Pore Adds Eight in 2020 Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class
4/20/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Men's Soccer program and head coach Ryan Pore announced Monday eight new signings for the 2020 season. The first-year coach will welcome the following individuals: Cooper Clark, Trevor Jackson, Jasper Köhler, Sekou Kromah, Hugo Martinez, Mario Sandoval, Gustavo Leal Murtha and Cesar Soler.
Cooper Clark | Goalkeeper | 6-1 | Norman, Okla. | University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa (2018-2019): Started in a total of 15 games in his two seasons as a Golden Hurricane in the net… totaled 48 saves… posted three shutouts, including one in sophomore season against No. 4 Michigan State… named the American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week and earned College Soccer News Team of the Week accolades his sophomore year.
High School/Club: Three-year letter-winner as a member of the Norman High School soccer team and was named the OSSAA Defensive Player of the Year as a junior… played club soccer for OFC 99.
Personal: Born January 20… son of Dera and Donna Clark… plans on majoring in business management at Kansas City.
Coach Pore's thoughts about the transfer from Tulsa : "Cooper is a proven Division I goalkeeper that has played many meaningful games throughout his career. He is an excellent shot stopper and an ultimate competitor. I expect Cooper to compete to play right away."
Trevor Jackson | Goalkeeper | 6-6 | 185 | Dallas, Texas | University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas (2018-19): Part of the team that won the 2019 Sun Belt Conference regular season title… In his only appearance in 2019, notched a shutout against Central Baptist facing two shots… Saw action in two games in his career.
High School/Club: Attended Creekview High School… earned all-district, Goalkeeper of the year, Team MVP throughout his four years… racked up an impressive .75 goals allowed average through his high school career… spent three years with FC Dallas Academy and two years with FC Dallas Premier.
Personal: Born on July 17… son of Ronald and Marilyn Jackson… plans to major in Marketing at Kansas City.
Coach Pore: "Trevor is another transfer goalkeeper that we believe has his best years still in front of him. He has elite physical tools and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. I'm excited to see him compete with our other goalkeepers."
Jasper Köhler | Midfielder | 6-1 | 175 | Münster, Germany | Pascal-Gymnasium Münster High School
High School/Club: Team Captain for several years… two-time winner of the district cup… Futsal district champion… played for the youth team of SC Preußen Münster for two years… Participated on FC Gievenbeck team that played in the Oberliga.
Personal: Son of Björn and Margit Köhler… plans to major in Business Administration at Kansas City
Coach Pore: "Jasper is a very intelligent central midfield player that has good technique and vision. He plays with good physicality and energy and can play multiple roles in midfield."
Sekou Kromah | Forward | 6-0 | 170 | London, England | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College (2018-19): Totaled 18 points in 2019, scoring seven goals with four assists… collected 19 points as a freshman, scoring six goals and adding seven assists
High School/Club: Attended Thomas Beckett Catholic Secondary School… also ran track and holds the school record in the triple jump, 300m and 400m dash… played rugby and basketball as well… Team captain on the soccer team.
Personal: Born on October 7… son of Saah and Lynda Kemayah… plans to major in Marketing at Kansas City.
Coach Pore's thoughts on the transfer attacker: "Sekou is a dynamic attacking player that can play in a few different roles for us. He is good in combination and can score goals. His athleticism will translate well at our level."
Mario Sandoval | Forward | 5-9 | 155 | Emporia, Kan. | Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Western Community College (2019): Started in 17 of 18 games in 2019… totaled seven goals and eight assists.
Barton Community College (2018): Played in 23 games his freshman year and started in 11 of those games… totaled 20 points, racking up five goals… ranked second on the team with 10 assists.
High School/Club: Record holder at Emporia High School for most goals scored… was the team captain since his sophomore year… earned all-conference, all state, and Team MVP throughout his four years… was a member of the Sporting KC Academy.
