first-half goal from Mathieu Laurent and a second-half brace from J.J. Williams.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers Last Time Out

SPR All-time Records

The Swope Park Rangers suffered a 3-1 defeat to visiting Indy Eleven on Monday night at Children’s Mercy Park. SPR fell behind in just the second minute as Camden Riley’s back pass to Eric Dick was picked off by former SPR forward Dane Kelly, who rounded Dick and slotted into an empty net. Thomas Enevoldsen doubled Indy Eleven’s lead in the sixth minute, tapping home Kelly’s knockdown from a seemingly offside position.

The Rangers pulled within one in the 26th minute as left back Alexsander shimmied away from his marker before driving a full 50 yards with the ball. As he approached the penalty area, Alexsander slipped a perfectly weighted through ball to Wilson Harris, who finished with aplomb for his first goal of the season.

Indy extended their lead when Kelly notched his second of the night with an expertly-taken finish into the top corner from just inside the area to make the score 3-1 in the 52nd minute.

Leaders & Superlatives SPR All-Time Goal Leaders 1. Kharlton Belmar (25) 2. Hadji Barry (19) 3. Mark-Anthony Gonzalez (17)

2019 Record All-Time Record

Overall 0-3-1 48-35-24

Home 0-2-1 32-12-10

Away 0-1-0 16-23-14

2019 Scoring First All-Time Scoring First 2019 Conceding First All-Time Conceding First

0-1-0 38-6-11 0-2-1 10-29-8

0-1-0 24-4-4 0-1-1 8-8-4

0-0-0 14-2-7 0-1-0 2-21-4

2019 Leading at Half All-Time Leading at Half 2019 Trailing at Half All-Time Trailing at Half 2019 Tied at Half All-Time Tied at Half

0-1-0 28-2-6 0-1-0 4-23-2 0-1-1 16-10-16

0-1-0 19-1-4 0-1-0 3-7-1 0-0-1 10-4-5

0-0-0 9-1-2 0-0-0 1-16-1 0-1-0 6-6-11

2019 Leading at 75’ All-Time Leading at 75’ 2019 Trailing at 75’ All-Time Trailing at 75’ 2019 Tied at 75’ All-Time Tied at 75’

0-1-0 42-1-4 0-2-1 0-29-4 0-0-0 6-5-16

0-1-0 28-1-2 0-1-1 0-10-2 0-0-0 4-1-6

0-0-0 14-0-2 0-1-0 0-19-2 0-0-0 2-4-10

NAGAMURA REFLECTS

SPR All-Time Assist Leaders 1. Kharlton Belmar (9) Kevin Oliveira (9) 3. Christian Duke (8) Felipe Hernandez (8) Colton Storm (8) 6. Ayerton (7) Tyler Pasher (7)

POSTGAME QUOTES FROM RANGERS HEAD COACH PAULO NAGAMURA FOLLOWING MONDAY’S LOSS TO INDY ELEVEN:

Worst loss: 5-1 at New York (10/24/2016) 4-0 vs Orange County SC (7/18/18)

“If you put yourself down five minutes into the game against a good team, it’s really difficult to turn that around. I thought after the first 10 minutes, we started playing, we started being more aggressive defensively, smart with the ball, playing one-two touches, and we were able to create a lot of good moments around their goal. We score a good goal with Wilson (Harris), and we were back in the game but again, in the second half, we knew that they were going to let us have a little bit of the ball and they were going to look to counter and that’s what they did with the third goal. They counter, maybe we could clear the ball a little better on the top of the box there and they scored the third. It’s an uphill battle, like I said, against a good team that has a lot of experience, a lot of guys with MLS experience.

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 SPR player: 2 (12 times)

“Overall, if you take those mistakes that cost us goals, I think it was a good match. It was difficult in the second half that they were getting in a low block and defending well which made it more difficult for us, but there were good signs, there were mistakes that cost us goals, and that’s what happens when you play against good teams.”

