Match Notes: Sporting II vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | May 14, 2021

Sporting KC II

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AWAY

2021 SKC II SCHEDULE DATE

2021 RECORD: 0-1-1

#SKCvCOS

MATCH: DATE:

2021 RECORD: 0-1-0

Sporting KC II vs. Switchbacks FC

Friday, May 14

KICKOFF:

7 p.m. CT

LOCATION:

Children’s Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)

WATCH:

ESPN Plus

MATCH PREVIEW Led by fourth-year head coach and former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Paulo Nagamura, Sporting Kansas City II (0-1-0, 0 points) will continue their 2021 USL Championship campaign on Friday when Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC travels east for a rare crossconference clash at world-class Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Sporting KC II secured their first result of the season last Friday, battling from behind to post a 1-1 home draw against regional rivals OKC Energy FC. After falling behind in the second half, the hosts drew level on a wellworked goal that saw Sporting KC Homegrown Player Tyler Freeman hammer high into the net off a clever cross from winger Enoch Mushagalusa. Nagamura’s starting XI featured nine Sporting Kansas City loanees and seven products from the Sporting KC Academy.

Sat, May 1 Fri, May 7 Fri, May 14 Wed, May 19 Sat, May 22 Sun, May 30 Wed, June 2 Wed, June 9 Wed, June 16 Sun, June 20 Wed, June 23 Sat, June 26 Fri, July 2 Sat, July 10 Sun, July 18 Sat, July 24 Wed, July 28 Sun, Aug. 1 Sat, Aug. 7 Wed, Aug. 11 Sat, Aug. 14 Sun, Aug. 22 Sun, Aug. 29 Sat, Sept. 4 Sat, Sept. 11 Fri, Sept. 24 Fri, Oct. 1 Wed, Oct. 6 Sat, Oct. 9 Wed, Oct. 13 Sun, Oct. 24 Sat, Oct. 30

OPPONENT

TIME (CT)

at FC Tulsa OKC ENERGY FC COLORADO SPRINGS at LA Galaxy II at Indy Eleven EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC FC TULSA at Atlanta United 2 at FC Tulsa INDY ELEVEN at OKC Energy FC at Memphis 901 FC LOUISVILLE CITY FC at Atlanta United 2 BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC at OKC Energy FC LOUISVILLE CITY FC MEMPHIS 901 FC at Louisville City FC at Birmingham Legion FC ATLANTA UNITED 2 INDY ELEVEN MEMPHIS 901 FC OKC ENERGY FC at Indy Eleven FC TULSA BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC at Memphis 901 FC at Louisville City FC ATLANTA UNITED 2 at Birmingham Legion FC at Oakland Roots SC

7:00 7:00 7:00 9:30 6:00 4:00 7:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 7:30 7:30 7:00 6:30 4:00 7:30 7:00 4:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 4:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:30 7:00 4:00 7:30

RESULT

L 0-2 T 1-1

SKC II INJURY REPORT

Under the guidance of head coach Brendan Burke, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC suffered a 3-0 road loss in their 2021 season opener last Saturday at the hands of San Antonio FC. Sporting KC II owns a 4-0-1 all-time record against Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship, however the sides have not met since the 2018 season.

SKC II and Switchbacks FC played to a 1-1 draw in their inaugural meeting in 2016, then SKC II went on to claim two-game sweeps in 2017 and 2018, including a pair of one-goal home wins.

OUT: GK Remi Prieur (L knee) D Travian Sousa (R hamstring)

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as of 5/12/21

Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII Last Time Out

SKC II All-time Records

Sporting Kansas City II (0-1-1, 1 point) battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw with OKC Energy FC (0-2-1, 1 point) last Friday at Children’s Mercy Park. In a physical and chippy game that saw eight cards handed out, Sporting II salvaged a point when Tyler Freeman’s late strike cancelled out Frank Lopez’s opener.

Sporting KC II started the game with seven SKC Academy products on the field: right back Kayden Pierre, midfielders Jahon Rad, Cam Duke and Ozzie Cisneros and forwards Grayson Barber, Wilson Harris and Tyler Freeman. In addition, Sporting II started with nine loanees from the first team, as goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and defenders Graham Smith and Amadou Dia saw their first action of 2021, joining Pierre, Duke, Cisneros, Barber, Harris and Freeman as first-team players in the lineup.

Sporting KC II started brightly but it was visiting OKC Energy FC that threatened first, as McIntosh dove to his right to push away Robert Coronado’s free kick in the 10th minute. Three minutes later, Cisneros produced some magical footwork in the midfield before freeing Freeman down the left wing who in turn found Harris at the far post, but the prolific striker’s effort was charged down. From the ensuing corner, Sporting II thought they’d taken the lead when center back Matt Constant rose above the crowd and sent a perfectly placed header toward the bottom corner, only for OKC goalkeeper C.J. Cochran to dive to his left and palm the ball away to safety. After a stoppage in the middle of the half as McIntosh received treatment after catching a boot to the head, Freeman curled a free kick that had Cochran worried again and the veteran stopper was forced to parry the attempt away for a corner.

