Academy

Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update: May 30, 2012

Sapong San Jose  Celebrate

Sporting KC advances in Open Cup play
Updated Sporting KC training schedule
Sporting KC signs Kyle Miller
Nominate a Community MVP in MLS W.O.R.K.S. contest
Sapong up for MLS Goal of the Week
Sporting KC duo join national teams
Sporting KC in the community
Sporting KC topple San Jose Earthquakes
Sporting 22 Class of 2012 unveiled
Sporting KC and Ink Magazine sponsor summer beer festival
Sporting KC to host Stoke City FC on August 1
Register for the Sporting Club 3v3 Classic Tournament
Make It 'Appen: Design a Sporting KC App and Win Season Tickets
Prorated 2012 Season Ticket Plans Available
Join Sporting KC Over the Airwaves
Sporting KC Unveils Boys and Girls Youth Soccer Camps for 2012
*Follow Sporting KC Online


SPORTING KC ADVANCES IN U.S. OPEN CUP PLAY

Sporting Kansas City advanced to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round  on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Orlando City SC at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Second-year striker Soony Saad scored twice in a four-minute span during the second half to complement Paulo Nagamura's strike in first-half stoppage time.


Sporting Kansas City will next host the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, June 5 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Tickets to the match are included for all Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members and are available to  purchase at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices.


UPDATED SPORTING KC TRAINING SCHEDULE

Sporting Kansas City will train at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday at the Sporting Club Training Center at Swope Park. Visit SportingKC.com/calendar for all the latest times/dates for upcoming Sporting Kansas City events.


All media members planning to attend practice are encouraged to contact Alice Schroeder (913-302-1565) of the Sporting Kansas City communications department in advance for assistance in facilitating media access and availability.

SPORTING KC SIGNS KYLE MILLER


Sporting Kansas City announced Wednesday  that the club has signed 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft pick Kyle Miller. The Overland Park, Kan. native was a former member of the Sporting Kansas City Juniors youth academy and attended St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. before playing collegiately at Rockhurst University.


Miller, 23, has appeared in three MLS Reserve League matches this season for Sporting KC and played in the team's 2-0 exhibition win over his alma mater Rockhurst University. He also earned minutes in three pre-season matches, debuting in a 5-1 win over FC Tucson and scoring in a 4-1 win over the United States Under-17 National Team in Orlando, Fla.


Miller appeared in 80 matches in his collegiate career, recording three goals and seven assists, and enjoyed a standout senior season in 2011 that saw him receive recognition including All-Conference, All-Midwest and All-America honors. He anchored a Hawks' defense which allowed only seven goals during the 2011 season, fewest in the nation, and helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.


NOMINATE A COMMUNITY MVP IN MLS W.O.R.K.S. CONTEST

Major League Soccer is in the midst of searching for the 2012 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP. The four-week contest, in its third year of existence, started on May 24th and the League will be accepting nominations until June 21st at 6:59pm CT. 


The contest gives fans throughout the League an opportunity to nominate themselves or other individuals who are committed to going above and beyond to make a difference in their communities. Winners will be selected based on their efforts in one of the following areas: general community service; youth programming; environmental sustainability; health and wellness; education; military or civic service. 


One Community MVP will be chosen to represent each of the 19 MLS clubs and will receive a prize package. The Sporting Kansas City representative's prize pack will include: 4 VIP tickets, recognition at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park prior to the match and a soccer ball signed by the team.


One grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice and a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park on July 25. Chelsea FC, winner of this year's UEFA Champions League, will return as the AT&T MLS All-Star Game opponent. The Grand Prize winner will receive roundtrip airfare for themself plus one guest, two nights' accommodation, a crystal award from Tiffany & Co. and official MLS merchandise as part of the prize package. 


The Grand Prize winner will be announced during halftime of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park. 


SAPONG UP FOR MLS GOAL OF THE WEEK

Sporting Kansas City forward CJ Sapong's left footed, bending goal from Sporting Kansas City's 2-1 win over San Jose on Sunday is nominated for MLS AT&T Goal of the Week for Week 12. Vote here or text G5 to 22442. Voting ends at 1:59 a.m. CT on Friday with the winner announced later that day.


SPORTING KC DUO JOIN NATIONAL TEAMS

Sporting Kansas City's Roger Espinoza and Kei Kamara have been selected to join their respective national teams for upcoming international matches. 


Espinoza joins Honduras for a friendly against El Salvador on June 2 and two World Cup Qualifiers on June 8 and 12 against Panama and Canada, respectively. Kamara joins Sierra Leone for World Cup Qualifiers on June 2 and 9 against Cape Verde Islands and Equatorial Guinea, as well as an Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Sao Tome & Prinicipe on June 15.


Espinoza and Kamara will rejoin Sporting Kansas City immediately following their international duty.


