2016 Moments of the Year

One last look back at 2016, here are my end of year awards for moment of the year in 2016.

Game of the year - Comets vs Mustangs 12/3/16 - Shutouts don't happen often in indoor soccer, since the Kansas City Comets rebirth back in 2010, the Comets had never had one. That changed in December of this year when the Comets defeated the previously unbeaten Chicago Mustangs 6-0 at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. The Comets jumped out to a two goal lead in the first quarter thanks to goals by Ignacio Flores and Lucas Rodriguez. After a scoreless second quarter, Rodriguez scored his second goal of the game off a set piece with a second assist to John Sosa and the Comets were up 3-0.

The Comets extended their lead early in the fourth quarter as Odaine Sinclair scored two minutes in to make it 4-0. Vahid Assadpour added a goal before Ramone Palmer scored with less than a minute left against the sixth attacker to make it 6-0. For his part in goal for the Comets, Stephen Paterson faced 19 shots, saving all of them in route to the shutout.



Goal of the Year - Brad Davis vs Galaxy - When Sporting KC brought in Brad Davis, Sporting was expecting to get another player to help set up goals while scoring a few himself. The assists never really came for Davis in Kansas City, but he did score some important goals for KC early on against LA and Toronto. The one that wins goal of the year is his finish against the LA Galaxy that seemed to even impress him. In the 30th minute of a scoreless game, Graham Zusi headed a long ball into the path of an on-rushing Davis. Davis chased the ball into the box and took a single touch, cutting the ball back that allowed him to beat both Emmanuel Boateng and Jelle Van Damme. With his second touch he curled a beautiful shot with his left foot that curled around goalkeeper Brian Rowe as he dove for the ball, and inside the far post to put Sporting up 1-0 on the Galaxy. Davis didn't have a ton of highlights in his final season of professional soccer, but this was certainly one of them.



Assist of the Year - Benny Feilhaber vs Orlando - I'm cheating just a little bit because it's the secondary assist, but I'm a sucker for Feilhaber's scoop passes. Down 1-0 in the 74th minute, Feilhaber received a ball just outside the top of the box, took a touch and scooped the ball into the box for substitute, Jacob Peterson, who headed the ball back into the middle for Dom Dwyer, who headed the ball in to tie the game at 1-1 in a game KC would eventually win 2-1.



Single Game Performance of the Year - Nicole Barnhart vs Western New York - It wasn't the greatest season for FC Kansas City as they missed out on the playoffs for the first time in their history, but there were some bright spots. From the emergence of Shea Groom, to the return of Desiree Scott, to the defensive performance, FCKC had plenty of highlights. One of those was Nicole Barnart against the Wester New York Flash in July of this year. Playing against the highest scoring team in the league, KC sat a little deeper and absorbed a lot of pressure in the game. That led to a number of opportunities for the Flash. Barnhart though was up to the task, making 14 saves against the Flash in route to a 1-0 win. The performance was enough to earn Barnhart player of the week honors.



Low Point of the Year - Sporting KC vs DC United 5/27 - Heading into the game, at Children's Mercy Park, Sporting KC had won just one game in their last nine after starting the season 3-1. KC had gone 1-6-2 in the nine games priorgoing 1-2-1 at home in that stretch. KC had scored more than one goal just once in that nine game stretch (their only win) and had been shutout three times, scoring just seven goals while allowing 14. Welcoming a DC United team that was 0-2-3 on the road heading into the game. KC completely controlled the game (as KC tends to do in a lot of home games) with 58% of the possession, out shooting DC 18-5, and creating the better of the opportunities. But KC paid for putting just three of their 18 shots on goal as DC United struck late to steal all three points as Alhaji Kamara beat Tim Melia to a ball near the penalty spot, knocking the ball down and then burying his shot into the net as Melia was on the ground after coming for the ball and missing. The 1-0 loss mean that KC had won just one of their last 10, a streak that would turn into 11 games the following week after a 0-0 draw in LA before KC got back to winning against FC Dallas on June 19th.


Non-Kansas City-KC Player Moment of the Year - Matt Besler Scores First International goal - 2016 probably isn't going to go down as the best year in Matt Besler's professional soccer career. He started 2016 as Sporting KC's captain, but then lost it to Roger Espinoza, lost his starting spot with Sporting KC for a time and played the fewest games for his club since his second season as a pro in 2010. It'll still be a memorable year for Besler though as he welcomed his first child.