Biggest win: 5-1 vs LA Galaxy II (10/14/18) 4-0 (two times)

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2019 ROSTER ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. 60 95 98 92 77 42 53 64 96 85 59 80 47 49 39 79 45 48 44 43 31 67 91

Player Mohammed Abualnadi Rassambek Akhmatov Ayyoub Allach Alexsander Camilo Benitez Justin Bilyeu Killian Colombie Jake Davis Wilson Harris Felipe Hernandez Dylan Hooper Sean Karani Tucker Lepley Will Little Jerome Ngom Mbekeli William Opoku Mensah John Pulskamp Kaveh Rad Camden Riley Mark Segbers Brooks Thompson Max Trejo Ethan Vanacore-Decker

Pos. D M M D/M M D F M F M D F M M M F GK D D/M D GK GK F

Ht. 6-1 5-7 5-11 5-7 5-7 6-1 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-7 6-0 5-8 5-4 5-7 5-9 5-8 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-9 6-3 6-1 5-11

Wt. 165 150 145 135 150 175 155 150 165 135 175 155 125 135 155 165 190 160 175 160 170 155 165

Birthdate (age) 02/08/2001 (18) 05/31/1996 (22) 01/28/1998 (21) 09/06/1998 (20) 08/16/1999 (19) 02/03/1994 (25) 11/02/1995 (23) 01/03/2002 (17) 11/28/1999 (19) 06/08/1998 (20) 11/13/2003 (15) 12/14/2000 (18) 01/17/2002 (17) 04/09/1998 (20) 09/30/1998 (20) 01/03/1996 (23) 04/19/2001 (17) 06/13/2001 (17) 08/20/1996 (22) 04/18/1996 (22) 06/13/2002 (16) 04/10/2002 (16) 10/06/1994 (24)

Hometown Leawood, KS Strasbourg, France Mechelen, Belgium Uberlandia, Brazil Ibarra, Ecuador St. Louis, MO Paris, France Rochester, MI Los Angeles, CA Nashville, TN Shawnee, KS Wichita, KS Charlotte, NC Johnson City, TN Cameroon Sekondi, Ghana Bakersfield, CA Durham, NC Dallas, TX St. Louis, MO Floyds Knobs, IN Lawrence, KS Manahawkin, NJ

College -----Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Iona University -----------University of the Pacific University of Wisconsin --Rutgers University

NUMERICAL ROSTER WITH PRONUNCIATION No. 31 39 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 53 60 64 67 77 79 80 85 91 92 95 96 98

Player Brooks Thompson Jerome Ngom Mbekeli Justin Bilyeu Mark Segbers Camden Riley John Pulskamp Tucker Lepley Kaveh Rad Will Little Dylan Hooper Killian Colombie Mohammed Abualnadi Jake Davis Max Trejo Camilo Benitez William Opoku Mensah Sean Karani Felipe Hernandez Ethan Vanacore-Decker Alexsander Rassambek Akhmatov Wilson Harris Ayyoub Allach

Pos. Pronunciation GK -- M EN-gahm EM-buh-KAY-lee D BILL-you D -- D/M -- GK M D KAH-vay M -- D F coh-LOHM-bee D AH-boo-ahl-NAH-dee M GK TRAY-ho M -- F uh-POE-koo MEN-suh F kuh-RAH-nee M -- F -- D/M -- M RAH-sahm-beck AHK-mah-tov F -- M EYE-oob AH-lahck

Birthplace Jefferson, IN Cameroon St. Louis, MO St. Louis, MO Dallas, TX Bakersfield, CA Charlotte, NC Chapel Hill, NC Johnson City, TN Overland Park, KS Paris, France Overland Park, KS Rochester, MI Mexico City, Mexico Ibarra, Ecuador Sekondi, Ghana Wichita, KS Ibague, Colombia Boca Raton, FL Uberlandia, Brazil Atchkhoi-Martan, Chechnya Los Angeles, CA Mechelen, Belgium

