Sunflower State FC

Sunflower State FC
Full nameSunflower State Football Club
Founded2020; 5 years ago (2020), as Sunflower State FC
StadiumThe Pembroke Hill School
OwnersJoey Lipoff
Andrew Lentell
Salvatore Sesti
Charles Salazar
Nick McDonald
Head CoachesMen's Coach: Nick McDonald
Women's Coach: Jose Ramos
LeagueUSL2
WPSL
2024Men's Heartland: 5th
Women's Heartland: 4th
Websitehttps://www.sunflowerstatefc.com/

Sunflower State FC is a men's and women's semi-professional soccer team based in Overland Park, Kansas whose men's team competes in the USL League Two as a member of the Great Plains Division and whose women's team competes in the Women's Premier Soccer League as a member of the Heartland Division.

The club was originally founded in Kansas City, Kansas in 2020 and competed in the United Premier Soccer League and the Major Arena Soccer League 3. The club eventually merged with Ozark FC in 2022, taking its place in the NPSL.

The team colors are yellow, black, and white.

History

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Originally the founding members began playing in Kansas City adult leagues as Queso Blanco. Over the first two years competing in the most competitive amateur adult leagues and tournaments in the area the club found substantial success, winning 10 first and second place trophies. Throughout the years interest in the team began to grow. This lead to the development and transition to Sunflower State FC and beginning semi-pro competition in the MASL 3 and UPSL in 2020-2021.

The clubs first season saw them competing in the Midwest South conference in the United Premier Soccer League. They finished their season with a 3-2-3 record finishing in 3rd place with 11 points.

On January 10, 2022, the NPSL announced that Ozark FC had come to an agreement with Sunflower State FC to merge clubs, relocate to Kansas City, Kansas, and keep the club name of Sunflower State FC.[1]

In early 2022 the club announced that it would be starting a women's team. The team was to be coach by Jose Ramos who had previously played with the men's team in the Major Arena Soccer League 3. The club played their first season in the USL League 2.

In the club's debut season in the NPSL they moved their home field to Rockhurst University and played in the Heartland Conference finishing the regular season with a 5-4-3 record finishing in 3rd place with 18 points and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in their history. They were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round losing 4-2 against OKC 1889 FC.

On January 11, 2023 is was announced that Sunflower State FC's women's team would be joining the Women's Premier Soccer League for the 2023 season.

For the men's 2023 season, Sunflower State was moved to the Gateway Conference. They finished their season with a record of 4-5-1 finishing in 3rd place with 13 points and missing out on the playoffs.

The women's debut season in the WPSL saw them competing in the Central Heartland Division. They finished the season with a record of 3-1-6 coming in 4th place with 10 points.

For the club's men's 2024 season they once again competed in the Gateway Conference. This season saw the beginning of the KC derby between Sunflower State and the KC Sol who had joined the conference for this season. Sunflower State finished the season with a record of 3-4-3 coming in 5th in their conference with 12 points and missing out on the playoffs by one position.

The women's 2024 season saw Sunflower State finish with a record of 4-3-3 coming in 4th place with 15 points.

On November 25th, 2024 is was announced that the club's men's team would be joining the USL League Two. The club will also be playing their home games at The Pembroke Hill School.

Staff

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Position Staff
President Joey Lipoff
Vice President Salvatore Sesti, and Charles Salazar
Director of Marketing Salvatore Sesti
Director of Finance Charles Salazar
Director of Coaching/Head Coach Nick McDonald

Last updated: January 10, 2022
Source: NPSL

Seasons

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Season Domestic League U.S.
Open Cup 		CONCACAF
CL 		Average
Attendance
League GP W L D GF GA Pts Conference Pos. Playoffs
2017 NPSL 10 2 8 0 12 36 6 Heartland Conference 6th Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify 50
2018 NPSL 10 0 9 1 4 19 1 Heartland Conference 6th Did not qualify Did not qualify Did not qualify 400
2019 NPSL 11 3 5 3 18 24 12 Heartland Conference 4th vs Tulsa Did not qualify Did not qualify 400
2022 NPSL 12 5 4 3 19 20 18 Heartland Conference 3rd vs OKC 1889 FC Did not qualify Did not qualify 100

