Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII HOME
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2020 SKC II SCHEDULE DATE
2020 RECORD: 2-1-4
2020 RECORD: 3-5-1
#TULvSKC MATCH: DATE:
Sporting KC II at FC Tulsa
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020
KICKOFF:
7 p.m. CT
LOCATION:
ONEOK Field (Tulsa, OK)
WATCH:
ESPN Plus
MATCH PREVIEW Led by third-year head coach and former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Paulo Nagamura, Sporting Kansas City II (3-5-1, 10 points) will travel south to face upwardtrending FC Tulsa (2-1-4, 10 points) on Saturday at ONEOK Field. Sporting Kansas City II is coming off an impressive 3-0 victory over OKC Energy FC last Saturday in the club’s final home fixture of the regular season campaign at Swope Soccer Village. Twenty-year-old forward Wilson Harris struck twice in the first half, bringing his teamleading goal tally to four on the season, before defender Danny Barbir steered home a Fredinho Mompremier corner kick in the second half to put the finishing touches on the club’s first shutout win of 2020.
Sun., March 8 Sat., July 18 Sat., July 25 Wed., July 29 Sat., Aug. 1 Wed., Aug. 5 Sat., Aug. 15 Wed., Aug. 19 Sat., Aug. 22 Sat., Aug. 29 Fri., Sept. 4 Wed., Sept. 9 Sat., Sept. 19 Tue., Sept. 22 Wed., Sept. 30 Sat., Oct. 3
OPPONENT
TIME (CT)
CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE at Indy Eleven at Louisville City FC at Louisville City FC at Indy Eleven at Saint Louis FC at Saint Louis FC at Louisville City FC OKC ENERGY FC at FC Tulsa at Saint Louis FC at Indy Eleven at Saint Louis FC at Austin Bold FC at Indy Eleven at Louisville City FC
4:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 6:00 6:30
RESULT
L 1-2 L 1-2 L 0-1 W 2-1 W 1-0 T 1-1 L 1-3 L 1-4 W 3-0
USL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP E STANDINGS (As of Aug. 26; top two finishers advance to USL Championship Playoffs) Club W-L-T (Pts) GF-GA GD 1. Indy Eleven 6-2-1 (19) 15-7 +8 2. Saint Louis FC 4-3-2 (14) 12-10 +2 3. Louisville City FC 4-3-1 (13) 11-8 +3 4. Sporting KC II 3-5-1 (10) 11-14 -3
FC Tulsa set a club record by opening the campaign with a six-game unbeaten run before suffering a 2-0 defeat at San Antonio FC last weekend. Rodrigo da Costa and Dario Suarez pace a well-balanced attack with two goals apiece, while former Sporting KC II playmaker Lebo Moloto is another integral piece of the FC Tulsa puzzle.
SKC II: Unavailable for Selection Midfielder Will Little
Saturday’s contest will have playoff implications for both sides. Sporting KC II are four points shy of the second and final postseason spot in Group E, while FC Tulsa are a point behind second-place Austin Bold in Group D.
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as of 8/26/20
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII Last Time Out
SKC II All-time Records
Sporting Kansas City II cruised to a 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC last Saturday in the club’s final home match of the USL Championship regular season at Swope Soccer Village. A firsthalf brace from striker Wilson Harris and a Danny Barbir goal midway through the second period paced the hosts to victory in their most dominant performance of the 2020 campaign. Saturday’s contest was Sporting KC II’s first at Swope Soccer Village since October 2017 and the club’s first at home since March 8, days before the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s side took full advantage by burying their Oklahoma rivals and securing their fourth result in six games. Nagamura reshuffled his lineup to the tune of five changes from Wednesday’s road loss to Louisville City FC. On loan from Sporting Kansas City, 19-year-old goalkeeper John Pulskamp made his USL Championship season debut, Petar Cuic stepped into the holding midfield spot and 19-year-old Sporting KC Academy product Ryan Fessler earned his first professional start in midfield. Up top, Harris and Fredinho Mompremier reprised starting roles alongside 17-year-old Sporting KC loanee Tyler Freeman. Harris needed just five minutes to vault his team ahead. Mompremier’s probing through ball intended for Freeman was cut out by OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, whose fluffed clearance afforded Harris a clear opportunity at the top of the box. The 20-year-old expertly floated a first-time effort over Laurendi and into the gaping net to notch his first goal since July 29.