SPORTING KC IN THE COMMUNITY

Sporting Kansas City players will hang up their cleats and take part in several community appearances this week. Visit SportingKC.com/calendar to see a full list of Sporting KC events, including the following:


  • Kerry Zavagnin, Michael Thomas and Jon Kempin will be helping with an Ability Camp from 6-7:45 p.m. on Thursday at the Sporting Club Training Center at Swope Park.
  • Sporting Kansas City announcers Callum Williams and Jake Yadrich will be signing autographs on Saturday at the Lee's Summit Downtown Days Festival.


For more information on these appearances, contact Staci Schottman in the Community Relations Department at sschottman@sportingkc.com.


SPORTING KC TOPPLE SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Sporting Kansas City picked up the team's eighth win of the season, second most in MLS, with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Kei Kamara assisted on C.J. Sapong's goal in the fourth minute and scored the match-winner in the 39th minute as Sporting KC improved to 8-3-1 overall and 6-1-1 against the Western Conference.


SPORTING 22 CLASS OF 2012 UNVEILED

Sporting Club announced Thursday the 22 high school students chosen for the Sporting 22 Class of 2012. Visit SportingKC.com to see the full list of students. 


Sporting 22 is a community outreach program, established in 2011, to bring together 22 admirable high school students to envision and create local opportunities to positively impact community health and well-being for kids in the Kansas City area. Students will activate their unique programs between the months of June and December. 


This year's presenting sponsor, Teva Neuroscience, along with supporting sponsors Pepsi, the Kansas City Soccer Foundation and the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation are awarding $2,000 college scholarships to each high school student. Sporting 22 will also name a class valedictorian that will be awarded an additional $2,000 scholarship. Further rewards include a sports equipment package and an official Sporting 22 jacket. 


The Class of 2012  will be recognized at the Sporting 22 Night on Wednesday, October 24 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.


SPORTING KC AND INK MAGAZINE SPONSOR SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL

Sporting Kansas City and Ink Magazine have teamed up with BeerKC to present its first annual Summer Beer Festival, a tribute to craft beers. The event will take place from 5-9 p.m. on June 9 at Pennsylvania Avenue, between McCoy's and Kelly's in Westport. The event will benefit AIDS Walk Kansas City.


More than 20 breweries will be showcased during the event. Participants will receive a commemorative tasting glass and will be able to sample the variety of beers. Sporting Kansas City players will also be in attendance. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For more information visit here.


SPORTING KC TO HOST STOKE CITY FC ON AUGUST 1

Sporting Kansas City will host Stoke City FC of the Barclays Premier League at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Ticket prices begin at $20 and are on sale now


Founded in 1863, Stoke City are the oldest club in the Premier League and are led by Manager Tony Pulis and forward Peter Crouch, an England international with 22 goals in 42 appearances.


REGISTER FOR THE SPORTING CLUB 3v3 CLASSIC TOURNAMENT

GSI Sports & Sporting Kansas City are proud to host the 13th annual Sporting Club 3v3 Classic on July 7, 2012 at the Stump Park Soccer Complex in Shawnee, Kan. All teams will receive tickets to the Sporting KC vs. Houston Dynamo match and championship games will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park after Sporting Kansas City's Eastern Conference championship rematch with the Dynamo. 


For more information and to register your team, click here.


MAKE IT 'APPEN: DESIGN A SPORTING KC APP AND WIN SEASON TICKETS

Sporting Kansas City has announced a one-of-a-kind opportunity for amateur developers. Sporting Kansas City needs your ideas for a game or app associated with soccer that can be played on a mobile device. The creator of the winning idea will receive two Sporting Kansas City Season Tickets for the 2013 season and on-field recognition at a Sporting KC match.


To submit an entry, visit SportingMembership.com/AppContest and complete the online application form at the bottom of the page. The deadline to submit entries is midnight on Monday, June 3. 


All entries will be reviewed by a panel (comprised of Sporting Kansas City front office personnel) to determine up to four finalists.  Finalists will be determined by Monday, June 25. Each finalist will then have the opportunity to pitch their idea in person to this panel.  The winner will be announced at the July 21 Sporting KC match vs. New England Revolution.


PRORATED 2012 SEASON TICKET PLANS AVAILABLE

Sporting Kansas City prorated season ticket plans are available for the remainder of the 2012 Major League Soccer season. The benefits include discounted rates, priority for purchasing playoff tickets, preferred parking and access to special events.  


For ticket information, visit www.sportingkc.com or call 888-4KC-GOAL.


JOIN SPORTING KC OVER THE AIRWAVES

The State Line Soccer Show will be available over the airwaves on Thursday with hosts Callum Williams and Jake Yadrich on 610 Sports Radio. Call 913-576-7610 to join the discussion around all the latest news.


SPORTING KC UNVEILS BOYS AND GIRLS YOUTH SOCCER CAMPS FOR 2012

Sporting Kansas City and the Sporting Kansas City Juniors youth development academy will again offer a series of youth soccer camps in 2012 for boys and girls of all ages. Please see the list of scheduled camps below:



FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE 

Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the worldwide web now have a place to go. The new social media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.