In early September, Besler had been called up for US national team qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Besler traveled to the game in St. Vincent and while there heard that his wife was having their first child. Due to travel, Besler was unable to leave to get home in time for the birth of his daughter so instead took the field for the US, starting in central defense for Klinsmann's side. Already up 1-0 in the 32nd minute, Graham Zusi chipped a free kick into the box where a St. Vincent defender cleared the ball right into the path of Besler who chested the ball down and blasted it into the net for his first international goal. He followed it immediately with a celebration with his teammates in honor of his just becoming a father. The US went on to win the game 6-0 and Besler left to be with his family instead of flying to Jacksonville for the second game.



KC Soccer Player of the Year - Amer Didic - No player on the KC soccer scene probably had a better year than Amer Didic did for the Swope Park Rangers and Sporting KC. The Baker product started the season as a bench player for the Rangers, getting garbage minutes at the end of the game to preserve the lead and kill some time off the clock. After a string of three straight losses and a red card to Oumar Ballo, Didic got a start in Swope's 2-1 win over Tulsa and never looked back. He started 21 of the final 24 games in the regular season for SPR and started all four of their playoff games. He formed a strong partnership with Ballo that helped carry the SPR defense to the USL final, going 13-1-2 when paired together, the only loss in the USL final. Didic's play with SPR earned him a call up to Sporting KC where he started three of KC's four CONCACAF Champions League games, the only game he didn't was the final meaningless one, just days before the USL final. Didic has already signed on to return to SPR in 2017 and continued solid performances should see him up with Sporting KC either on a temporary contract or full time soon enough.

Sporting KC Player of the Year - Dom Dwyer - Dwyer had his second most successful season in terms of goal scoring in his career this past season. Take out Dwyer's penalty kicks in 2014 and Dwyer actually scored more goals from the run of play in 2016 than he did in 2014 (16 to 15). This despite not having a secondary threat to really take the pressure off and being on Dwyer Island for long periods of time in the season.

FCKC Player of the Year - Shea Groom - The second year forward had the unevnyable task of having to try to replace the scoring of Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux, who both missed the season. Groom didn't miss a beat though, scoring eight goals for the Blues in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Groom's eight goals were good for 44% of the Blues' offense in the 2016 season. Add in Rodriguez and Leroux in 2017 and the Blues look to have a strong offense.

Comets Player of the Year - Vahid Assadpour - The Comets captain and assistant coach is one of the few remaining players who have been with the Comets since their rebirth in 2010. He finished last season third in the league in points with 23 goals and 27 assists and was a first team all league selection. So far in the 2016-2017 season he has added five goals and four assists, which is fifth on the team in goals and fourth in assists.

Newcomer of the Year - Didic - Didic does the double winning the player of the year award, and winning that it's easy to see why he's also newcomer to professional soccer in Kansas City in 2016. Didic is probably one of the leading candidates to be the next player to make the jump from the Rangers to Sporting KC permanently.

NWSL Announce Player Allocation for 2014

The NWSL today announced the player allocation for the 2014 season. As of right now, FC Kansas City is allocated seven players from the US, Canadian, and Mexican federations. Two of those players are new from last year, Amy Rodriguez, who the club traded Kristie Mewis to Seattle for, and Cecilia Santiago, a goalkeeper for Mexico. The other five are all returning players, Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Holiday, and Becky Sauerbrunn from the US and Desiree Scott and Lauren Sesselmann from Canda.

The questions on Scott's move, and Sesselmann's rumored move to Notts County are still hanging in the air, but the two as of now are expected to be in camp with FCKC. That will be something to keep an eye on in the days moving forward, especially with the expansion draft for the Houston Dash coming up soon.

Speaking of the expansion draft, it could have big implications for the Blues. Today, the Dash were allocated their first three players, one from each of the participating federations. Word is that the team's other two allocated American players will come through the expansion draft. With KC being one of two clubs (Seattle the other) with four Americans currently allocated to the club, it's easy to deduce that KC and Seattle will be the two clubs losing an allocated American.

For FCKC, with Barnhart Holiday, Rodriguez, and Sauerbrunn it's hard to decide who they'd lose. With Holiday being the league's reigning MVP, I can't see the club letting her leave. Rodriguez was just acquired from Seattle in the offseason and is another that I don't see KC being pushed to give up. That leaves Barnhart and Sauerbrunn. Currently with the addition of Santiago, KC now has three goalkeepers on their roster with Barnhart and Bianca Henninger. I can't see KC carrying three keepers this year, so one of those three will be departing. Now whether that's Barnhart or Henninger is another question.

It's going to be a big loss for FCKC either way. Whatever happens, the Blues could end up with a big hole up the middle of the field somewhere. Or it could be multiple holes if Scott does not return to the club.

Here's the rest of the allocated players.