2020 Record All-Time Record
Overall 3-5-1 60-57-32
Home 1-1-0 41-18-14
Away 2-4-1 19-39-18
2020 Scoring First All-Time Scoring First 2020 Conceding First All-Time Conceding First
3-1-1 50-9-13 0-4-0 10-48-11
1-1-0 33-5-5 0-0-0 8-13-5
2-0-1 17-4-8 0-4-0 2-35-6
2020 Leading at Half All-Time Leading at Half 2020 Trailing at Half All-Time Trailing at Half 2020 Tied at Half All-Time Tied at Half
1-0-0 35-2-7 0-2-0 4-36-2 2-3-1 21-19-23
1-0-0 25-1-5 0-0-0 3-11-1 0-1-0 13-6-8
0-0-0 10-1-2 0-2-0 1-25-1 2-2-1 8-13-15
2020 Leading at 75’ All-Time Leading at 75’ 2020 Trailing at 75’ All-Time Trailing at 75’ 2020 Tied at 75’ All-Time Tied at 75’
2-0-1 51-1-5 0-4-0 0-48-6 1-1-0 9-8-21
1-0-0 35-1-2 0-0-0 0-14-2 0-1-0 6-3-10
1-0-1 16-0-3 0-4-0 0-34-4 1-0-0 3-5-11
Youth Movement Over the last two months, Sporting Kansas City II has added eight teenagers to the club’s USL Championship roster, including seven Sporting Kansas City Academy products.
The visitors replied by carving out a chance in the 17th minute as Jon Brown raced behind the defense and fired low from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area, but Pulskamp was aggressive off his line and produced an impressive kick save.
Jake Davis, an 18-year-old midfielder, has signed a full professional contract for the first time. The playmaker made five appearances for Sporting II during the 2019 campaign, recording two assists and drawing a penalty for his team.
Cuic intercepted a stray midfield pass in the 22nd minute and threaded an inch-perfect pass through to Harris, who raced forward and unfurled a brilliant first-time strike across Laurendi and into the far left corner. The predatory finish upped his career goal tally to 19 in a Sporting KC II uniform dating back to 2018 as Cuic recorded his first assist for the club.
Davis is originally from Michigan but moved to Kansas City to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2017 and lives with a host family through the club’s residency program. He made 54 league appearances for the Academy’s U-17 and U-19 squads over the previous three seasons, tallying eight goals from central midfield.
Nagamura’s men put the result out of reach in the 66th minute when center back Danny Barbir shook free of his marker and volleyed home off a Mompremier corner for his second goal of the season. Mompremier tallied his second assist of 2020 on the play as Sporting KC II hit the three-goal mark for the first time this season.
Sporting Kansas City II has also signed six Academy players in forward Josh Chong, midfielder Ryan Fessler, goalkeeper Gavin Krenecki, defender Mason Leeth, defender Isaiah LeFlore and midfielder Jahon Rad to Academy contracts. Each player will retain their NCAA eligibility while being registered to compete in USL Championship matches for Sporting II.
Mompremier went agonizingly close to etching his name onto the scoresheet in the 89th minute, settling a loose ball in the box after OKC failed to deal with substitute Jaret Townsend’s low cross from the right flank, but his thunderous attempt rattled the near post and caromed out for a goal kick.
Additionally, 17-year-old midfielder Bailey Sparks has joined the side on an Academy contract, having led Texas-based academy Solar SC to a U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship in 2019.