2019 schedule

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Date Time Opponent Site Result Record (W–L–D) Type
May 12, 2019 7:00 p.m. Little Rock Rangers War Memorial Stadium – Little Rock, Arkansas L 1–3 0–1–0, 0 points NPSL Heartland Conference
May 18, 2019 3:00 p.m. Tulsa Athletic Veteran's Park – Tulsa, Oklahoma L 1–3 0–2–0, 0 points NPSL Heartland Conference
May 25, 2019 7:30 p.m. Demize NPSL Cooper Sports Complex – Springfield, Missouri D 1–1 0–2–1, 1 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 1, 2019 7:30 p.m. Little Rock Rangers Har-Ber High School – Little Rock, Arkansas W 2–1 1–2–1, 4 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 8, 2019 6:00 p.m. Club Atletico St. Louis St. Louis University High School – St. Louis, Missouri L 0–5 1–3–1, 4 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 15, 2019 7:30 p.m. FC Wichita Har-Ber High School – Little Rock, Arkansas D 1–1 1–3–2, 5 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 19, 2019 7:30 p.m. Tulsa Athletic Har-Ber High School – Little Rock, Arkansas L 0–3 1–4–2, 5 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 22, 2019 7:30 p.m. Demize NPSL Har-Ber High School – Little Rock, Arkansas D 0–0 1–4–3, 6 points NPSL Heartland Conference
June 29, 2019 7:30 p.m. Club Atletico St. Louis Har-Ber High School – Little Rock, Arkansas W 7–0 2–4–3, 9 points NPSL Heartland Conference
July 6, 2019 7:30 p.m. FC Wichita Stryker Soccer Complex – Wichita, Kansas W 3–1 3–4–3, 12 points NPSL Heartland Conference
July 10, 2019 5:30 p.m. Tulsa Athletic Veteran's Park – Tulsa, Oklahoma L 2–6 3–5–3, 12 points Playoff – Heartland Conference

2019 scoring breakdown

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May 12 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–3 Little Rock Rangers Little Rock, Arkansas
Alex Buckley 60' Report Guadron 7'
Benema 54'
Watson 87'		 Stadium: War Memorial
May 18 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–3 Tulsa Athletic Tulsa, Oklahoma
Matheus Ferreira 53' Report Diallo 32', 56'
Kazeem 78'		 Stadium: Veteran's Park
May 25 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–1 Demise NPSL Springfield, Missouri
Jacob Zamarron 14' Report Hernandez 57' Stadium: Cooper Sports Complex
June 1 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 2–1 Little Rock Rangers Springdale, Arkansas
Jacob Zamarron 80'
Quinton Carey 90'		 Report Doyle 45' Stadium: Har-Ber High School
June 8 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–5 Club Atletico St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri
0 Report Lopez 2', 35'
Kante 62', 79', 89'		 Stadium: St. Louis University High School
June 15 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–1 FC Wichita Springdale, Arkansas
Report Own Goal 5'
Arndt 75'		 Stadium: Har-Ber High School
June 19 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–3 Tulsa Athletic Springdale, Arkansas
Report Nzojyibwami 1'
Garcia 14', 44'		 Stadium: Har-Ber High School
June 22 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–0 Demize NPSL Springdale, Arkansas
Report Stadium: Har-Ber High School
June 29 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 7–0 Club Atletico St. Louis Springdale, Arkansas
Giovani Bejarano 4'
Jacob Zamarron 50', 61', 87'
Quinton Carey 68', 78'
Gonçalo Verissimo 81'		 Report Stadium: Har-Ber High School
July 6 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 3–1 FC Wichita Wichita, Kansas
Lalo Castro 7'
Jacob Zamarron 85'
Alex Buckley 90'		 Report Gomes 15' Stadium: Stryker Soccer Complex
July 10 Heartland Conference Semi-Final Ozark FC 2–6 Tulsa Athletic Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jacob Zamarron 80', 90' Report Garcia 15', 44'
Habib 52'
Ruiz 60'
Riveros 89', 90'		 Stadium: Veteran's Park

2018 schedule

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All times are Central Standard unless otherwise stated