Boston Breakers
Meghan Klingenberg (USA)
Kristie Mewis (USA)
Heather O'Reilly (USA)
Chelsea Stewart (CAN)
Kaylyn Kyle (CAN)
Dinora Garza (MEX)

Chicago Red Stars
Shannon Boxx (USA)
Amy LePeilbet (USA)
Christen Press (USA)
Adriana Leon (CAN)
Erin McLeod  (CAN)
Rachel Quon (CAN)

Houston Dash
Whitney Engen (USA)
Melissa Tancredi (CAN)
Teresa Noyola (MEX)

Portland Thorns FC
Rachel Buehler (USA)
Tobin Heath (USA)
Alex Morgan (USA)
Christine Sinclair (CAN)
Karina LeBlanc (CAN)
Jackie Acevedo (MEX)

Seattle Reign FC
Stephanie Cox (USA)
Sydney Leroux (USA)
Megan Rapinoe (USA)
Hope Solo (USA)
Carmelina Moscato (CAN)
Arianna Romero (MEX)

Sky Blue FC
Jill Loyden (USA)
Kelley O'Hara (USA)
Christie Rampone (USA)
Jonelle Filigno (CAN)
Sophie Schmidt (CAN)
Monica Ocampo (MEX)

Washington Spirit
Yael Averbuch (USA)
Ashlyn Harris (USA)
Ali Krieger (USA)
Robyn Gayle (CAN)
Diana Matheson (CAN)
Renae Cuellar (MEX)

Western New York Flash
Carli Lloyd (USA)
Abby Wambach (USA)
Selenia Iacchelli (CAN)
Veronica Perez (MEX)

Five FC Kansas City Players Called Up by the US

US Soccer announced the women's roster for three upcoming friendlies in October. The first of the three matches, on October 20th in San Antonio against Australia. Then on the 27th in San Francisco against New Zealand, before closing out against New Zealand again on the 30th in Columbus.

Five FC Kansas City players have received the call up for these games. All three of KC's allocated players, Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Holiday, and Becky Sauerbrunn are all called up. They are joined by KC's first round draft pick, Kristie Mewis, and Leigh Ann Robinson. FCKC's five representatives are the most of any team on the roster.

Catching Up on FC Kansas City

Apologies for the lack of posts regarding FC Kansas City not just in the last week, but the season as a whole. Life has been catching up with me a bit and I had to cut down a little bit in some of my coverage, unfortunately it was the Blues that had to get chopped a bit.

Year End Awards

While FC Kansas City's season ended last weekend against Portland in the NWSL semifinals, FCKC did clean up when it came to the end of season awards.  FCKC swept all the individual awards and put seven players on the first and second team Best XI.

In goalkeeper of the year, Nicole Barnhart won the award, finishing the season with 10 shutouts, the most in the league and finished 3rd in goals against average with .95.

Erika Tymrak won the league's rookie of the year award. After starting the season as a substitute off the bench, Tymrak established herself as key to the Blues attack as the season went on. She finished the season with six goals and four assists.

Another award FC Kansas City won was defender of the year, which was award to Becky Sauerbrunn. Sauerbrunn helped to anchor the defense in front of goalkeeper for the year, Barnhart.

Coach of the year in the NWSL went to the Blues coach, Vlatko Andonovski. In his first season coaching at this level, Andonovski led FC Kansas City to an 11-6-5 record, tied for the most points in the league, and second in the table.

In the award that probably surprised people the least, Lauren Holiday was named the NWSL MVP. Holiday also won the league's Golden Boot, scoring 12 goals while also adding 8 assists. Basically Holiday contributed in 59% of the Blues goals this year, and also missed four games with US call ups and getting married.

Barnhart, Sauerbrunn, and Holiday were all named to the Best XI first team, along with defender Leigh Ann Robinson. On the second team Tymrak was joined by Lauren Sesselmann, and Desiree Scott.

National Team Call Ups

Also recently announced was the call ups for the US women's team game against Mexico on September 3rd. FC Kansas City led the way in players on the roster with six.  KC's three allocated players, Barnhart, Holiday, and Sauerbrunn were all named to the roster, along with Kristie Mewis, who has become a regular on the national team.

Two new Blues players will get the chance to earn their first caps against Mexico.  Robinson and Tymrak were called up for the first time.  Both had stellar seasons for Kansas City, Robinson established herself as one of the better outside backs in the league, while Tymrak won rookie of the year.

Offseason Loans

Speaking of Tymrak, rumors started to make the rounds yesterday on Twitter of Tymrak going out on loan to German club Bayern Munich during the NWSL offseason. Thad was able to confirm this rumor.  He also mentioned that Blues' back up goalkeeper, Bianca Henninger will be joining Tymrak at the German club. There's also mention of more loans coming up.

