With rapid offseason expansion for the USL, Sacramento Republic FC are set to face four new additions to the USL Western Conference: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, San Antonio FC, Swope Park Rangers KC and Saint Louis FC.
Before the start of the 2016 USL season, which kicks off on Mar. 25, we’re continuing our series of previews of the new opponents Republic FC will face this season. After earlier looks at San Antonio FC and Saint Louis FC, get to know expansion side Swope Park Rangers KC.
With rapid offseason expansion for the USL, Sacramento Republic FC are set to face four new additions to the USL Western Conference: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, San Antonio FC, Swope Park Rangers KC and Saint Louis FC.
Before the start of the 2016 USL season, which kicks off on Mar. 25, we’re continuing our series of previews of the new opponents Republic FC will face this season. After earlier looks at San Antonio FC and Saint Louis FC, get to know expansion side Swope Park Rangers KC.
Swope Park Rangers KC are owned by Sporting Kansas FC and take their name from a local park their now-defunct reserves team previously used for their training facilities.
One of three MLS-owned franchises coming into the league for the upcoming season, Swope Park Rangers have already made an impact in the preseason building up to their debut season in the USL.
Swope Park Rangers KC are owned by Sporting Kansas FC and take their name from a local park their now-defunct reserves team previously used for their training facilities.
One of three MLS-owned franchises coming into the league for the upcoming season, Swope Park Rangers have already made an impact in the preseason building up to their debut season in the USL.
Swope Park Rangers KC spent part of the 2016 preseason in Arizona, training and participating in the Desert Diamond Cup against teams from the MLS, USL and PDL. In their first match in club history, Swope Park defeated the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 3-1 in a friendly on Wednesday, Feb. 17, before going on to tie against fellow USL club Arizona United SC and MLS club Columbus Crew. Swope Park ended their run in the Desert Diamond Cup undefeated.
Aside from their training in Arizona, Swope Park Rangers will also face off against three college teams before the start of the USL season. Swope Park Rangers’ first college scrimmage will be against Rockhurst University on Saturday, Mar. 12, before welcoming Creighton University to Swope Park Village on Saturday, Mar. 19. Swope Park Rangers will face their last college opponent, University of Tulsa, on April 16.
At the helm of Swope Park is Marc Dos Santos, who was appointed head coach in November 2015. Last season, Dos Santos led the NASL’s Ottawa Fury FC to the 2015 NASL Fall Championship, before dropping the NASL Soccer Bowl to the New York Cosmos. Despite not capturing the NASL Championship, Dos Santos was named the 2015 NASL Coach of the Year. In 2009, before the club made the jump to MLS, Dos Santos also led Montreal Impact to the United Soccer Leagues First Division Championship,
Dos Santos’ roster includes a mix of players with a wide variety of experience, such as Tommy Meyer, who spent his time with the LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy II between 2012 and 2016 before signing with Swope Park this year. The team boasts a very diverse roster, with players from Mali, Jamaica, Cape Verde, Brazil, El Salvador, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Nigeria, U.S. and Canada.
Republic FC and Swope Park Rangers will face each other just once in the regular season this year, on Saturday, May 28, at Bonney Field. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Single match tickets and season tickets for all 2016 Republic FC home matches are now on sale. For single match tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com. To learn more about season tickets visitwww.sacrepublicfc.com or call (916) 307-6100.
Swope Park Rangers KC spent part of the 2016 preseason in Arizona, training and participating in the Desert Diamond Cup against teams from the MLS, USL and PDL. In their first match in club history, Swope Park defeated the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 3-1 in a friendly on Wednesday, Feb. 17, before going on to tie against fellow USL club Arizona United SC and MLS club Columbus Crew. Swope Park ended their run in the Desert Diamond Cup undefeated.
Aside from their training in Arizona, Swope Park Rangers will also face off against three college teams before the start of the USL season. Swope Park Rangers’ first college scrimmage will be against Rockhurst University on Saturday, Mar. 12, before welcoming Creighton University to Swope Park Village on Saturday, Mar. 19. Swope Park Rangers will face their last college opponent, University of Tulsa, on April 16.
At the helm of Swope Park is Marc Dos Santos, who was appointed head coach in November 2015. Last season, Dos Santos led the NASL’s Ottawa Fury FC to the 2015 NASL Fall Championship, before dropping the NASL Soccer Bowl to the New York Cosmos. Despite not capturing the NASL Championship, Dos Santos was named the 2015 NASL Coach of the Year. In 2009, before the club made the jump to MLS, Dos Santos also led Montreal Impact to the United Soccer Leagues First Division Championship,
Dos Santos’ roster includes a mix of players with a wide variety of experience, such as Tommy Meyer, who spent his time with the LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy II between 2012 and 2016 before signing with Swope Park this year. The team boasts a very diverse roster, with players from Mali, Jamaica, Cape Verde, Brazil, El Salvador, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Nigeria, U.S. and Canada.
Republic FC and Swope Park Rangers will face each other just once in the regular season this year, on Saturday, May 28, at Bonney Field. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.
Single match tickets and season tickets for all 2016 Republic FC home matches are now on sale. For single match tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com. To learn more about season tickets visitwww.sacrepublicfc.com or call (916) 307-6100.