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Last Club Sporting KC Academy MFK Vyskov (Czech Republic) Rio Grande Valley FC (USL Championship) New England Revolution (MLS) -LA Galaxy Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Albion Hurricanes FC Royals (USL League Two) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Karela United (Ghana) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy North County United (USL League Two) Athletico Paranaense (Brazil) FC Miami City (USL League Two) Sporting KC Academy Lierse SK (Belgium)

Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2019 PLAYER STATS Player Mohammed Abualnadi Rassambek Akhmatov Ayyoub Allach Alexsander Camilo Benitez Justin Bilyeu Gianluca Busio * Killian Colombie Jake Davis Eric Dick * Tyler Freeman * Wilson Harris Felipe Hernandez Dylan Hooper Sean Karani Tucker Lepley Jaylin Lindsey * Will Little Jerome Ngom Mbekeli William Opoku Mensah John Pulskamp Kaveh Rad Camden Riley Kelyn Rowe * Mark Segbers Graham Smith * Brooks Thompson Max Trejo Ethan Vanacore-Decker Rodney Wallace * Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal * Gedion Zelalem * Adrian Zendejas *

GP 1 0 3 3 0 1 1 4 1 2 2 4 3 0 1 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 2 1 4 4 0 1 3 1 4 2 1

GS 1 0 2 3 0 1 1 2 1 2 2 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 2 1 3 4 0 1 1 1 2 2 1

MIN 89 0 192 253 0 90 90 193 60 180 135 200 270 0 45 0 90 32 360 0 0 0 180 90 287 360 0 90 115 90 229 149 90

GLS AST * Sporting KC loanee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2019 GOALKEEPER STATS Player Eric Dick * John Pulskamp Brooks Thompson Max Trejo Adrian Zendejas *

GP GS MIN 2 2 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 90 1 1 90

GA GAA SO SV W-L-T 6 3.00 0 17 0-2-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 * Sporting KC loanee 4 4.00 0 5 0-1-0 2 2.00 0 2 0-0-1

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

SWOPE PARK RANGERS 2019 LINEUPS at New York Red Bulls II Saturday, March 9, 2019

PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS SC Saturday, March 23, 2019

BETHLEHEM STEEL FC Saturday, April 6, 2019

GK Eric Dick

GK Adrian Zendejas

GK Max Trejo

RB Jaylin Lindsey CB Graham Smith (C) CB Justin Bilyeu LB Alexsander (Mark Segbers 73’)

RB Mark Segbers CB Graham Smith CB Mo Abualnadi LB Rodney Wallace

RB Mark Segbers CB Graham Smith (C) CB Camden Riley LB Alexsander

CDM Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal RCM Felipe Hernandez LCM Ayyoub Allach

CDM Gedion Zelalem (Wan Kuzain 59’) RCM Kelyn Rowe (C) LCM Gianluca Busio

CDM Ayyoub Allach RCM Felipe Hernandez LCM Jake Davis (Wan Kuzain 60’)

RF Jerome Ngom Mbekeli CF Wilson Harris (Ethan Vanacore-Decker 67’) LF Tyler Freeman (Killian Colombie 67’)

RF Jerome Ngom Mbekeli CF Wilson Harris (Ethan Vanacore-Decker 75’) LF Tyler Freeman (Killian Colombie 68’)

RF Jerome Ngom Mbekeli CF Ethan Vanacore-Decker (Wilson Harris 77’) LF Killian Colombie (Will Little 80’)

INDY ELEVEN Monday, April 15, 2019 GK Eric Dick RB Mark Segbers CB Graham Smith (C) CB Camden Riley LB Alexsander CDM Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal (Ayyoub Allach 78’) RCM Felipe Hernandez LCM Gedion Zelalem RF Jerome Ngom Mbekeli CF Wilson Harris (Sean Karani 45) LF Killian Colombie (Will Little 68)

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

HEAD COACH PAULO NAGAMURA Paulo Nagamura is in his second season as head coach of the Rangers, having served as the assistant coach in the club’s run to the USL Cup Final in 2017 before taking the helm for a 2018 campaign that ended with a loss to Phoenix Rising FC in the Western Conference Semifinals. Nagamura, 36, 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. After two years in LA, Nagamura continued his MLS journey with Toronto FC (2007) and Chivas USA (2007-2011), becoming an MLS All-Star in 2009. Nagamura and his wife Monique have two children, Alice and Clara.

ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS MARTINEZ Assistant coach Chris Martinez is in his second season with the Rangers after joining the club from the Colorado Rapids, where he served as their Development Academy Program Director. Martinez, 48, also coached the Rapids Under-18 and Under-19 squads, as well as their USL Premier Development League U-23 side. He also has experience coaching with the U.S. Under-15 National Team and as the Director of Player Development at U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Real Colorado. The former MLS defender enjoyed a stellar playing career for the Colorado Rapids, making 119 appearances in five seasons of MLS play. Martinez played collegiate soccer at Clemson from 1989-1992 before joining American Professional Soccer League side the Colorado Foxes in 1993, winning the APSL title in his first season. Martinez then joined the Wichita Wings, who played in the National Professional Soccer League, and was named to the NPSL All-Rookie team in 1994.

GOALKEEPER COACH ROSS CAIN Cain, 35, enjoyed a four-year collegiate career as a goalkeeper at the University of Illinois-Chicago from 2002-2005 before joining the program’s staff as an assistant and director of soccer operations for four seasons. He returned to UIC as a goalkeeper coach for three seasons from 2015-2017. Prior to arriving to Kansas City, he served as the goalkeeper coach at Northern Illinois University in 2018.

Away from the college game, Cain was a staff coach at youth club Chicago United FC from 2006-2010 and launched the Chicago Goalkeeping Academy in 2010. As the academy’s owner and operator, he trained several professional goalkeepers including Real Salt Lake’s Andrew Putna, Chicago Fire duo Stefan Cleveland and Richard Sanchez, Charlie Lyon, Mitch Hildebrandt, Tim Dobrowolski and former SPR keeper Zac Lubin.

TECHNICAL STAFF Sporting Director: Peter Vermes Fitness Coach: Mike Steidle Technical Director / VP of Player Personnel: Brian Bliss Head Trainer: Jake Brownback

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Equipment Manager: Andy Garay Team Administrator: Wan Kuzac Wan Kamal

Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

MOHAMMED ABUALNADI

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RASSAMBEK AKHMATOV

POSITION: Defender BORN: 02/09/2001 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 165 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Leawood, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

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PRONUNCIATION: RAH-sahm-beck AHK-mah-tov POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 05/31/1996 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 150 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Strasbourg, France BIRTHPLACE: Atchkoi-Martan, Chechnya COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: FC Miami City

2019: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers after starring for the Sporting KC Academy. Debuted for the Jordan U-19 Men’s National Team in January.

2018: Started 10 of 13 appearances for the Rangers, tallying two assists.

2017-18: Competed for French club ASP Vauban Strasbourg, also featuring for FC Miami City in USL Leage Two during the 2017 and 2018 summers.

2017-19: Has featured regularly for the Sporting KC U-17s and U-19s.

2015-16: Competed for French club Obernai.

AYYOUB ALLACH

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ALEXSANDER 92

PRONUNCIATION: EYE-oob AH-lahck POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/28/1998 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 145 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Mechelen, Belgium BIRTHPLACE: Mechelen, Belgium COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Lierse SK (Belgium)

POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 09/06/1998 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Uberlandia, Brazil BIRTHPLACE: Uberlandia, Brazil COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Athletico Paranaense (Brazil)

2014-18: Made 56 appearances for Lierse SK in all competitions, tallying two goals and three assists from midfield. Debuted for the club in 2014 at age 16.

2016-18: Spent three years with Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense, rising through the youth ranks and representing the club at the U-20 and U-23 level in 2018. Prior to joining Athletico Paranaense, he played for Esporte Clube Jacuipense in 2016.

2013: Joined the Lierse SK U-19s from JMG Academie in Belgium.