2021 Record All-Time Record

Overall 0-1-1 61-63-33

Home 0-0-1 41-18-15

Away 0-1-0 21-45-18

2021 Scoring First All-Time Scoring First 2021 Conceding First All-Time Conceding First

0-0-0 52-10-13 0-1-1 10-53-12

0-0-0 33-5-5 0-0-1 8-13-6

0-0-0 19-5-8 0-1-0 2-40-6

2021 Leading at Half All-Time Leading at Half 2021 Trailing at Half All-Time Trailing at Half 2021 Tied at Half All-Time Tied at Half

0-0-0 36-2-7 0-1-0 4-40-2 0-0-1 22-21-24

0-0-0 25-1-5 0-0-0 3-11-1 0-0-1 13-6-9

0-0-0 11-1-2 0-1-0 1-29-1 0-0-0 9-15-15

2021 Leading at 75’ All-Time Leading at 75’ 2021 Trailing at 75’ All-Time Trailing at 75’ 2021 Tied at 75’ All-Time Tied at 75’

0-0-0 52-1-5 0-1-1 0-54-7 0-0-0 10-8-21

0-0-0 35-1-2 0-0-1 0-14-3 0-0-0 6-3-10

0-0-0 17-0-3 0-1-0 0-40-4 0-0-0 4-5-11

SKC II Year-by-Year SEASON RECORD PLAYOFFS 2016 14-10-6 Lost in Championship Final 2017 17-8-7 Lost in Championship Final 2018 15-11-8 Lost in Conference Semis 2019 6-20-8 DNQ 2020 5-10-1 DNQ

Freeman again tested Cochran early in the second half with another free kick after Barber had done extremely well to pinch the ball back and earn a free kick on the edge of the area. Sporting II made two double changes in the 61st and 68th minutes, allowing first-team players Duke, Harris, Pierre and Barber to exit the game with Jake Davis, Enoch Mushagalusa, Michael Lenis and Rojay Smith replacing them.

For 17-year-old Lenis, it was his professional debut having signed an Academy contract with SKC II prior to last week’s opener in Tulsa. OKC made a change of their own in the midst of the Sporting II subs, with Frank Lopez coming on and the stocky striker immediately made an impact, running onto Villyan Bijev’s through ball in transition and firing a powerful low shot that snuck beneath McIntosh and into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead in the 70th minute.

With the game seemingly getting away from the young SKC II squad, substitute Mushagalusa pulled a rabbit from a hat when he received Graham Smith’s diagonal pass out of the back before eliminating Coronado with ease on the dribble and cutting a cross back to Freeman who slammed his finish into the roof of the net, making the score 1-1 in the 84th minute.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 ROSTER ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. Player 33 Danny Barbir 98 Matt Constant 39 Petar Cuic 46 Jake Davis 32 Christian Duke 50 Aljaz Dzankic 65 Dylan Hooper 55 Gavin Krenecki 88 Isaiah LeFlore 71 Michael Lenis 70 Ropapa Mensah 77 Enoch Mushagalusa 42 Remi Prieur 84 Jahon Rad 34 Dominik Resetar 44 Rojay Smith 45 Travian Sousa 43 Bailey Sparks 67 Max Trejo 56 Jayvin Van Deventer

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

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

Wt. 185 200 175 170 160 175 185 160 155 130 190 170 200 185 180 160 180 155 160 135

Birthdate (age) 01/31/1998 (23) 08/17/1998 (22) 06/02/1999 (21) 01/03/2002 (19) 06/05/1991 (29) 03/19/2002 (19) 11/13/2003 (17) 03/08/2003 (18) 12/11/2002 (18) 10/12/2003 (17) 08/20/1997 (23) 11/13/1999 (21) 04/17/1997 (24) 06/13/2001 (19) 05/27/2000 (20) 09/21/1996 (24) 09/19/2001 (19) 12/30/2002 (18) 04/10/2002 (19) 01/01/2004 (17)

NUMERICAL ROSTER WITH PRONUNCIATION No. Player Pos. Pronunciation 32 Christian Duke M CHRISTIAN DOOK 33 Danny Barbir D DANNY bar-BEER 34 Dominik Resetar F DOM-in-ick reh-seh-TAR 39 Petar Cuic D PEH-ter KOO-itch 42 Remi Prieur GK REH-mee PREE-eur 43 Bailey Sparks M BAY-lee SPARKS 44 Rojay Smith F ROW-jay SMITH 45 Travian Sousa D TRAY-vian SO-sah 46 Jake Davis M JAKE DAVIS 50 Aljaz Dzankic D ALL-yahz JANK-itch 55 Gavin Krenecki GK GAV-in kreh-NECK-ee 56 Jayvin Van Deventer M JAY-vin VAN duh-VENT-er 65 Dylan Hooper D DILL-en HOOPER 67 Max Trejo GK MAX TRAY-ho 70 Ropapa Mensah F row-PAPA MEN-sah 71 Michael Lenis D MICHAEL LEN-iss 77 Enoch Mushagalusa F EE-nock MOO-shah-gah-LOO-sah 84 Jahon Rad M jah-HON ROD 88 Isaiah LeFlore D leh-FLOOR 98 Matt Constant D MATT CON-stant