Date Time Opponent Site Result Record (W–L–D) Type
May 5, 2018 7:30 p.m. FC Wichita Trinity Stadium – Wichita, Kansas L 0–5 0–1–0, 0 points NPSL Heartland Conference
May 12, 2018 2:00 p.m. Tulsa Athletic Veteran's Park – Tulsa, Oklahoma L 0–3 0–2–0, 0 points NPSL Heartland Conference
May 19, 2018 6:00 p.m. Saint Louis Club Atletico St. Mary's High School – Saint Louis, Missouri D 1–1 0–2–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
May 26, 2018 7:00 p.m. Demize NPSL Veteran's Park – Rogers, Arkansas L 1–4 0–3–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
June 2, 2018 7:00 p.m. FC Wichita Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium – Springdale, Arkansas L 0–1 0–4–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
June 9, 2018 7:30 p.m. Demize NPSL Cooper Stadium – Springfield, Missouri L 0–2 0–5–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
June 16, 2018 7:00 p.m. Little Rock Rangers War Memorial Stadium – Little Rock, Arkansas L 1–2 0–6–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
June 23, 2018 6:00 p.m. Little Rock Rangers Har-Ber High School – Springdale, Arkansas L 0–1 0–7–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
June 30, 2018 7:00 p.m. Tulsa Athletic Sugar Creek Soccer Park – Bella Vista, Arkansas L 1–2 0–8–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference
July 7, 2018 7:00 p.m. Saint Louis Club Atletico Veteran's Park – Rogers, Arkansas L 1–2 0–9–1, 1 point NPSL Heartland Conference

2018 scoring breakdown

[edit]
May 5 NPSL Heartland Conference FC Wichita 5–0 Ozark FC Wichita, Kansas
7:30 p.m. Landaverde 22', 39'
Sosa 75'
Robbins 79'
Andoh 89'		 NPSL Report Stadium: Trinity Academy
May 12 NPSL Heartland Conference Tulsa Athletic 3–0 Ozark FC Tulsa, Oklahoma
Joe Garcia 5'
Damieon Thomas 40', 49'		 Report Stadium: Veteran's Park
May 19 NPSL Heartland Conference Saint Louis Club Atletico 1–1 Ozark FC Saint Louis, Missouri
Walsh 6' Report Castro 44' Stadium: St. Mary's High School
May 26 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–4 Demize NPSL Rogers, Arkansas
Borges 7' Report Guelly 9', 50'
Rogers 31'
Darko 72'		 Stadium: Veterans Park
June 2 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–1 FC Wichita Springdale, Arkansas
Report F. Tayou 68' Stadium: Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium
June 9 NPSL Heartland Conference Demize NPSL 2–0 Ozark FC Springfield, Missouri
Pedro Machado 15'
Moore 41'		 Report Stadium: Cooper Stadium
June 16 NPSL Heartland Conference Little Rock Rangers 2–1 Ozark FC Little Rock, Arkansas
Gaudron 45', 47' Report Gonzales 67' Stadium: War Memorial Stadium
June 23 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–1 Little Rock Rangers Springdale, Arkansas
Report Caba Cordova 68' Stadium: Har-Ber High School
June 30 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 0–1 Tulsa Athletic Bella Vista, AR
Report Ryan Alpers 9' Stadium: Sugar Creek
July 7 NPSL Heartland Conference Ozark FC 1–2 St. Louis Club Atletico Rogers, AR
Matheus Alves 30' Report Pandelis Popgeogiev 3'
Eric Lopez 50'		 Stadium: Veteran's Park

2022 NPSL roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
00 GK United States USA Noah Reuscher
0 GK United States USA Noah Simbeck
1 GK United States USA Grant Calvert
2 DF United States USA Damon Young
3 MF United States USA Grant Peters
4 MF United States USA Caden McClagen (captain)
5 DF United States USA Derrick Carson
6 MF United States USA JP Pascarella
7 MF United States USA Yahel Anderson-Gonzalez
7 MF United States USA Jackson Million
8 DF England ENG Ope Obakin
9 FW United States USA Tim Smith
10 FW United States USA Gabe Porras
No. Pos. Nation Player
11 FW United States USA Nick McDonald
12 DF United States USA Connor Brummett
13 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Ruari Cotter
13 MF United States USA Maclain Petri
14 DF United States USA Dakota Okwuone
15 DF United States USA Jack Austin
16 FW United States USA Jack Souder
16 MF United States USA Cooper Forcellini
17 MF England ENG Joseph Wainwright
18 MF United States USA Tre Smith
19 DF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Bryan Kalaka
21 DF United States USA Tate Lancaster
23 MF United States USA Colin Innes