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Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2020 ROSTER ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. Player 33 Danny Barbir 97 Josh Chong 39 Petar Cuic 46 Jake Davis 32 Christian Duke 72 Ryan Fessler 96 Wilson Harris 55 Gavin Krenecki 71 Mason Leeth 65 Isaiah LeFlore 49 Will Little 80 Fredinho Mompremier 77 Enoch Mushagalusa 42 Remi Prieur 88 Sam Raben 84 Jahon Rad 48 Kaveh Rad 34 Dominik Resetar 44 Camden Riley 40 Dillon Serna 43 Bailey Sparks 31 Brooks Thompson 99 Jaret Townsend 35 Duval Wapiwo
Pos. D F D M M M F GK D D M F F GK D M D F D/M D/M M GK M M
Ht. 6-3 5-8 6-1 5-10 5-8 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-1 5-9 5-7 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-7 6-0 6-3 5-10 5-9
Wt. 175 135 170 165 160 155 165 170 180 160 135 175 175 185 165 180 160 170 175 140 150 170 160 160
Birthdate (age) 01/31/1998 (22) 01/29/2001 (19) 06/02/1999 (21) 01/03/2002 (18) 06/05/1991 (29) 03/08/2001 (19) 11/28/1999 (20) 03/08/2003 (17) 06/01/2001 (19) 12/11/2002 (17) 04/09/1998 (22) 11/25/1996 (23) 11/13/1999 (20) 04/17/1997 (23) 05/11/1997 (23) 06/13/2001 (19) 06/13/2001 (19) 05/27/2000 (20) 08/20/1996 (24) 03/25/1994 (26) 12/30/2002 (17) 05/28/2002 (18) 01/29/1998 (22) 01/20/2000 (20)
NUMERICAL ROSTER WITH PRONUNCIATION No. Player Pos. Pronunciation 31 Brooks Thompson GK -- 32 Christian Duke M -- 33 Danny Barbir D bar-BEER 34 Dominik Resetar F reh-seh-TAR 35 Duval Wapiwo M doo-VAHL wah-PEE-woh 39 Petar Cuic D PEE-ter KOO-itch 40 Dillon Serna D/M SIR-nuh 42 Remi Prieur GK REH-mee PREE-er 43 Bailey Sparks M -- 44 Camden Riley D/M -- 46 Jake Davis M -- 48 Kaveh Rad D KAH-vay 49 Will Little M -- 55 Gavin Krenecki GK -- 65 Isaiah LeFlore D -- 71 Mason Leeth D -- 72 Ryan Fessler M -- 77 Enoch Mushagalusa F EE-nock MOO-shah-gah-LOO-sah 80 Fredinho Mompremier F freh-DEEN-yoh mom-prem-yay 84 Jahon Rad M jah-HON 88 Sam Raben D RAY-ben 96 Wilson Harris F -- 97 Josh Chong F -- 99 Jaret Townsend M --
Hometown Allentown, PA Lynchburg, VA Zagreb, Croatia Rochester, MI Overland Park, KS Charlotte, NC Los Angeles, CA Fair Oaks, CA Kansas City, MO Minneapolis, MN Johnson City, TN Limbe, Haiti Denver, CO San Ramon, CA Greenwood Village, CO Durham, NC Durham, NC Zabok, Croatia Dallas, TX Brighton, CO Dallas, TX Floyds Knobs, IN Highlands Ranch, CO Yaounde, Cameroon
Birthplace Jefferson, IN Overland Park, KS Atlanta, GA Zabok, Croatia Yaounde, Cameroon Zagreb, Croatia Thornton, CO Modling, Austria Tampa, FL Dallas, TX Rochester, MI Chapel Hill, NC Johnson City, TN Sacramento, CA Minneapolis, MN Kansas City, MO Palm Beach, FL Kinshasa, DR Congo Limbe, Haiti Chapel Hill, NC Birmingham, AL Los Angeles, CA Seoul, South Korea Highlands Ranch, CO
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College ----University of San Diego ------Fairleigh Dickinson University Salt Lake Community College Saint Mary’s College Wake Forest University ---University of the Pacific ---University of Washington -Last Club Sporting KC Academy Orange County SC (USL Championship) Sandhausen II (Germany) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) MFK Vyskov (Czech Republic) Dinamo Zagreb II (Croatia) Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer) -Solar SC Academy (Texas) -Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy -FC Tulsa (USL Championship) Sporting KC Academy Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL Championship) Sporting KC Academy Sporting KC Academy --