Hometown Allentown, PA Dallas, TX Zagreb, Croatia Rochester, MI Overland Park, KS Apace, Slovenia Shawnee, KS Fair Oaks, CA Minneapolis, MN Weston, FL Accra, Ghana Denver, CO San Ramon, CA Durham, NC Zabok, Croatia Portmore, Jamaica Modesto, CA Dallas, TX Lawrence, KS Lee’s Summit, MO

Birthplace Overland Park, KS Atlanta, GA Zabok, Croatia Zagreb, Croatia Modling, Austria Tampa, FL Portmore, Jamaica Lathrop, CA Rochester, MI Ptuj, Slovenia Sacramento, CA Tuscaloosa, AL Overland Park, KS Mexico City, Mexico Accra, Ghana Miami, FL Kinshasa, DR Congo Chapel Hill, NC Minneapolis, MN Dallas, TX

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College -University of North Carolina --University of San Diego ------ -Salt Lake Community College Saint Mary’s College --University of Tampa ----Last Club Orange County SC (USL Championship) Sandhausen II (Germany) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) --- -Hamburger SV (Germany) -NK Aluminij (Slovenia) --- --Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship) ------

Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC MLS LOANEES THE FOLLOWING 13 PLAYERS ARE UNDER MLS CONTRACT WITH SPORTING KANSAS CITY AND ELIGIBLE TO BE LOANED TO SPORTING KC II OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2021 USL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON ALPHABETICAL No. Player 19 Grayson Barber 25 Ozzie Cisneros 13 Amadou Dia 28 Cam Duke 23 Tyler Freeman 96 Wilson Harris 21 Felipe Hernandez 2 Jaylin Lindsey 22 Kendall McIntosh 24 Kayden Pierre 1 John Pulskamp 48 Kaveh Rad 16 Graham Smith 31 Brooks Thompson

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

NUMERICAL WITH PRONUNCIATION No. Player Pos. 1 John Pulskamp GK 2 Jaylin Lindsey D 13 Amadou Dia D 16 Graham Smith D 19 Grayson Barber F 21 Felipe Hernandez M 22 Kendall McIntosh GK 23 Tyler Freeman F 24 Kayden Pierre D 25 Ozzie Cisneros F 28 Cam Duke M 31 Brooks Thompson GK 48 Kahveh Rad D 96 Wilson Harris F

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

Wt. 170 130 155 135 165 175 145 180 185 140 215 165 190 185

Birthdate (age) 05/03/2000 (21) 03/13/2004 (17) 06/08/1993 (27) 02/13/2001 (20) 01/09/2003 (18) 11/28/1999 (21) 06/08/1998 (22) 03/27/2000 (21) 01/24/1994 (27) 02/16/2003 (18) 04/19/2001 (20) 06/13/2001 (19) 11/25/1995 (25) 05/28/2002 (18)

Pronunciation JOHN PULL-skamp JAY-lin LIN-zee AH-mah-doo DEE-ah GRAM SMITH GRAY-cin BAR-ber feh-LEE-pay her-NAN-dez KEN-dull MACK-in-tosh TYLER FREEMAN KAY-den pee-AIR OZZY siss-NAIR-os CAM DOOK BROOKS TOM-son KAH-vay ROD WILSON HARRIS

Hometown Elgin, SC Omaha, NE Highlands Ranch, CO Overland Park, KS Shawnee, KS Los Angeles, CA Nashville, TN Charlotte, NC Santa Rosa, CA Bloomfield Hills, MI Bakersfield, CA Durham, NC Highlands Ranch, CO Floyds Knobs, IN

Birthplace Bakersfield, CA Charlotte, NC Nantes, France Highlands Ranch, CO Columbia, SC Ibague, Colombia Oakland, CA Overland Park, KS Rochester Hills, MI Omaha, NE Overland Park, KS Jeffersonville, IN Chapel Hill, NC Los Angeles, CA

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College Clemson University -Clemson University -----Santa Clara University ---University of Denver --

Last Club -- -Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) ---New York Red Bulls (MLS) ------ ---

Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 PLAYER STATS Player Danny Barbir Matt Constant Petar Cuic Jake Davis Christian Duke Aljaz Dzankic Dylan Hooper Gavin Krenecki Isaiah LeFlore Michael Lenis Ropapa Mensah Enoch Mushagalusa Remi Prieur Jahon Rad Dominik Resetar Rojay Smith Travian Sousa Bailey Sparks Max Trejo Jayvin Van Deventer

GP 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1

GS 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

MIN 90 180 29 119 103 0 0 90 0 22 0 58 0 77 76 36 0 0 0 61

GLS AST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

SPORTING KC LOANEES Player Grayson Barber Ozzie Cisneros Amadou Dia Cam Duke Tyler Freeman Wilson Harris Felipe Hernandez Jaylin Lindsey Kendall McIntosh Kayden Pierre John Pulskamp Kaveh Rad Graham Smith Brooks Thompson

GP 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0

GS 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0

MIN 158 151 90 61 180 61 0 0 90 158 0 0 90 0

GLS AST 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 GOALKEEPER STATS Player Gavin Krenecki Remi Prieur Max Trejo

GP GS MIN 1 1 90 0 0 0 0 0 0

SPORTING KC LOANEES Player GP GS MIN Kendall McIntosh 1 1 90 John Pulskamp 0 0 0 Brooks Thompson 0 0 0