2014-16: Had two separate spells at Salvador Futebol Clube from 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, having also represented Cruzeiro Esporte Clube for a brief stint in 2015.

International: Has represented Morocco at the U-20 level, making his debut in 2015 at the age of 17.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

JUSTIN BILYEU 42

CAMILO BENITEZ 77

PRONUNCIATION: BILL-you POSITION: Defender BORN: 02/03/1994 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: St. Louis, MO BIRTHPLACE: St. Louis, MO COLLEGE: S­­ IU-Edwardsville LAST CLUB: Rio Grande Valley FC

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 08/16/1999 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 150 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Ibarra, Ecuador BIRTHPLACE: Ibarra, Ecuador COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2018: Started 10 of 12 appearances for the Rangers, adding one assist.

2018: Made eight appearances in his first professional season with the Rangers, having developed in the Sporting KC Academy since 2014.

2017: Began the season with the New York Red Bulls before joining Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship.

2014-17: Competed for the Sporting KC Academy at the U-16 and U-18 levels.

2016: Spent his rookie season with the New York Red Bulls and spent the majority of the campaign on loan with New York Red Bulls II, where he was crowned a USL Cup champion.

College: Played collegiate soccer at SIU Edwardsville from 2012-2015, appearing in 59 games for the Cougars with five goals and seven assists.

KILLIAN COLOMBIE

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JAKE DAVIS 64

PRONUNCIATION: coh-LOHM-bee POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/02/1995 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Paris, France BIRTHPLACE: Paris, France COLLEGE: I­­ ona University LAST CLUB: Albion Hurricanes FC Royals

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/03/2002 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 150 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Rochester, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, MI COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

College: Spent four years at Iona College in New York, tallying 15 goals and six assists in 72 appearances for the Gaels from 2015-2018, also featuring for Texas-based Albion Hurricanes FC Royals in USL League Two in 2018.

2019: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers after starring for the Sporting KC Academy.

2017-19: Has featured regularly for the Sporting KC U-17s, developing the reputation as a set piece specialist and a dynamic midfield player.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

WILSON HARRIS 96

FELIPE HERNANDEZ

POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/28/1999 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

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POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/08/1998 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN BIRTHPLACE: Ibague, Colombia COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2018: Scored three goals in 15 appearances throughout his first professional season with the Rangers, having developed in the Sporting KC Academy since 2017.

2018: Started 31 of 34 appearances for the Rangers, recording three goals and four assists.

2017: Recorded two goals and three assists in his first full professional season for the Rangers.

2016: Joined the Rangers as an Academy signing, having developed in the Sporting KC Academy since joining in 2014.

DYLAN HOOPER 59

SEAN KARANI 80

POSITION: Defender BORN: 11/13/2003 (15 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Shawnee, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

POSITION: Forward BORN: 12/14/2000 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Wichita, KS BIRTHPLACE: Wichita, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2019: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers.

2019: Signed his second Academy contract with the Rangers.

2017-19: Has started regularly for the Sporting KC U-17s since 2018, following a strong debut campaign where he played in 24 matches for the U-15s in 2017-18.

2018: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers and made four USL Championship appearances, recording one assist.

2014-19: Has competed in the Sporting KC Academy at the U-16 through U-19 levels, scoring more than 20 goals.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

TUCKER LEPLEY 47

WILL LITTLE 49

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/17/2002 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-4 WEIGHT: 125 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC BIRTHPLACE: Charlotte, NC COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 04/09/1998 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Johnson City, TN BIRTHPLACE: Johnson City, TN COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2019: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers.

2018: Started one of six appearances for the Rangers.

2018-19: Has been a part of the Sporting KC Academy setup since 2018, starting regularly for the U-17s.

2017: Signed his first professional contract for the Rangers but made no appearances for the club.

2016: Made eight substitute appearances for the Rangers.

2015-16: Developed as a youth in the Sporting KC Academy.

