Sporting Kansas City II announced today that the club has signed 21-year-old midfielder Enzo Mauriz, a Sporting Kansas City Academy product and a three-year college standout at the University of Kentucky, to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract.
Mauriz joins Sporting KC II on the heels of a spectacular junior season at Kentucky, where he tallied seven goals and five assists as a Sun Belt Conference First Team selection. He started 20 of 21 appearances during the 2022 campaign last fall, helping the Wildcats to a 15-1-5 record, a Sun Belt Conference championship and a run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
Capable of playing multiple midfield positions, Mauriz scored each of his seven goals over the final 14 games of last season, including a stunner against West Virginia in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals on Nov. 9 that checked in at No. 3 on the SportsCenter Top 10 the following morning.
Mauriz finished his collegiate career at Kentucky with starts in 45 of 59 appearances to go with eight goals and 11 assists. The Wildcats posted a gaudy record of 42-8-11 during his time with the program, highlighted by two conference tournament titles and a pair of runs to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Born and raised in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Mauriz joined the Sporting KC Academy ahead of the 2018-19 season and quickly became an important contributor for the U-19s. He scored his first Academy goal in a 2-1 win over national powerhouse FC Dallas in September of 2018 and the following February was a member of the preseason training roster for Sporting KC II, formerly known as the Swope Park Rangers. He guided the U-19s to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in the summer of 2019 and committed his collegiate future to Kentucky in March 2020.
The acquisition of Mauriz gives Sporting KC II a total of 11 players signed to MLS NEXT Pro professional contracts, as detailed below.
Sporting KC II Roster (as of Jan. 9, 2023)
- Goalkeepers (1): Ethan Bandre
- Defenders (5): Aljaz Dzankic, Coby Jones, Mikey Lenis, Jahon Rad, Diedie Traore
- Midfielders (2): Ethan Bryant, Enzo Mauriz
- Forwards (3): Bakary Bagayoko, Josh Coan, Andrew Draper
Led by head coach and longtime Sporting midfielder Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC II will begin preparations in February for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season, which will feature an expanded field of 28 clubs.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) signs midfielder Enzo Mauriz to an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract.
VITALS
- Enzo Mauriz
- Position: Midfielder
- Born: 2/11/2001 (21 years old)
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 165 lbs.
- Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Birthplace: Rancho Cucamonga, California
- Citizenship: USA
- College: Kentucky
- Twitter: @enzomaurizz
- Instagram: @enzomauriz_