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2020 PLAYER STATS Player GP GS Danny Barbir 8 6 Josh Chong 0 0 Gianluca Busio * 1 1 Petar Cuic 9 7 Jake Davis 8 7 Amadou Dia * 1 1 Christian Duke 7 7 Ryan Fessler 3 1 Tyler Freeman * 2 2 Wilson Harris 9 7 Felipe Hernandez * 1 1 Gavin Krenecki 2 2 Mason Leeth 3 0 Isaiah LeFlore 3 1 Jaylin Lindsey * 1 1 Will Little 0 0 Fredinho Mompremier 9 7 Enoch Mushagalusa 6 4 Luis Olivera # 0 0 Ze Pedro # 1 1 Remi Prieur 1 1 John Pulskamp * 1 1 Sam Raben 6 5 Jahon Rad 4 1 Kaveh Rad 7 7 Dominik Resetar 9 4 Camden Riley 9 8 Richard Sanchez * 1 1 Dillon Serna 8 7 Graham Smith * 1 1 Bailey Sparks 0 0 Brooks Thompson 4 4 Jaret Townsend 8 2 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal * 1 0 Duval Wapiwo 4 1
MIN 560 0 71 727 644 90 609 76 123 596 90 180 40 117 90 0 624 345 0 60 90 90 390 123 630 419 714 90 589 90 0 360 236 19 96
GLS AST * Sporting KC loanee 2 0 0 0 # No longer with club 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
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Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2020 GOALKEEPER STATS Player Gavin Krenecki Remi Prieur John Pulskamp * Richard Sanchez * Brooks Thompson
GP GS MIN 2 2 180 1 1 90 1 1 90 1 1 90 4 4 360
GA GAA SO SV W-L-T 7 3.50 0 4 0-2-0 1 1.00 0 0 1-0-0 0 0.00 1 2 1-0-0 * Sporting KC loanee 2 2.00 0 2 0-1-0 4 1.00 1 18 1-2-1
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Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII SPORTING KC II 2020 LINEUPS CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE (L 1-2) Sunday, March 8, 2020
at Indy Eleven (L 1-2) Saturday, July 18, 2020
at Louisville City FC (L 0-1) Saturday, July 25, 2020
GK
Richard Sanchez
GK
Brooks Thompson
GK
Brooks Thompson
RB CB CB LB
Jaylin Lindsey Graham Smith (C) Petar Cuic Amadou Dia
RB CB CB LB
Sam Raben (Mason Leeth 85’) Kaveh Rad Petar Cuic (Danny Barbir 46’) Dillon Serna
RB CB CB LB
Sam Raben (Mason Leeth 78’) Kaveh Rad Petar Cuic Dillon Serna
CDM Camden Riley RCM Gianluca Busio (Wan Kuzain 71’) LCM Felipe Hernandez
CDM Camden Riley RCM Christian Duke (C) (Duval Wapiwo 74’) LCM Jake Davis
CDM Camden Riley (Danny Barbir 78’) RCM Christian Duke (C) (Dominik Resetar 84’) LCM Jake Davis
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
Ze Pedro (Enoch Mushagalusa 60’) Wilson Harris (Dominik Resetar 77’) Fredinho Mompremier
Enoch Mushagalusa (Jaret Townsend 85’) Wilson Harris (Dominik Resetar 59’) Fredinho Mompremier
Enoch Mushagalusa (Isaiah LeFlore 84’) Wilson Harris Fredinho Mompremier
at Louisville City FC (W 2-1) Wednesday, July 29, 2020
at Indy Eleven (W 1-0) Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020
at Saint Louis FC (T 1-1) Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020
GK
Remi Prieur
GK
Brooks Thompson
GK
Brooks Thompson
RB CB CB LB
Camden Riley (Sam Raben 88’) Kaveh Rad Danny Barbir Dillon Serna
RB CB CB LB
Sam Raben Petar Cuic Danny Barbir Dillon Serna
RB CB CB LB
Sam Raben (Petar Cuic 46’) Kaveh Rad Danny Barbir Dillon Serna (Duval Wapiwo 70’)
CDM Petar Cuic RCM Duval Wapiwo (Jake Davis 55’) LCM Christian Duke (C)
CDM Jahon Rad (Camden Riley 85’) RCM Christian Duke (C) LCM Jake Davis (Duval Wapiwo 85’)
CDM Camden Riley RCM Christian Duke (C) LCM Jake Davis
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
Jaret Townsend (Wilson Harris 62’) Dominik Resetar (Jahon Rad 88’) Enoch Mushagalusa (F. Mompremier 55’)
Dominik Resetar (Jaret Townsend 61’) Wilson Harris (Mason Leeth 67’) Fredinho Mompremier (E. Mushagalusa 62’)
Enoch Mushagalusa (Jaret Townsend 62’) Wilson Harris (Dominik Resetar 70’) Fredinho Mompremier (Ryan Fessler 87’)
at Saint Louis FC (L 1-3) Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020
at Louisville City FC (L 1-4) Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
OKC ENERGY FC (W 3-0) Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020
GK
Gavin Krenecki