GA GAA SO SV W-L-T 2 2.00 0 3 0-1-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 * Sporting KC loanee GA GAA SO SV W-L-T 1 1.00 0 4 0-0-1 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0 0 0.00 0 0 0-0-0

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2021 LINEUPS at FC Tulsa (L 0-2) Saturday, May 1

OKC ENERGY FC (T 1-1) Friday, May 7

GK

Gavin Krenecki

GK

Kendall McIntosh (C)

RB CB CB LB

Kayden Pierre Matt Constant Danny Barbir Christian Duke (C)

RB CB CB LB

Kayden Pierre (Michael Lenis 68’) Matt Constant Graham Smith Amadou Dia

CDM Jayvin Van Deventer (Petar Cuic 61’) RCM Ozzie Cisneros (Enoch Mushagalusa 61’) LCM Jake Davis

CDM Jahon Rad (Christian Duke 77’) RCM Cam Duke (Jake Davis 61’) LCM Ozzie Cisneros

RF CF LF

RF CF LF

Grayson Barber Dominik Resetar (Rojay Smith 76’) Tyler Freeman

Grayson Barber (Rojay Smith 68’) Wilson Harris (Enoch Mushagalusa 61’) Tyler Freeman

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII HEAD COACH PAULO NAGAMURA Paulo Nagamura is in his fourth season as head coach of Sporting KC II, 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, 38, 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 fourth season with Sporting KC II after joining the club from the Colorado Rapids, where he served as their Development Academy Program Director. Martinez, 50, 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 DARRIN MACLEOD Darrin MacLeod, 27, was named Sporting Kansas City II goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. MacLeod, who played for Sporting II from 2017-2018, has been coaching goalkeepers in the Sporting KC Academy since January 2020 and completed his C-License through the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education program earlier this year. During his playing career, MacLeod made 10 appearances with Sporting II across two seasons in 2017 and 2018. He posted two clean sheets on his way to recording a 4-3-3 record. MacLeod’s most notable performance with Sporting II came in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, where he saved one penalty as SKC II defeated Phoenix Rising FC 4-2 on penalty kicks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. After departing Kansas City, MacLeod linked up with North Carolina FC in the USL Championship for the 2019 campaign, playing seven games and recording three shutouts.

MacLeod announced his retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2019 season.

SPORTING KC II TECHNICAL STAFF Sporting Director: Peter Vermes Fitness Coach: Mike Steidle Technical Director / VP of Player Personnel: Brian Bliss Head Trainer: Isaac Gomez

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

Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII DANNY BARBIR 33

MATT CONSTANT 98

PRONUNCIATION: bar-BEER POSITION: Defender BORN: 01/31/1998 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Allentown, PA BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta, GA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Sandhausen II (Germany)

POSITION: Defender BORN: 08/17/1998 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-6 WEIGHT: 200 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Dallas, TX COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of North Carolina LAST CLUB: None

Now in his second SKC II season, Barbir previously suited up for German side Sandhausen II while on loan from Romanian outfit Astra Giurgiu.

He made 12 appearances for the club in the 2018-19 season, helping the side to a second-place finish in the Verbandsliga. He joined Astra Giurgiu in Romania in early 2018, but did not appear for the side. Barbir joined Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in late 2017, making three appearances prior to the end of the regular season. He has represented the U.S. at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, competing at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile. Barbir spent most of his youth career in England, first with Manchester City before joining West Brom in 2014.

Constant was selected by Sporting Kansas City in the second round (50th overall) of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He spent preseason camp with the first team in Arizona before signing with Sporting II ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. Constant spent his junior and senior seasons at the University of North Carolina. He started 11 of 12 appearances as a junior in 2019 before starting in all seven matches in a shortened season in 2020. A native of Dallas, he spent his first two collegiate seasons at the University of New Mexico. Constant was part of the United States U-17 Residency program in Bradenton, Florida, in 2015 before representing the Canada U-20s in 2016 and 2017.

PETAR CUIC 39

JAKE DAVIS 46

PRONUNCIATION: PEH-ter KOO-itch POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/02/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Zagreb, Croatia BIRTHPLACE: Zagreb, Croatia COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Dynamo Zagreb II (Croatia)

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/03/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 170 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Rochester, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, MI COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

Now in his second season with Sporting KC II, Cuic joined Dinamo Zagreb’s youth academy in 2015 and rose through the ranks from the club’s U-15 squad to the reserve team by 2018. He made his debut in the Croatian second division with Dinamo Zagreb II in April 2018.

Cuic became a regular in the Dinamo Zagreb II lineup in the 2018-19 season, making 15 appearances before playing in a further 14 games in the 2019-20 season. Earlier in the year, Cuic helped Dinamo Zagreb U-23s advance to the Premier League International Cup final by beating Southampton 3-1 in the semifinal. Cuic has represented Croatia’s U-16 and U-19 National Teams.

