In the second leg of the two-match series between Sporting KC Unified and Minnesota United FC Unified, Sporting KC was able to pull two goals back in the final minutes of the match on the 4-2 loss to Minnesota. Except, I didn’t feel like a loss, as players and staff celebrated the team’s hard work this season.
The action started even before the ball got rolling. The night before, both unified teams got together for a night of food and games at Dave & Buster’s. The Unified teams got the opportunity to bond and engage in some friendly competition off the pitch. At dinner, each player from both teams shared their favorite memory from this season, and whether it was making new friends, traveling to new places, or playing the beautiful game, the teams saw they had more in common with their friendly rivals.
“That was a good time, hanging out with the other team,” Tayber shared. “And we met a lot of new friends; it’s very fun to meet people that I would have thought I’d never expect to meet.”
As unpredictable as Kansas City is, meteorologists predicted a heavy downpour Saturday night. For the players' safety and to ensure both teams could meet, Sporting moved the match to Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Park. The change of venue and time did not deter the fans from showing up and showing out, cheering on the good guys!
Unified Team ambassador and Sporting KC defender Chris Rindov joined the team at Swope to encourage, coach, and provide assistance from the sideline.
“It was a pleasure to be out here,” Rindov said post-match. “I mean, obviously dealt with a little bit of a weather delay, a little field change, so it’s not ideal but the guys got out there and did what they did. It was just a fun experience to watch; you can see how much they enjoyed it and how much they hustled out there. I mean, they’re sweating, they’re tired, so it was awesome.”
Before the match, Conner Schonlaw was named the SKC Unified team captain again, an honor he held in the first leg of the two-match series. Conner embodies the captain mentality, giving his all on the pitch but also cheering on and checking in on his team from the sidelines.
“I felt pretty good [being named captain],” Conner shared in the post-match press conference. “[I was telling the team] Just play hard and hustle and try to get us some points, and honestly, that didn’t happen, but always have fun.”
Hustle, grind, determination—these are all adjectives to describe the game. Even when the scoresheet was not on their side, the team persisted. There were incredible plays from the entire team, whether they were up top looking for goals or holding down the backline.
German Castillo and Joe Toland split time as keepers, and both athletes made some incredible saves. It was a new position for both players, but both players held their own between the sticks. Jordan Bauswell showed incredible grit at right back, running, making plays, and covering a lot of ground.
In a tough matchup, Sporting was able to get some points in the end. The first goal came in the 58th minute, with Matthew Braithwaite pulling one back when he found himself 1v1 against the keeper. Matt did not hesitate and shot at short range and scored. Matt celebrated with the team quickly before the Unified Squad regrouped and went again. Tayber Witt got dangerously close minutes later, going up against two Minnesota defenders. His shot was aimed in the right direction, but the keeper was able to get a touch.
In the final seconds of the match Sporting captain scored the last goal of the match. With an assist from Cohen Nimz, Conner scored, and the crowd went wild. Conner celebrated with coaching staff and the bench as his friends and family chanted Big C, his basketball nickname, that moment became Conner’s favorite memory from this season.
This was Sporting’s first Unified Team in five years, and this roster proved good things are worth waiting for. Sporting’s lineup included Cohen Nimz, Isaiah Adcox, Boston Wendt, Gentry Scheid, Jayden Depierro, Angel Castillo, Joe Toland, German Castillo, Matthew Braithwaite, Tayber Witt, Joshua Toplikar, Antonio Romero, Jaydn Morris, Conner Schonlaw ©, Jordan Bauswell, and Owen Leffert.
What’s next for these athletes? Some will be finishing high school and going to college, and others will be finishing their fall semester in college, but one thing is for certain: they will continue playing, and hopefully, we will see some familiar faces on the pitch for next season.
