Sporting KC partnered with USL PRO clubs Orlando City SC and OKC Energy FC for the 2014 season. As part of the agreement, Sporting KC loaned players to the clubs to play games and gain experience throughout the year. With the USL PRO regular season now complete, we recap the performances of our club affiliates and loanees.
OKC Energy FC concluded their inaugural USL PRO season with a 1-0 win at the Orange County Blues on Saturday. Sporting KC midfielder Christian Duke played the full 90 minutes and Kyle Greig bagged his team-leading ninth goal on the hour mark to seal the victory.
Former Sporting KC captain Jimmy Nielsen ended his first year as head coach with a 9-14-5 record (32 points) as 10th place OKC fell five points short of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Energy FC endured a roller coaster season, stumbling out of the gates with just two wins in their first nine games and a second round exit in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Nielsen's team caught stride in June, however, and rode an eight-match unbeaten streak through the end of July that lifted them as high as sixth in the league standings. The club's form dipped during the final quarter of the campaign, as the season-ending win snapped a six-game losing streak.
Five Sporting KC players -- Duke, Kevin Ellis, Jimmy Medranda, Jon Kempin and Mikey Lopez -- saw action for OKC in 2014. Lopez led the group in total appearances (14) and was the lone goal scorer. He was also the only player to also feature for Orlando City SC. Duke accumulated the most assists (three) and minutes played (912).
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>USL PRO Affiliate(s)</strong> |
<strong>Loan Spell(s)</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>MIN</strong> |
<strong>Goals</strong> |
<strong>Assists</strong> |
<a href="//www.sportingkc.com/players/christian-duke">Christian Duke</a> |
Energy FC |
3/17 - 6/4<br>
8/21 - 9/6 |
13 |
912 |
0 |
3 |
<a href="//www.sportingkc.com/players/kevin-ellis">Kevin Ellis</a> |
Energy FC |
4/21 - 5/16<br>
8/24 |
5 |
446 |
0 |
0 |
<a href="//www.sportingkc.com/players/jimmy-medranda">Jimmy Medranda</a> |
Energy FC |
7/10 - 9/1 |
9 |
412 |
0 |
0 |
<a href="//www.sportingkc.com/players/mikey-lopez">Mikey Lopez</a> |
Orlando City<br>
Energy FC |
3/17 - 6/4<br>
6/4 - 6/30 |
9<br>
5 |
169<br>
366 |
1<br>
0 |
0<br>
1 |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>USL PRO Affiliate</strong> |
<strong>Loan spell</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>Record</strong> |
<strong>GAA</strong> |
<strong>Shutouts</strong> |
<strong>Saves</strong> |
<a href="//www.sportingkc.com/players/jon-kempin">Jon Kempin</a> |
Energy FC |
3/17 - 7/9 |
13 |
5-7-1 |
1.38 |
5 |
37 |
Orlando City, meanwhile, lifted their third USL PRO Commissioners Cup in four seasons after beating the Richmond Kickers 1-0 on Saturday. Adrian Heath's side capped the regular season at 19-4-5 (62 points), seven points clear of second place Sacramento Republic FC. The Lions begin their defense of the USL PRO crown when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders in this Saturday's quarterfinal round.
Next year, the club will become Major League Soccer's 21st franchise and the first located in the state of Florida since the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny folded in 2001.