Davis is originally from Michigan but moved to Kansas City to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2017 and lived with a host family through the club’s residency program. He made 54 appearances for the U-17 and U-19 squads over three seasons, tallying eight goals from central midfield. He spent much of the 2020 preseason with the Sporting Kansas City first team before signing his first professional contract with Sporting II before the restart of the season in July. He played in all 15 games after the restart, starting 14 and tallying one assist. His assist came in the only game he appeared as a sub, where he recorded the game-winning assist in a 2-1 road win over Louisville City FC on July 29.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII

CHRISTIAN DUKE

32

ALJAZ DZANKIC 50

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/05/1991 (29 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 160 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Overland Park, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of San Diego LAST CLUB: Orange County SC

PRONUNCIATION: ALL-yahz JANK-itch POSITION: Defender BORN: 03/19/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Apace, Slovenia BIRTHPLACE: Ptuj, Slovenia COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: NK Aluminij (Slovenia)

Duke began his professional career as a 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft pick for Sporting Kansas City. He spent most of the 2014 and 2015 campaigns on loan with USL Championship side OKC Energy FC. The versatile workhorse became Sporting Kansas City II’s captain for the club’s inaugural 2016 season and was an ever-present fixture in the side. Duke appeared in all 72 matches for Sporting KC II from 20162017, during which time the club won consecutive Western Conference titles and reached the USL Cup Final. He spent 2018 and 2019 with Orange County SC before returning to his hometown team ahead of the 2020 campaign.

Dzankic began his youth career with Slovenian outfit NK Maribor and rose to the U-19 level of Slovenia’s most successful club before joining Italian Serie A side Udinese in 2019. He made 16 appearances for Udinese Primavera, the club’s youth side, in the 2019-20 Primavera 2A season. Dzankic earned his start in the professional game in Slovenia with NK Aluminij in the PrvaLiga, the Slovenian top flight. He made his professional debut for Aluminij against his former youth club Maribor on Nov. 2, 2020 and went on to make three total appearances for the club’s first team during the remainder of 2020. He has represented Slovenia at the U-15 through U-19 levels.

DYLAN HOOPER 65

GAVIN KRENECKI 55

POSITION: Defender BORN: 11/13/2003 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Shawnee, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

PRONUNCIATION: kreh-NECK-ee POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 03/08/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 160 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Fair Oaks, CA BIRTHPLACE: Sacramento, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

Hooper has spent the last four seasons with the Sporting KC Academy playing primarily as a center back. The Shawnee, Kansas native has been a constant feature for the Sporting U-17s and U-19s over the past few seasons and previously signed an Academy contract with SKC II in 2019 but did not make an appearance in the USL Championship.

Krenecki has signed an Academy deal with Sporting II after spending all of preseason camp with the Sporting KC first team in Arizona during March and early April. The Fair Oaks, California native has been on an Academy contract with SKC II the past two seasons, making two appearances in 2020, including his professional debut away to Saint Louis FC on Aug. 15, 2020.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII ISAIAH LEFLORE 88

MICHAEL LENIS 71

POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/11/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, MN BIRTHPLACE: Minneapolis, MN COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Defender BORN: 10/12/2003 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 130 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Weston, FL BIRTHPLACE: Miami, FL COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

LeFlore joined the Sporting KC Academy in early 2020, having spent the previous three years with AD Oeiras in Portugal. The Minneapolis native, who can play as an outside back or on the wing, joined up with Sporting’s Under-19 squad before signing an Academy contract with SKC II last July, starting two of seven appearances and scoring his first professional goal against Saint Louis FC on Sept. 19, 2020. Prior to his time in Portugal, LeFlore played for Minnesota-based Development Academy club Shattuck-St. Mary’s, representing the club’s U-14 side up until his departure in 2016.

Lenis joined the Sporting KC Academy in early 2017 having been born and raised in Florida before moving back to his mother’s hometown of Kansas City. The outside back has represented the Sporting KC U-17s and U-19s over the past several seasons and has been a member of the U.S. U-14 and U-16 national teams in the past.

ROPAPA MENSAH 70

ENOCH MUSHAGALUSA

PRONUNCIATION: row-PAPA MEN-sah POSITION: Forward BORN: 08/20/1997 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 190 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Accra, Ghana BIRTHPLACE: Accra, Ghana COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

77

PRONUNCIATION: EE-nock MOO-shahgah-LOO-sah POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/13/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 170 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Denver, CO BIRTHPLACE: Kinshasa, DR Congo COLLEGE: S­­ alt Lake Community College LAST CLUB: None

Mensah has spent the last four years in the USL Championship, representing Penn FC (2017), Nashville SC (2018-2019) and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2020). In total, Mensah has played 103 games, including 61 starts, tallying 26 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for USL Championship teams. On the international stage, Mensah was called up to the Ghana Under-23 National Team for the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations where Ghana finished fourth after falling agonizingly on penalties in both the semifinal to the Ivory Coast and in the third-place match to South Africa.

