Home Field Advantage

Another weekend, same results for the U18s. They were named Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week last week and followed suit with two more wins this past weekend.

At the Sporting Club Training Center at Swope Park, the U18s took out Minnesota Thunder 2-0 on Saturday and beat Shattuck-Saint Mary’s 3-2 on Sunday.

Tom Adams scored for the third straight game, opening with a goal in the second minute against the Thunder. Andrew Mobberley and Jordy Rideout also netted one goal apiece. Sunday's game-winner (broke a 2-2 deadlock) came in the last minute of stoppage time from Garrett Pulliam on a breakaway down the right side of the pitch. Nothing like a perfect ending to the weekend to bring the U18s into second place in the USSDA, one point behind Real Colorado.

The U16s dominated the Thunder on Saturday, beating them 3-0, a team they previously drew 0-0 in Minnesota. Captain Eric DeJulio scored the first goal of the game in the first half. From there, SKC rolled with Nate Opperman and Steven Enna also finding the back of the net. The U16s lost on Sunday 0-1 to Saint Mary’s, but still hold a nice four-point lead in the table.

Enna, along with Dante Guerrero, DeBray Hollimon, Joey Piatczyc, Cole Stevenson and Jake Wood were brought up from the U15 squad for the weekend since their team was off. Head Coach Jon Parry was pleased with how the younger kids performed when given the chance to play with the U16s.

USSDA Weekend Results

The SKC Juniors traveled to St. Louis this weekend for USSDA action. It was mostly a good trip for the teams as the U18s got back on track with two wins and two clean sheets. After a run of three straight poor results, it looks like they have things under control.

The U18s beat St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro 2-0 on Saturday and SLSG Missouri 3-0 on Sunday. This is a week after losing to the same Missouri team, 1-3 at home. Tom Adams came away with a goal in each match. Shane Bowlen, Garrett Pulliam and Will Witherspoon also scored on the weekend. Jon Kempin started in net both games and recorded two clean sheets, not a bad showing for the USA U18 call-up.

Photo Credit: Daniel Russell

The U18s now sit at third in the standings with the two weekend wins.

The U16s weren’t as successful, but were still able to pick up some road points. They beat SLSG Metro 2-0 and lost to SLSG Missouri 1-3. Nevertheless, the U16s were still able to retain their spot in first place.

After making his first appearance last week in over a year because of injury, Chris Tuso scored his first goal of the season on Saturday. Daniel Hare and Wes White were the other U16 scorers on the weekend with Jacole Turner picking up the clean sheet against SLSG Metro.

National Signing Day

Will Witherspoon signing for Virginia Tech

February 2nd marked the official National Signing Day, when high school seniors across the country could send in their Letters of Intent for the first time to commit to college programs to continue their playing careers. Congratulations go to nine players from the Sporting Kansas City U18's who were announced amongst the signing classes for a range of schools across the nation.

• Marques Mayoras is set to travel north and join an Ohio State soccer team that has brought Sporting KC a number of players in the past few seasons with recent draft pick Konrad Warzycha, as well as current starter Roger Espinoza.
• Konner Knoll and Jordan Rideout will remain teammates as they are each headed to nearby University of Missouri - Kansas City. In 2010, UMKC finished as the No. 1 team in the Summit League. Both Knoll and Rideout were given the chance to train with the Sporting KC senior squad last fall.
• Paul Oliver and Tom Adams will join Knoll and Rideout in the Summit League, but with opponent Oral Roberts.
• Forward Will Witherspoon (pictured above) is going out east to the ACC to join Virginia Tech. Witherspoon was another player who played in every game last season for the Juniors.
• Lee's Summit North High School teammates Shane Bowlen and Michael Oakley will aim to grab spots on the back line at William Jewell. The Cardinals made it to the NAIA Final Four last season.
• Asher Herbet will sign his LOI to Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus) on Thursday at Shawnee Mission South H.S.