Piatczyc Selected for Showcase

Sporting Kansas City Junior Joey Piatczyc was selected as one of 78 developmental players to compete in the 2011 Winter Showcase's Academy Select Teams in Sarasota, Fla. The 78 players will be divided into four select teams by U.S. Soccer technical staff. The showcase will consist of two games for each team to be played at the Premier Sports Complex on December 3, 2011.

Earlier this year, Piatczyc made his debut for Sporting Kansas City in a Reserve League victory over Colorado Rapids. Piatczyc,who was born in 1996, is the youngest player to enter a Reserve match for Sporting Kansas City this season.

Kempin Plays for US

For those who haven't heard about Jon Kempin's recent accolades, check out the pictures and press release below about his appearances with the US Under-20 National Team last week. He's also taking a trip to Israel with the US Under-18 National Team next week. Congrats, Jon!

Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin, the team’s first Home Grown Player, was selected to the United States Under-20 National Team last week for two matches in the Torneo de las Americas in Kennesaw, Georgia. Kempin started both matches and played every minute in the tournament, a round-robin invitational featuring Colombia and Mexico. Kempin made six saves against Colombia on Friday in his first-ever appearance for the Under-20 team, as the United States fell 3-1 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in regulation. On Sunday, Kempin recorded eight saves in another 1-1 draw before the United States dropped a 4-2 penalty kick shootout against Mexico.

Kempin, one of two goalkeepers on the 18-player roster, joined Thomas Rongen's squad for his first under-20 selection after previously participating at the under-18 level and taking part in the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program. The 17-year-old from Leawood, Kansas has played in all four U.S. Soccer Development Academy games for the u18 Juniors this year and flew immediately following a u18 match against the Dallas Texans to join the Under-20 National Team. Kempin will return to action with the u18 Juniors in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Phoenix this weekend and was selected to the 1992/93 Academy Select team for the second straight year.

Following the Winter Showcase, Kempin will fly to Tel Aviv, Israel after accepting an invitation from the United States Under-18 National Team for games against France, Germany and Israel under head coach Mike Matkovich.

Day One of Winter Showcase

The u16 and u18 Juniors arrived in Phoenix on Thursday for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase and began play today. Both teams faced Cosmos Academy East, whose u16s and u18s were in first place in the Liberty Division with perfect 2-0-0 records entering the match.

The Sporting u18s kicked off first and came back to earn a 1-1 draw. After a scoreless first half, Luckas Throckmorton scored the Juniors goal on an assist from Shane Bowlen. The u16s followed with a draw of their own, tying the Cosmos 2-2. Derek Schrick twice gave the Juniors a lead, first on an assist from David Leichty and then later firing home his own rebound.

The u16 and u18 Juniors will play their second games tomorrow against another team from the East Conference, South Central Premier.

U18's goalkeeper Jon Kempin will have an extra match to participate in on Saturday, as he was selected for the 1992/1993 Academy Select showcase match. Out of all 78 Academy Teams in attendance at this weekend's event, Kempin is part of a very elite group of players identified for the game.

We'll have another post up soon about Kempin, who has been representing more than just Sporting Kansas City as of late.

U.S.Soccer Federation Speak with U16's Jonathan Kempin

The Academy Select Team gets ready for a match at the Winter Showcase










There is a great article on ussoccer.com talking about how the Development Academy is helping to identify players for the the National Teams. Our boy Jonathan Kempin was interviewd and had a lot of great comments in regards to the quality of games being played and ways he can help his teammates through his U17 Resedency experiences.

To read the article in its entiriety, Click Here

Jonathan Kempin makes Academy Select Team

As you know the Juniors are in Phoenix right now at the Third annual Winter Showcase and our U16's Gk made the "Academy Select Team". In addition to the four national teams, eight Development Academy Select Teams will be featured throughout the weekend. Four teams comprised of players born in 1993, three with players born in 1994 and one made up of players born in 1991 and 1992 will play together across the weekend. Development Academy Select Teams are comprised of 130 total players who were chosen by youth national team coaches and U.S. Soccer’s youth national team scouting network. They will have a unique opportunity to play alongside some of the top players in their age group while competing against either an Academy club team or another Select Team. To see a list of all those you made the Select Teams, click here.