2021 MASL 3 roster

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
00 GK United States USA Noah Reuscher
1 GK United States USA Noah Simbeck
3 MF United States USA Jack Austin
4 MF United States USA Caden McClagen
5 DF United States USA Cameron Caldwell
6 MF Palestine PLE Montaser Mansi
7 MF United States USA Tate Lancaster
8 MF Somalia SOM Abdirahim Adan
9 FW United States USA Girma Kassa
10 FW United States USA Kegan Lammering
11 MF United States USA Jacob Kisner
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 GK United States USA Chris Guldenpfennig
13 FW United States USA Chandler Givler
13 DF Brazil BRA Jose Ramos
14 FW Nigeria NGA Akolade Gbadebo
15 MF United States USA Sammy Showers
16 DF United States USA Derrick Carson
17 DF United States USA Dakota Okwuone (captain)
18 DF United States USA Bryan Clark
19 DF Mexico MEX Isaias De La Torre
20 DF United States USA Zaki Mosavy
21 FW Colombia COL Alex Acuna

2018 roster

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Name Position From University Games Started Games Played Minutes Played Goals Scored Caution Send Off Notes
Lucas Almeida D São Paulo, Brazil Sacred Heart 5 5 450 1
Matheus Alves F Salvador, Brazil Sacred Heart 6 7 511 1 2
Leo Araujo F Springdale, AR Neosho County Community College 2 43 Did not finish season
Erol Banuelos M Rogers, AR Rogers State University 4 6 329
Guilherme Barbosa M São Paulo, Brazil John Brown University 5 7 462 1 Heartland Conference All Conference Team Second XI

South Region Conference Starting XI

Joel Barroso GK Springdale, AR Crowder College 1 2 135
Giovanni Bejarano D Medellin, Colombia John Brown University 3 3 250 Injured
Hunter Brunson GK Baton Rouge, LA 1 1 90 Did not finish season
Alex Buckley D Liverpool, England Oklahoma City University 6 6 540
Marco Cardona F Medellin, Colombia John Brown University
Lalo (Jose) Castro M Bentonville, AR Oral Roberts University 4 6 451 1 3
Jarrod Cooper F Owasso, OK Rogers State University 1 6 167 1
Vitor Cositorto M Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Neosho County Community College 2 5 215
Alejandro Dominguez M San Jose Guayabal, El Salvador Neosho County Community College 2 2 152 Did not finish season
Leonardo Gomes F Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Neosho County Community College 6 8 518 1
Amilcar Gonzalez F Springdale, AR John Brown University 9 9 729 1 1
Orsy Gonzalez D Springdale, AR Eastern Illinois University Injured
Manuel Heredia GK Lima, Peru Allianza Lima 6 7 540
Adam Holt GK Tulsa, OK John Brown University 3 3 225
Shameus Jaegar D Springdale, AR Huron University 4 7 323 1
Tucker Johnston M Ft. Smith, AR Ouachita Baptist University 1 3 133 1 Injured
Daniel Marulanda M Medellin, Colombia John Brown University 3 5 237
Hazeley Pyle D St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda John Brown University 1 32 Did not finish season
Cobi Rivera D Rogers, AR 2 2 128
Daniel Rivera D Rogers, AR Eastern Oklahoma State College 8 10 740
TJ Rodriguez M Ft. Smith, AR Central Baptist College 4 7 389
Vinicius Sanchez D São Paulo, Brazil Oklahoma Wesleyan University 7 9 701
Irvin Sosa D Fayetteville, AR John Brown University 2 3 200 Did not finish season
Tre Thomas M Wichita, KS Southwestern College 2 5 247 Did not finish season
Santiago Vanegas D Rionegro, Colombia John Brown University 10 10 900 Heartland Conference All Conference Team Second XI

References

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  1. ^ "OZARK FC RELOCATES, REBRANDS AS SUNFLOWER STATE FC". NPSL. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
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