In 2016, the Swope Park Rangers became just the second USL expansion team to make an appearance in the USL Cup Final, following Sacramento Republic FC’s example from 2014. The Rangers hit a rich vein of form at the tail end of the season that propelled the side toward becoming Western Conference Champions, but the story of the season is riddled with triumphs and setbacks. We look back at the 10 most significant games of the 2016 Swope Park Rangers season.
Swope Park Rangers 2-1 Portland Timbers 2 – March 26, 2016
The Rangers were victorious in their first-ever game with a 2-1 win over Portland Timbers 2 at Children’s Mercy Park. Following a productive preseason, SPR came out flying and became the fifth MLS-owned USL team to win their inaugural USL matchup. Kevin Oliveira gave the Rangers the lead just after halftime from the penalty spot before Daniel Salloi added a second late on. Nick Besler pulled a goal back for Timbers 2 with seconds remaining as SPR held on to claim all three points.
OKC Energy FC 1-0 Swope Park Rangers – April 23, 2016
The Swope Park Rangers went unbeaten in their first three games (2-0-1) but tasted defeat for the first time against regional rival OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium. Both sides had their chances throughout the contest, but it was the Energy who made full use of their home-field advantage, notching a 79th-minute goal through Kalen Ryden’s header. The scoreline could’ve been more lopsided had it not been for SPR goalkeeper Jon Kempin, who produced five excellent saves on the night.
Swope Park Rangers 4-0 Rio Grande Valley FC – June 8, 2016
Winless in their previous three games, the Rangers entered a midweek encounter with Rio Grande Valley FC still reeling from a 4-1 road defeat to the Toros just two and a half weeks earlier. The score could not have been more different on a balmy June night, with SPR hitting RGV early and often on the way to their biggest victory of the season. Mark Anthony Gonzalez tallied twice in the 23rd and 27th minutes, before Kevin Oliveira added a third just before the break. Oliveira completed a masterful performance on his 20th birthday with his third assist of the day on Daniel Salloi’s 70th-minute goal to complete the rout.
Seattle Sounders FC 2 0-2 Swope Park Rangers – June 26, 2016
That 4-0 victory over Rio Grande had felt like a turning point for the Rangers, but it was swiftly followed by back-to-back defeats to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and OKC Energy FC. Preparation for a Sunday clash in Seattle took a serious hit when key midfielder Kevin Oliveira went down in training with a torn ACL in his left knee. Oliveira had played in every game up to that point, scoring three goals and leading the league with four assists. Still, SPR headed to Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. and battled to a 2-0 victory behind goals from Kris Tyrpak and Mark Anthony Gonzalez. The Rangers were finally beginning to find their feet and lost just three of their final 15 regular-season games.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1-1 Swope Park Rangers – July 20, 2016
The Rangers entered a midweek contest in Colorado Springs on the back of a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to OKC Energy FC where the team showed well, but conceded two late goals to fall to the Energy for the third time in 2016. For a period against the Switchbacks, it looked like the same old story. Despite producing a solid road performance, the game entered second-half stoppage time with Colorado Springs leading 1-0 after Mike Seth’s 61st-minute goal. Then, in the fifth of six added minutes, substitute Alex Molano stepped up to curl home a sumptuous free kick into the top corner from the edge of the area, earning SPR a point against the Western Conference’s eventual third seed.
Swope Park Rangers 2-1 San Antonio FC – July 30, 2016
Up until the end of July, the recipe for taking points from the Rangers was simple – score first, and you won’t lose. SPR had never come from behind to win a game in 2016, going 0-6-2 when conceding the opening goal. The Rangers’ mettle was tested once again on what the city proclaimed as Swope Park Rangers Appreciation Day, as Michael Reed put the visiting San Antonio FC ahead with a low strike in the 30th minute. That lead would hold for approximately 40 minutes until Dane Kelly’s towering header dragged the Rangers level, and Mark Anthony Gonzalez pounced on a loose ball with six minutes remaining as the Rangers produced their first-ever comeback victory.
Swope Park Rangers 1-1 Saint Louis FC – August 21, 2016
In the Rangers’ second of two games at Children’s Mercy Park in 2016, the side hosted cross-state rival Saint Louis FC with the season series tied at 1-1-1. The Rangers were one spot outside of the USL Cup Playoff picture at the time, sitting one point behind Arizona United SC. SPR were on the front foot for the majority of the game, outshooting Saint Louis 15-10, with a 7-3 difference in shots on goal, but once again found themselves trailing in the dying moments. Vince Cicciarelli had pounced on a slack back pass from Tommy Meyer before beating Zac Lubin to give the visitors the lead in the 80th minute against the run of play. Refusing to lie down, the Rangers hit back with an 89th-minute equalizer from Akeil Barrett – who was making his debut after signing for the club six days earlier.
OKC Energy FC 0-3 Swope Park Rangers – September 18, 2016
The Rangers truly found their form following that 1-1 draw with Saint Louis FC, and ended up closing out the regular-season by winning six of their final seven games. None was more important than a domineering 3-0 victory over OKC Energy FC that clinched a berth in the USL Cup Playoffs for SPR. Despite losing all three earlier meetings with the Energy, the Rangers came flying out of the blocks and swept OKC aside in the opening half, finding the net through Dane Kelly, Mark Anthony Gonzalez and Tyler Pasher. The victory inflicted OKC’s largest home defeat of the season and tied for the widest margin of defeat at home in the club’s three-year history.
Swope Park Rangers 2-1 Orange County Blues FC – October 9, 2016
Taking 18 of their final 21 points available earned the Rangers the fourth seed in the Western Conference heading into the USL Cup Playoffs, and a 3-0 victory over LA Galaxy II in the Western Conference Quarterfinals saw SPR afforded a favorable run in the Playoffs. All three higher seeds fell at the Quarterfinal stage, giving the Rangers home-field advantage for the remainder of the Conference Playoffs. The Conference Semifinal started perfectly for the Rangers, with Mark Anthony Gonzalez slotting home his 12th goal of the season to give the hosts a halftime lead. However, the game turned on its head midway through the second half, as first Ever Alvarado was shown a straight red card before Orange County’s Max Rauhofer equalized a minute later. In the 88th minute, Tommy Meyer was sent off as the Rangers entered extra time playing with nine men and facing a seemingly impossible task to advance. Moments before halftime in extra time, the Rangers took the most unlikely of leads. Nansel Selbol found Dane Kelly in the Blues half and he beat the ‘keeper from 25 yards to give SPR a 2-1 lead. A combination of heroic defending and opportunistic breaks forward guided the Rangers through the final 15 minutes of the game as the side advanced to the Western Conference Final.
Swope Park Rangers 3-0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – October 15, 2016
The Rangers first chance at silverware came exactly one week before the one-year anniversary of the club's introduction to the USL. Kris Tyrpak scored twice in the opening half to give his side a commanding lead heading into the break and a backline that needed to be reshuffled following the suspensions to Ever Alvarado and Tommy Meyer kept a very talented Whitecaps FC 2 side at bay. Dane Kelly added a third late on as the Rangers ran out comfortable victors and hoisted the Western Conference Championship Trophy on their way to the USL Cup Final. Goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas and his defense posted their fifth shutout in the last seven games, having won all seven games and outscored their opposition 19-2 in that time.