JEROME NGOM MBEKELI

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WILLIAM OPOKU MENSAH

PRONUNCIATION: EN-gahmEM-buh-KAY-lee POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 09/30/1998 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Cameroon BIRTHPLACE: Cameroon COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: MFK Vyskov (Czech Republic)

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POSITION: Forward BORN: 01/03/1996 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 165 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Sekondi, Ghana BIRTHPLACE: Sekondi, Ghana COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Karela United (Ghana)

2018: Played for MFK Vyskov in the Czech Republic before joining the Rangers on a year-long loan for 2019.

2015-18: Featured regularly for Ghanaian club Karela United, notably scoring seven goals in 11 matches as captain in 2018. After joining the side from youth club Sekondi Eleven Wise in 2015, he helped Karela gain promotion to the Ghanaian Premier League in 2017.

2016-17: Competed in his native Cameroon with Apejes FC de Mfou in the country’s top-flight division, MTN Elite One.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

JOHN PULSKAMP 45

KAVEH RAD 48

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/19/2001 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 190 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, CA BIRTHPLACE: Bakersfield, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: LA Galaxy Academy

POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/13/2001 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-1 WEIGHT: 160 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Durham, NC BIRTHPLACE: Chapel Hill, NC COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2019: Signed his first professional contract with the Rangers.

2019: Signed his second academy contract with the Rangers.

2017-19: Spent the two Development Academy seasons with the LA Galaxy Academy, making 23 appearances between their U-17 and U-19 sides.

2018: Signed his first academy contract with the Rangers but did not make a USL Championship appearance.

2016-19: Has made over 60 appearances split between the Sporting KC Academy U-15s, U-17s and U-19s.

2015-17: Represented California-based Academies Real So Cal and Central California Aztecs.

CAMDEN RILEY 44

MARK SEGBERS 43

POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 08/20/1996 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Dallas, TX COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of the Pacific LAST CLUB: N/A

POSITION: Defender BORN: 04/18/1996 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 160 lbs.

HOMETOWN: St. Louis, MO BIRTHPLACE: St. Louis, MO COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of Wisconsin LAST CLUB: New England Revolution

2019: Signed his first professional contract with the Swope Park Rangers after being selected in the second round of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City.

2018: Was selected by the New England Revolution in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and made one appearance for the club. Spent the majority of his rookie season on loan to USL Championship side Orange County SC, recording two goals and four assists in 19 matches.

College: Sarted 57 of 66 appearances for the University of the Pacific, recording 19 goals and 10 assists from 2015-2018 as the program’s all-time leading scorer.

College: Was a four-year starter at Wisconsin, tallying 16 goals and 22 assists in 77 appearances from 2014-2017.

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Swope Park Rangers www.SportingKC.com/Rangers

BROOKS THOMPSON

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MAX TREJO 67

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 06/13/2002 (16 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 170 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Floyds Knobs, IN BIRTHPLACE: Jefferson, IN COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/10/2002 (16 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Lawrence, KS BIRTHPLACE: Mexico City, Mexico COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy

2019: Signed his first professional contract with the Swope Park Rangers, becoming the youngest signing in club history at the age of 16.

2019: Signed an Academy contract with the Rangers.

2016-19: Has played more than 50 matches for the Sporting KC Academy, rising from the U-15 to the U-19 levels.

2018-19: Starred for the Sporting KC Academy, featuring at the U-17 and U-19 levels in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

2016-18: Played for IMG Academy in Florida, featuring at the U-14 and U-17 levels.

ETHAN VANACORE-DECKER

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POSITION: Forward BORN: 10/06/94 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Manahawkin, NJ BIRTHPLACE: Boca Raton, FL COLLEGE: R­­ utgers University LAST CLUB: North County United

2018: Recorded one goal in five appearances for the Rangers.

2016-18: Featured for South Florida Surf (2016-17) and North County United (2018) in USL League Two. College: Competed at UConn (2013-14), Louisville (2015) and Rutgers (2016-17) after developing in the New York Red Bulls Academy.

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