After going unbeaten in six games in the month of June, the Swope Park Rangers (8-4-2, 3rd place) will look to extend the USL’s longest active undefeated streak when the team hosts Rio Grande Valley FC (6-6-2, 8th place) at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Victory Field.
Tickets for the “Christmas in July” themed match-up are available online at SeatGeek.com or at the venue box office prior to kick off. Festivities will include photo opportunities for fans, prize giveaways and a special appearance by Santa at Swope Soccer Village.
SPR has risen to third place in the Western Conference standings with three straight victories and will now kick off an important stretch of four games in 13 days. Club captain Christian Duke has played every minute for the Rangers this season and the team’s first signing remains the only player to have appeared in all 48 matches in SPR’s short history.
Duke, whose 18 chances created this season are most on the team, will lead the Rangers against a Rio Grande Valley FC side that finished second in the Western Conference in their inaugural season in 2016. This year, under new head coach Junior Gonzalez, RGVFC is back in playoff position thanks to a stout defense that conceded just five goals in their opening nine games.
Saturday’s meeting will be the fifth all time, and second of the season, between the Rangers and Toros. In May, Rio Grande Valley FC claimed a 1-0 victory at home on Todd Wharton’s first professional goal to improve RGVFC to 3-1-0 in the series with SPR.
The USL Week 16 fixture will be streamed live on SportingKC.com and can also be followed online via the USLsoccer.com MatchCenter.
Game 15
Date: Saturday, July 8, 2017
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
Location: Swope Soccer Village (Kansas City, Mo.)
Swope Park Rangers: 8-4-2 (26 pts), 3rd in Western Conference.
MLS Affiliate: Sporting Kansas City
Rio Grande Valley FC: 6-6-2 (20 pts), 8th in Western Conference.
MLS Affiliate: Houston Dynamo
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: The game will be broadcast on SportingKC.com and YouTube.com/USL
Talent: Carter Augustine (play-by-play), Molly Dreska (analyst)
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #SPRvRGV
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Rio Grande Valley FC
Twitter: @RGVFC
Instagram: @RGVFC
GAME NOTES