GK
Gavin Krenecki
GK
John Pulskamp
RB CB CB LB
Camden Riley Kaveh Rad Danny Barbir Isaiah LeFlore (Dillon Serna 77’)
RB CB CB LB
Sam Raben Kaveh Rad Danny Barbir (Petar Cuic 56’) Dillon Serna (Isaiah LeFlore 56’)
RB CB CB LB
Camden Riley Kaveh Rad Danny Barbir Dillon Serna (C)
CDM Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad 70’) RCM Jake Davis LCM Christian Duke (C)
CDM Camden Riley RCM Jake Davis (Ryan Fessler 74’) LCM Christian Duke (C)
CDM Petar Cuic (Jahon Rad 73’) RCM Ryan Fessler (Duval Wapiwo 57’) LCM Jake Davis
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
RF CF LF
Dominik Resetar (Jaret Townsend 77’) Wilson Harris Fredinho Mompremier
Jaret Townsend (Wilson Harris 56’) Dominik Resetar Tyler Freeman (Fredinho Mompremier 66’)
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Fredinho Mompremier Wilson Harris (Jaret Townsend 81’) Tyler Freeman (Dominik Resetar 57’)
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII HEAD COACH PAULO NAGAMURA Paulo Nagamura is in his third 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, 37, 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 third season with Sporting KC II after joining the club from the Colorado Rapids, where he served as their Development Academy Program Director. Martinez, 49, 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 MITCH HILDEBRANDT Sporting KC II hired former USL Goalkeeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt as the team’s goalkeeper coach ahead of the 2020 campaign. The 31-year-old enjoyed a seven-year playing career, culminating in an MLS Cup prior to his retirement in early 2019. Born and raised in Michigan, he stayed local for his collegiate career, playing for Oakland University from 2008-2011. His first stop in the professional game came at Minnesota United from 2012-2015, when the current MLS club was competing in the North American Soccer League. A move to the USL Championship was on the cards in 2016 as Hildebrandt joined FC Cincinnati and quickly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the league, earning Goalkeeper of the Year and USL All-League First Team honors in his first season with the club. Standout performances earned Hildebrandt an MLS contract with Atlanta United FC in 2018, and while he did not make any appearances for the first team, he still earned a winner’s medal following Atlanta’s MLS Cup triumph.
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
JOSH CHONG 97
PRONUNCIATION: bar-BEER POSITION: Defender BORN: 01/31/1998 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Allentown, PA BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta, GA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sandhausen II (Germany)
POSITION: Forward BORN: 01/29/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-8 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Lynchburg, VA BIRTHPLACE: Seoul, South Korea COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
Barbir most recently 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, including two appearances 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 Bromwich Albion in 2014.
Chong was a part of the Sporting KC Academy as a U-14 player before departing for a stint with the European Soccer Institute in Kansas. He rejoined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 and has made 55 appearances since, tallying 11 goals playing primarily on either wing for both the Under-17 and Under-19 teams. Chong, who was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, moved to Kansas City in 2013. Chong spent significant time training with Sporting II in 2018 before signing an Academy contract for the 2019 season.
