In early summer Swope Park Rangers looked like there would not be involved in the playoffs as the squad was finding it difficult stringing positive results together.
Then came a 4-0 win over Rio Grande Valley. From there the offense seemed to gain confidence putting the ball in the back of the net and the points started to come in.
Win and a draw over cross state rival Saint Louis FC was one that was particularly enjoyable as the late season push of five wins in six moved the squad from a lowest seed of a playoff team to suddenly playing host to three playoff matches.
As each playoff match came and went obstacles were overcome. Red cards and stubborn defenses were dealt with. Fact was that even during this time players such as Ever Alvarado, Nansel Selbol, Tomas Granitto, Alex Molano, Ualefi, Amer Didic, and Tyler Pasher all were called up by Sporting Kansas City to assist in the already failed CONCACAF Champions League and Selbol took full advantage as he scored what ended up being the game winning goal in the final match.
This squad has played up and no doubt when the changes are made to Sporting KC the stars of this run to the playoffs and now to the USL Cup Final against regular season champion NYRB II will move on, and why not.
This team played their way to the finale and they are more than likely to find some bigger offers in their professional careers going forward.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos has brought this all together in the last few months, all the while he is to be leaving SPR back to the NASL with the expansion San Francisco Deltas.
This has been a fun ride and nothing says that it ends on the road against NYRB II. This has been a momentum ride and now there is one last job to do.
TOTALLY DOABLE.
WE ARE THE SPR!