Now in his second season with Sporting KC II, Mushagalusa competed for Salt Lake Community College where he plundered home 27 goals and three assists in one season in Utah. Mushagalusa had committed to transfer to the University of South Carolina in 2020 prior to signing with Sporting II. He was a longtime member of the Colorado Rapids Academy, tallying 53 goals in 85 Development Academy appearances as he rose from the club’s U-15 side to the U-19s. Mushagalusa spent the 2019 preseason with Sporting Kansas City II but did not sign with the club. In 2020, he tallied a goal and an assist with starts in six of 11 appearances for SKC II. 11

Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII KAYDEN PIERRE 47

REMI PRIEUR 42

POSITION: Defender BORN: 02/16/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 140 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Rochester Hills, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester Hills, MI COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

PRONUNCIATION: REH-mee PREE-eur POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/17/1997 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

HOMETOWN: San Ramon, CA BIRTHPLACE: Modling, Austria COLLEGE: S­­ aint Mary’s College LAST CLUB: None

Pierre is a defender who can play in both outside back roles. He joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan.

Since then, Pierre has advanced from the Under-15 age group up to the Under-17s and Under-19s. The Rochester Hills native signed an Academy contract with SKC II in 2020 and made three appearances in the tail end of last season before spending all of the 2021 preseason with the first team in Arizona. On the international stage, Pierre has represented the U.S. U-14s and U-16s.

Prieur made 55 appearances for Saint Mary’s College across four seasons, posting a 0.73 goals against average and 32 shutouts. He enjoyed a stellar 2018 season, his first as a full-time starter, conceding just eight goals in 20 games to go along with 14 shutouts while leading the Gaels to the WCC Championship for the second time in program history. Prieur was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes Academy and captained the side to the Development Academy national quarterfinals in 2014 and semifinals in 2015. He was selected in the second round (47th overall) of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew SC but did not sign a contract with the club. He is in his second season with SKC II.

JAHON RAD 84

DOMINIK RESETAR

PRONUNCIATION: jah-HON ROD POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/13/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 180 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Durham, NC BIRTHPLACE: Chapel Hill, NC COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

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PRONUNCIATION: reh-seh-TAR POSITION: Forward BORN: 05/27/2000 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 170 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Zabok, Croatia BIRTHPLACE: Zabok, Croatia COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia)

Jahon Rad joined the Sporting KC Academy at the start of the 2016-17 season alongside his twin brother Kaveh Rad, who is on Sporting’s MLS roster. Jahon was previously a part of the North Carolina FC Academy in his native state. He made 88 appearances for the Academy, including 15 in the curtailed 2019-20 season for the U-19s. He was added to the Sporting II roster on an Academy contract in early 2020 and set a career high with seven appearances in the shortened 16-game schedule, including three starts where SKC II went 2-1-0. His starts came at Indy Eleven (Aug. 1), at Austin Bold FC (Sept. 22) and at Indy Eleven (Sept.

30).

Resetar made his professional debut at age 17 for Inter Zapresic in Croatia’s top division in 2017 and went on to make nine appearances for the club in the 2017-18 season. Resetar moved to Dinamo Zagreb II ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, making six appearances in the Croatian second tier and one in the UEFA Youth League for Dinamo’s U-19 squad. In the 2019-20 season, Resetar played in seven games for Dinamo Zagreb II. He has made 10 appearances for Croatia’s U-19 team, scoring three goals. Resetar played in all 16 games for Sporting II during the shortened 2020 USL Championship campaign, starting six times and adding one goal.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII ROJAY SMITH 44

TRAVIAN SOUSA 45

POSITION: Forward BORN: 09/21/1996 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 150 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Portmore, Jamaica BIRTHPLACE: Portmore, Jamaica COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of Tampa LAST CLUB: None

PRONUNCIATION: TRAY-VIAN SO-sah POSITION: Defender BORN: 09/19/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 180 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Modesto, CA BIRTHPLACE: Lathrop, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: Hamburger SV (Germany)

Smith spent his junior and senior years with the University of Tampa, tallying eight goals and seven assists across 27 appearances. He earned All-Sunshine State Conference honors as a senior after leading the team with six goals in 2019. The Portmore, Jamaica native spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Northern Oklahoma College in the NJCAA, playing in 36 games and plundering home 33 goals and eight assists across his Freshman and Sophomore seasons prior to transferring to the University of Tampa. Prior to arriving in the United States in 2016, Smith was on the books of Jamaican side Harbour View FC, competing with the club’s U-17 and U-20 teams.

Sousa, who plays primarily as a left back, spent the last 18 months in Germany with Hamburger SV. He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2019 and went on to make 14 appearances with the team’s U-19s in the A-Junioren Bundesliga, tallying four assists.

Sousa also made a pair of appearances for Hamburger SV II in the Regionalliga Nord. Sousa’s form saw him earn a call-up to first team training at Hamburg, currently in the 2. Bundesliga, and he played 90 minutes in a friendly against Braunschweig in October 2019. Sousa has been a regular member of the U.S. youth national team setup, representing his country at the U-14, U-19 and U-20 levels.

BAILEY SPARKS 43

MAX TREJO 67

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 12/30/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 150 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Tampa, FL COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/10/2002 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Lawrence, KS BIRTHPLACE: Mexico City, Mexico COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

Sparks arrived in Kansas City last summer having led Texas club Solar SC to the U-17 Boys’ Development Academy Championship during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Sparks’ performance during the postseason tournament earned him the Golden Ball for the U-17 division, honoring the best player of the USSDA Playoffs.