PETAR CUIC 39
JAKE DAVIS 46
PRONUNCIATION: PEE-ter KOO-itch POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/02/1999 (21 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Zagreb, Croatia BIRTHPLACE: Zagreb, Croatia COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Dynamo Zagreb II (Croatia)
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/03/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Rochester, MI BIRTHPLACE: Rochester, MI COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
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 got his first taste of professional action in 2019 when he was signed to an Academy contract with Sporting II, giving him the ability to play in USL Championship games without foregoing his NCAA eligibility. He made five appearances for Sporting II during the 2019 campaign, recording two assists and drawing a penalty for his side. Davis is originally from Michigan but moved to Kansas City to join the Sporting KC Academy in 2017 and lives with a host family through the club’s residency program. He made 54 appearances for the Academy’s Under-17 and Under-19 squads over the last three seasons, tallying eight goals from central midfield. 8
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII
CHRISTIAN DUKE
32
RYAN FESSLER
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
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POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 03/08/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 155 lbs. HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC BIRTHPLACE: Palm Beach, FL COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
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.
Fessler, who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, linked up with the Sporting KC Academy ahead of the 2016-17 USSDA campaign and has since made 65 appearances for the U-17 and U-19 squads, tallying 12 goals. Fessler was scheduled to join collegiate powerhouse Wake Forest in the fall of 2019 but elected to stay in Kansas City and train with Sporting KC II instead. Fessler signed an Academy contract with Sporting II during the 2018 USL Championship season, though he did not make an appearance.
WILSON HARRIS 96
GAVIN KRENECKI 55
POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/28/1999 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA BIRTHPLACE: Los Angeles, CA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 03/08/2003 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Fair Oaks, CA BIRTHPLACE: Sacramento, CA COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
Harris joined the Sporting KC Academy ahead of the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season and made 10 appearances for the U-19 team, leading the squad with 11 goals. He made 15 USL Championship appearances, including seven starts, and tallied three goals during his first professional season with Sporting KC II in 2018. He enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign with a team-best 12 goals in 25 USL Championship appearances, becoming one of the top-scoring teenagers in American soccer. He ended the 2019 season on a torrid run of form, bagging 11 goals in his final 12 league appearances.
Krenecki signed an Academy contract with Sporting II in late 2019 but did not make an appearance. He signed his second Academy contract with the side in August 2020 and made his professional debut that month at Saint Louis FC. Krenecki joined the Sporting KC Academy in January 2019 after moving to Kansas City from the Sacramento Republic Academy in his native California. The goalkeeper made 19 appearances while splitting his time between the U-19s and U-17s over the past year and a half.
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Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII MASON LEETH 71
ISAIAH LEFLORE 65
POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/01/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 180 lbs. HOMETOWN: Kansas City, MO BIRTHPLACE: Kansas City, MO COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
POSITION: Defender BORN: 12/11/2002 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, MN BIRTHPLACE: Minneapolis, MN COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
Leeth joined the Sporting Academy from Academy Affiliate Sporting Blue Valley in 2017. He has played in 44 games for the U-17s and U-19s, tallying 11 goals while playing in a myriad of positions across the field. Leeth has spent a large amount of time over the past year training with Sporting II.
LeFlore joined the Sporting KC Academy this past winter, having spent the previous three years with AD Oeiras in Portugal. The Minneapolis native joined up with Sporting’s U-19 squad and scored his first goal in a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas in late February.
WILL LITTLE 49
FREDINHO MOMPREMIER
Prior to his trip overseas to Portugal, LeFlore played for Minnesota-based Development Academy club Shattuck-St. Mary’s, spending time with the club’s U-14 side up until his departure to AD Oeiras in 2016. On the international stage, LeFlore has represented the United States at the U-15 level.
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 04/09/1998 (22 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 135 lbs. HOMETOWN: Johnson City, TN BIRTHPLACE: Johnson City, TN COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
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PRONUNCIATION: freh-DEEN-yoh mom-prem-yay POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/25/1996 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Limbe, Haiti BIRTHPLACE: Limbe, Haiti COLLEGE: F airleigh Dickinson University LAST CLUB: FC Tulsa
Little joined the Sporting KC Academy in early 2015 after spending his earlier years playing for several youth teams in his native Tennessee. In the 2015-16 season, he made 23 appearances for the U-18s and scored 10 goals. He has spent each of the last four seasons with Sporting Kansas City II, making 27 USL Championship appearances. He reached career-highs in 2019 with 13 matches played and 10 starts and 762 minutes logged.