Four FCKC Players Called Up for Algarve Cup

US Soccer today announced the roster for the Algarve Cup in Portugal coming up in March.  The tournament runs from March 6th through the 13th, causing players to miss the start of the NWSL preseason.  That means that four players from FC Kansas City will miss the start of preseason training while away at the tournament.  Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, defender Becky Sauerbrunn, and midfielders Lauren Cheney and Kristie Mewis have all been called up.  All four had been on the roster that had taken on Scotland in two games in Jacksonville and Nashville.

In the tournament the US will take on Iceland, China, and Sweden in group play before their placement match on the 13th. 

FCKC Sign 4th Free Agent, and 4 Get Caps for USA

FC Kansas City announced their fourth free agent signing today, Sinead Farrelly.  Farrelly was apparently the first free agent to commit to play for the Blues. Farrelly is a midfielder from Pennsylvania who attended Virginia.  She was the number 2 overall pick by the Philadelphia Independence.

The signing of Farrelly gives Kansas City the number 2 overall selection in the 2012 WPS draft (Melissa Henderson), 2011 draft (Farrelly), and 2010 draft (Lauren Cheney).  Add that to getting the number 3 overall pick in 2009 draft (Tina DiMartino) and FCKC looks to be continuing to build a strong roster.  And that's before mentioning this year's number 3 pick, Kristen Mewis.

Speaking of Mewis, she earned her first cap for the full US national team today in their 4-1 win Scotland tonight in Jacksonville, Florida.  Mewis was one of 4 Blues players that earned caps tonight.  Becky Sauerbrunn was the only one of the 4 that started the game tonight.  Sauerbrunn played 83 minutes before being replaced by Julie Johnston.  KC's other 3 players came on as substitutes.  Nicole Barnhart was a halftime substitute in goal.  She conceded the lone goal scored by Scotland in the 54th minute, only 2 minutes after the US had taken a 3-0 lead.  Cheney entered the game in the 55th minute right after the goal, for Abby Wambach.  Mewis was the last player to enter the game from Kansas City, coming on in the 72nd minute for Christen Press who scored the first two goals.

Four FCKC Players Called Up

Today, US women's national team coach Tom Sermanni called in 29 players ahead of the team's first two matches of the 2013 season.  The roster is filled with many of the players that were allocated to the NWSL teams.  It's FC Kansas City that leads the way with selections to the team though.  The Blues have four selections on the roster for the camp.  The team's 3 US allocated players, Nicole Barnhart, Lauren Cheney, and Becky Sauerbrunn are joined by FCKC's first round pick Kristie Mewis.  All the other NWSL teams have 3 representatives except for Chciago and Western New York who both just have two. 

The camp is in preparations for two friendlies in early February, on the 9th against in Jacksonville and 13th in Nashville, both against Scotland.  The camp will also likely be a chance to impress before the Algarve Cup coming up in March.

FC Kansas City Allocated First Players

FC Kansas City has some players.  Today the NWSL released the locations where the 55 national team pool players would be allocated.  And while they didn't have the "best" allocation at least from initially eye-balling the list (that award goes to Portland which lands both Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair), the Blues picked up a decent core of players. 

FCKC got the US number two goalkeeper, Nicole Barnhart.  The 31 year old Barnhart has been a regular with the US national team, usually as a back up to starter, Hope Solo. But Barnhart does have 46 national team caps, and should give KC a good strong start in the back.  In Lauren Cheney they got a midfielder who should be able to do a decent job of pulling the strings in the midfield for the Blues and has already appeared 82 times, scoring 18 goals for the US team.  The final US player allocated to KC was defender Becky Sauerbrunn.  This move made sense in the fact that Sauerbrunn is from St. Louis so this is a short trip from home for her.  Sauerbrunn has 37 caps currently for the US national team.

From Canada, KC picked up midfielder Desiree Scott.  Scott was on the Canadian team that took the bronze medal in London and has appeared for Canada 53 times.  The other Canadian on the roster is defender Lauren Sesselmann.  The 29 year old is actually from Wisconsin but has appeared 26 times for the Canadian team.

KC's two Mexican players are also US citizens.  Renae Nicole Cuellar is a forward who actually just finished her senior year at Oklahoma and has participated in the FIFA U20 World Cup with Mexico.  She was an alternate for the 2011 World Cup.  Marylin Diaz is a 21 year old defender who played for Mexico in the Women's World Cup.

On first glance, KC has the beginnings of a good defense with Barnhart, Sauerbrunn, and Sesselmann to anchor the defense.  With Cheney in the midfield, KC will have some attack from the midfield, while Scott, "The Destroyer" will probably cover more of the defensive duties.  Cuellar though is the only forward on the roster now.  So expect that to be a place for Vlatko Andonovski to look to improve immediately either through free agency or the draft next week (or both).  Definitely a good start and "back bone" for the team.