Sparks signed an Academy contract with Sporting II last summer, making two appearances and scoring a dramatic game-winner on the road against Indy Eleven on Sept. 30, 2020.

Trejo was born in Mexico City but grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and has been a part of the Sporting KC Academy since 2016. The goalkeeper has risen from the U-15 side to the U-19s and signed an Academy contract with SKC II two years ago, making two appearances in the 2019 USL Championship season.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII

JAYVIN VAN DEVENTER

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PRONUNCIATION: VAN duh-VENT-er POSITION: Defender BORN: 01/01/2004 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 140 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Lee’s Summit, MO BIRTHPLACE: Tuscaloosa, AL COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None Van Deventer joined the Sporting KC Academy through the club’s Center of Excellence as a 12-year-old in 2016 and the midfielder has since risen from the U-12s to the U-19s. In 2018, Van Deventer was named the MVP of the Copa Rayados Internacional in Texas after leading the Sporting U-15s to the semifinals of the tournament involving several U.S. and Mexican Academy teams.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC LOANEES GRAYSON BARBER

19

OZZIE CISNEROS 25

POSITION: Forward BORN: 05/03/2000 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 170 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Elgin, SC BIRTHPLACE: Columbia, SC COLLEGE: C­­ lemson University LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Forward BORN: 3/13/2004 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-5 WEIGHT: 130 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Omaha, NE BIRTHPLACE: Omaha, NE COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

At the age of 15, Barber left home in Elgin, South Carolina, to join the Sporting KC Academy, where he starred from 2015-2017. The attacking midfielder scored over 20 league goals at the U-16 and U-18 levels and was named to the 2017 United Soccer Coaches Youth Boys All-America Team. He then transitioned to the college game, leading Clemson to an ACC title as a junior last fall after guiding the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals as a sophomore in 2019. Barber signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in 2021.

As a promising teenager, Cisneros is just getting started. The Nebraska native moved to Kansas City as a 12-year-old in 2016 and has risen the Academy ranks since then, representing Sporting at the U-13 through U-19 levels. He has also donned U.S. colors for the U-15 Boys’ National Team, notably competing at the Torneo delle Nazioni and Concacaf U-15 Championship in 2019. Capable of playing multiple positions in midfield and attack, the diminutive Cisneros boasts technical quality and strong familiarity with Sporting’s 4-3-3 system. He signed as a Homegrown Player in 2021.

AMADOU DIA 13

CAM DUKE 28

PRONUNCIATION: AH-mah-doo DEE-ah POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/08/1993 (27 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Highlands Ranch, CO BIRTHPLACE: Nantes, France COLLEGE: C­­ lemson University LAST CLUB: Phoenix Rising FC

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 02/13/2001 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-6 WEIGHT: 135 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Overland Park, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

The 2015 MLS SuperDraft selection and Clemson University product made a quick impression for Sporting, logging 27 appearances as a rookie. After an up-and-down 2016, he took the reins as one of the USL Championship’s best outside backs during a three-year stretch in which Phoenix won a regular season title and dominated the league’s Western Conference. Acquired by Sporting in early 2020, Dia landed a starting spot from mid-September onward as Sporting ended the regular season with a 6-1-1 record. Dia also started both matches in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, finishing the year with starts in 11 of 15 appearances as well as three shutout contributions.

Duke signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in the summer of 2019, but a lingering injury that year delayed his professional debut until 2020. Following an early-season stoppage in play due to the pandemic, the U.S. youth international and Overland Park native wasted no time making a positive impression with the first team. Duke landed his Sporting debut at the MLS is Back Tournament in July of 2020. Despite his lack of professional experience, Duke wound up making nine MLS appearances over the course of the season. He notably created six scoring chances in just 224 minutes of action as Sporting went 4-2-2 in the eight regular season matches he played.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC LOANEES TYLER FREEMAN 23

WILSON HARRIS 96

POSITION: Forward BORN: 01/09/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 165 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Shawnee, KS BIRTHPLACE: Overland Park, KS COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/28/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 175 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

A member of the Sporting KC Academy since age 11, Freeman represented Sporting at the U-12 through U-19 levels and represented the U.S. youth national team before kickstarting his pro career. He and teammate Gianluca Busio were notably part of the U.S. squad that finished second at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship in Bradenton, Florida. A versatile youngster who can play multiple positions in attack and midfield, Freeman has yet to earn his first-team debut under Manager Peter Vermes. He has, however, scored three goals in the USL Championship.

FELIPE HERNANDEZ

21

In three USL Championship seasons with Sporting Kansas City II, Harris started 39 of 56 appearances and averaged 0.64 goals per 90 minutes played. He was the top-scoring teenager in American professional soccer in 2019, finishing the year with 12 goals in 25 USL Championship appearances. His dozen goals—which included a sizzling run of 10 strikes in his final 11 appearances—equaled the league’s single-season record for a teenager. Harris was the youngest USL Championship player to score eight or more goals in 2020. He signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in the fall of 2020.