Mompremier made 20 appearances, including nine starts, with FC Tulsa in his 2019 rookie campaign. He scored once and had one assist in the USL Championship regular season, recording an assist in a loss to LA Galaxy II (July 24) before scoring the game-winner in a dramatic 4-3 victory over San Antonio FC (Sept. 25). He scored his first professional goal in the U.S. Open Cup Second Round against the Charlotte Independence, a 3-1 win. He began his college career at the University of Tampa, where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons, before starring at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey in 2017 and 2018. 10
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII
ENOCH MUSHAGALUSA
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REMI PRIEUR 42
PRONUNCIATION: EE-nock MOO-shahgah-LOO-sah POSITION: Forward BORN: 11/13/1999 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Denver, Colorado BIRTHPLACE: Kinshasa, DR Congo COLLEGE: S alt Lake Community College LAST CLUB: None
PRONUNCIATION: REH-mee PREE-er POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 04/17/1997 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 185 lbs. HOMETOWN: San Ramon, CA BIRTHPLACE: Modling, Austria COLLEGE: S aint Mary’s College LAST CLUB: None
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 preseason with Sporting Kansas City II but did not sign with the club.
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.
SAM RABEN 88
JAHON RAD 84
PRONUNCIATION: RAY-ben POSITION: Defender BORN: 05/11/1997 (23 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 165 lbs. HOMETOWN: Greenwood Village, CA BIRTHPLACE: Birmingham, AL COLLEGE: W ake Forest University LAST CLUB: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
PRONUNCIATION: Jah-HON 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: Sporting KC Academy
Raben starred at Wake Forest University over a four-year career, finishing his stint third in program history with 91 appearances as the team went 73-11-7 in games he played. Raben tallied six assists and helped the team to 46 clean sheets, guiding the side to the NCAA College Cup Final as a sophomore in 2016. After his senior season, he was received third team All-ACC and third team All-South Region honors by United Soccer Coaches. Raben signed a Homegrown contract with the Colorado Rapids in early 2019 but did not make an MLS appearance. Instead, Raben went on loan to USL Championship side the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, playing eight matches.
Jahon Rad, the twin brother of Kaveh Rad, joined the Sporting KC Academy at the start of the 2016-17 USSDA season, having previously been a part of the North Carolina FC Academy in his native state. Rad has made 88 appearances for the Academy, including 15 in the curtailed 2019-20 season for the U-19s. Rad, who signed Academy contracts the previous two seasons, made his professional debut with Sporting II in 2018 before later making his first professional start against Orange County SC at Children’s Mercy Park on July 18, 2018. J. Rad made a further three appearances in 2019, including one start at Nashville SC on May 11, 2019. 11
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII KAVEH RAD 48
DOMINIK RESETAR
PRONUNCIATION: KAH-vay POSITION: Defender BORN: 06/13/2001 (19 years old) HEIGHT: 5-11 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Durham, NC BIRTHPLACE: Chapel Hill, NC COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
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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)
Kaveh Rad joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2016 and made 65 league appearances over four years split between the U-15s, U-17s and U-19s, tallying seven goals. He signed an Academy contract with Sporting KC II ahead of the 2018 campaign and spent a large part of the year training with the club, though he did not make an appearance. Rad enjoyed a breakout year, starting 20 of 22 appearances in the USL Championship after signing an Academy contract in preseason. The defender racked up 1,823 minutes in 2019, finishing the year as one of the leaders in minutes played among unsigned Academy players.
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. Resetar has made 10 appearances for Croatia’s U-19 team, scoring three goals. His most recent U-19 cap came in a friendly against Serbia on Feb. 12, 2019.