JAYLIN LINDSEY 2

POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 06/08/1998 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 145 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN BIRTHPLACE: Ibague, Colombia COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Defender BORN: 03/27/2000 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 180 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC BIRTHPLACE: Charlotte, NC COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

In 2019, Hernandez became the first Sporting player to progress along the club’s full player pathway, rising from an Academy Affiliate club to the Sporting KC Academy to the Sporting KC II (then the Swope Park Rangers) before signing with the senior team. In three full seasons with Sporting KC II from 2017 to 2019, Hernandez has amassed 13 goals and a club-record 11 assists across 83 USL Championship matches as an all-action midfielder who facilitated the attack but also made life miserable on opponents when they had the ball. Hernandez appeared in 19 of Sporting’s last 21 matches in all competitions during the 2020 season, starting eight.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Lindsey moved to Kansas City to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2015 and hasn’t looked back since.

He signed an MLS contract as a Homegrown Player as a 17-year-old in September 2017 before starting nine of 10 appearances in all competitions during a successful 2018 campaign that saw Sporting finish atop the Western Conference standings. After missing most of 2019 through injury, the outside back was available for the duration of 2020 and started 13 of 14 matches last year, including both playoff contests at Children’s Mercy Park.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC LOANEES KENDALL MCINTOSH

22

KAYDEN PIERRE 24

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 01/24/1994 (27 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Santa Rosa, CA BIRTHPLACE: Oakland, CA COLLEGE: S­­ anta Clara University LAST CLUB: New York Red Bulls

POSITION: Defender BORN: 02/16/2003 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 140 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Bloomfield Hills, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester Hills, MI COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

Sporting selected McIntosh in Stage 1 of the 2020 MLS Re-Entry Process last December. The California native and UC Santa Clara alum boasts five years of professional experience across MLS and the USL Championship. He spent the 2020 MLS campaign with the New York Red Bulls following a four-year stint in the Portland Timbers organization from 2016-2019. McIntosh posted 10 shutouts in 60 total USL Championship appearances in four seasons with Portland Timbers 2 from 2016-2019.

He spent the 2020 MLS campaign as a backup with the New York Red Bulls.

Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of outside back Kayden Pierre as a Homegrown Player on May 4, 2021. He becomes the 18th Homegrown Player to emerge from the Sporting Kansas City Academy.

Born and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native state. He has represented Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels since then, making upwards of 60 academy appearances. In three USL Championship appearances in 2020, Pierre recorded four interceptions and 10 clearances while winning 77% of his duels and completing 89% of his passes, including three chances created.

JOHN PULSKAMP 1

KAVEH RAD 48

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/19/2001 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 215 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, CA BIRTHPLACE: Bakersfield, CA COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/13/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 155 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Durham, NC BIRTHPLACE: Chapel Hill, NC COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

A native of Bakersfield, California, Pulskamp developed in the LA Galaxy Academy before signing professionally for Sporting Kansas City II ahead of the 2019 season. He was quick to make a strong impression in the USL Championship, leading Sporting KC II goalkeepers in starts (14), minutes (1,260), wins (four) and saves (45) as a rookie. Pulskamp featured twice for Sporting KC II in 2020 and spent most of the year backing up Tim Melia at the MLS level. He made his MLS debut for Sporting in a 2-1 victory on April 17, becoming the third-youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to win a regular season match at 19 years and 363 days.

Sporting Kansas City has signed 19-year-old center back Kaveh Rad as a Homegrown Player on April 5, 2021. A native of North Carolina, he has started 34 of 36 matches for Sporting Kansas City II in the USL Championship over the last two seasons. He enjoyed a breakout year for the club in 2019, signing an amateur academy contract and making 22 USL Championship appearances under head coach Paulo Nagamura.

Rad started 14 matches for Sporting KC II during a shortened 2020 campaign, leading the team in minutes (1,260) and passes (871) while starting in four of the club’s five wins. Rad and his twin brother, Jahon, moved from North Carolina to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2016.

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Sporting KC II

www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC LOANEES GRAHAM SMITH 16

BROOKS THOMPSON

POSITION: Defender BORN: 11/25/1995 (25 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 190 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Highlands Ranch, CO BIRTHPLACE: Highlands Ranch, CO COLLEGE: U­­ niversity of Denver LAST CLUB: None

31

POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 05/28/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-4 WEIGHT: 185 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Floyds Knobs, IN BIRTHPLACE: Jeffersonville, IN COLLEGE: N­­ one LAST CLUB: None

Smith has amassed over 60 professional appearances since joining Sporting out of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Two-thirds of those have come at the USL Championship level with Sporting Kansas City II, where he has excelled under head coach Paulo Nagamura. Another 21 appearances have come with the first team, including six last year and 12 in 2019. Smith has also played sparingly in the defensive midfield position, underscoring his excellent ability to play with the ball at his feet. Smith split his four-year college career between Oregon State University (2014-15) and the University of Denver (2016-17).

A native of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, Thompson joined the Sporting KC Academy in the summer of 2018 following a two-year stint with the IMG Academy in Florida. At age 16, he became the youngest professional signing in Sporting KC II history when he inked a USL Championship contract in early 2019. Thompson led Sporting KC II goalkeepers during the shortened 2020 USL Championship campaign with 26 saves and a 1.17 goals against average in six matches. His save total was the highest among the league’s teenage goalkeepers.

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