CAMDEN RILEY 44
DILLON SERNA 40
POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 08/20/1996 (24 years old) HEIGHT: 6-1 WEIGHT: 175 lbs. HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Dallas, TX COLLEGE: U niversity of the Pacific LAST CLUB: None
PRONUNCIATION: SIR-nuh POSITION: Defender/Midfielder BORN: 03/25/1994 (26 years old) HEIGHT: 5-7 WEIGHT: 140 lbs. HOMETOWN: Brighton, CO BIRTHPLACE: Thornton, CO COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Colorado Rapids
Riley started 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. His college career was highlighted by NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his last three seasons, with the Tigers going 38-13-6 during that time. As a senior in 2018, Riley notched a team-best nine goals and five assists and was named a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist. He joined Sporting KC in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft but did not sign for the club, instead making 24 appearances for Sporting KC II last season with one goal.
Serna signed his first professional contract with the Colorado Rapids ahead of the 2013 MLS campaign and went on to 112 appearances in all competitions for the club, tallying 12 goals and seven assists while playing in a variety of positions. He spent one season at the University of Akron prior to signing as a Homegrown Player with the Rapids. Internationally, Serna has represented the U.S. at U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels, including playing at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. He then represented the U-20s extensively but was not named to the squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He went on to play for the U.S. U-23s in Olympic Qualifying in 2015 and 2016. 12
Sporting KC II
www.SportingKC.com/SportingKCII BAILEY SPARKS 43
BROOKS THOMPSON
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 12/30/2002 (17 years old) HEIGHT: 6-0 WEIGHT: 150 lbs. HOMETOWN: Dallas, TX BIRTHPLACE: Tampa, FL COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Solar SC Academy
POSITION: Goalkeeper BORN: 05/28/2002 (18 years old) HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 170 lbs. HOMETOWN: Floyds Knobs, IN BIRTHPLACE: Jefferson, IN COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: Sporting KC Academy
Sparks led Solar SC to the U-17 Development Academy Championship during the 2018-19 season, playing a pivotal role in the run. Sparks had a goal and an assist in the 3-2 victory over LA Galaxy in the semifinal before recording another assist in the final, a 1-1 draw with Concorde Fire that Solar won 4-2 on penalty kicks. Sparks’ performance during the postseason tournament earned him the Golden Ball for the U-17 division, honoring the best player of the USSDA Playoffs. In the curtailed 2019-20 Development Academy season, Sparks made 15 appearances for the club’s U-19 team, tallying 10 goals. Since the start of 2016, Sparks played in 100 games for Solar SC and found the net 48 times.
JARET TOWNSEND
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The Sporting KC Academy welcomed Thompson in the summer of 2018 after he spent the previous two years with IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He represented the IMG U-14s in 2016-17 and the IMG U-17s in 2017-18, having moved to Florida from his native Indiana in 2016. He played a leading role for the Sporting Kansas City Academy U-19s during the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy campaign. He signed a USL Championship contract last year for Sporting Kansas City II and made one appearance, helping the side to a victory over Hartford Athletic on July 17.
DUVAL WAPIWO 35
POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/29/2000 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-10 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Highlands Ranch, CO BIRTHPLACE: Highlands Ranch, CO COLLEGE: U niversity of Washington LAST CLUB: None
PRONUNCIATION: doo-VAHL wah-PEEwoh POSITION: Midfielder BORN: 01/20/2000 (20 years old) HEIGHT: 5-9 WEIGHT: 160 lbs. HOMETOWN: Yaounde, Cameroon BIRTHPLACE: Yaounde, Cameroon COLLEGE: N one LAST CLUB: MFK Vyskov (Czech Republic)
Townsend was selected in the Third Round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting KC and spent the first portion of preseason with the first team before joining Sporting II when the USL Championship side’s preseason began in early February. Townsend started 42 of 75 career appearances in four seasons at the University of Washington from 20162019, helping the Huskies reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship last month. The midfielder’s standout senior campaign was highlighted by a career-best seven goals, including two in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
Wapiwo rose through the ranks at Apejes FC de Mfou in his native Cameroon before joining MFK Vyskov in early 2019. He spent 2019 on loan from MFK Vyskov in the USL Championship with North Carolina FC, making five appearances for the club in the regular season and two in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He joined Sporting Kansas City II ahead of the 2020 campaign.
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