Coach Pore: "We are going to make it a priority to recruit the best players in our area and we believe Mario is one of those players. He's a former Sporting KC Academy player from Kansas that has really developed over the last few years. Mario is creative, especially in 1v1 situations, can finish with both feet and can see a final pass."
Hugo Martinez | Forward | 5-10 | 171 | Comillas, Cantabria | IES Valle del Saja
High School/Club: Attended IES Valle del Saja and played for his providence's team... competed for the Spanish championship… injured his arm, however, scored six goals for his club and led the club in goals.
Personal: Born in Santander, Cantabria... son of Susana Martinez Poo… undecided on his major at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the striker: "Hugo is a mobile striker that has a proven track record of scoring goals in the top youth level in Spain. His movement is very good and he's consistently looking to unsettle the backline. He's simple in his link-up play and I believe he fits the style of soccer we will play."
Gustavo Leal Murtha | Defender | 5-11 | 172 | Niteroi, Rio De Janeiro | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College: Selected to the 2019 NJCAA Division I All-America Third Team... received Iowa Community College Athletic Association (ICCAC) All-Tournament team honors and tournament MVP… tabbed to First Team ICCAC All-Region… started in 17 of 19 games… recorded four goals and one assist in the defender position… helped lead the Tigers to a 14-4-2 record in 2019… as a freshman, named second-team all-conference… tallied three assists… started in 15 of 21 games… part of a program to win conference, region and district championships.
High School/Club: Attended Institutio Educacional Luminis during his high school career… Competed on the club teams C.R. Flamengo from 2010-2013 and Figueirense FC in 2014.
Personal: Born on Feb. 21… Son of Fernando Augusto Lima Murtha and Monica Da Silveira Leal Murtha… intends to major in sports management at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the defender: "We are extremely excited to add someone of Gustavo's ability and character to our program. He brings tremendous experience and leadership, along with being named a NJCAA All-American for his play on the field this past year. He will help us immediately and he is excited about the vision of Kansas City men's soccer."
Cesar Soler | Defender | 5-7 | 157 | Barcelona, Spain | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College (2018-19): Totaled seven points his freshman year and nine points his sophomore year… Led the team in assists (9) in 2019… Played on a program that was a two-time conference champion, one-time district champion and one national tournament participation… earned honorable mention all-region soccer and first team all-region academic in freshman season… first-team all-region soccer and first team all-region academic in sophomore season
High School/Club: Attended Segrada Familia in Barcelona…played four years with R.C.D. Espanyol and four years with C.F. Damm.
Personal: Born April 22… son of Antonio and Yolanda Soler… plans on majoring in Pharmacy at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the transfer defender: "Cesar is an attacking outside back that defends his position very well. He has consistently played at a high level and another player that loves to compete every day."
Cooper Clark | Goalkeeper | 6-1 | Norman, Okla. | University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa (2018-2019): Started in a total of 15 games in his two seasons as a Golden Hurricane in the net… totaled 48 saves… posted three shutouts, including one in sophomore season against No. 4 Michigan State… named the American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week and earned College Soccer News Team of the Week accolades his sophomore year.
High School/Club: Three-year letter-winner as a member of the Norman High School soccer team and was named the OSSAA Defensive Player of the Year as a junior… played club soccer for OFC 99.
Personal: Born January 20… son of Dera and Donna Clark… plans on majoring in business management at Kansas City.
Coach Pore's thoughts about the transfer from Tulsa : "Cooper is a proven Division I goalkeeper that has played many meaningful games throughout his career. He is an excellent shot stopper and an ultimate competitor. I expect Cooper to compete to play right away."
Trevor Jackson | Goalkeeper | 6-6 | 185 | Dallas, Texas | University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas (2018-19): Part of the team that won the 2019 Sun Belt Conference regular season title… In his only appearance in 2019, notched a shutout against Central Baptist facing two shots… Saw action in two games in his career.
High School/Club: Attended Creekview High School… earned all-district, Goalkeeper of the year, Team MVP throughout his four years… racked up an impressive .75 goals allowed average through his high school career… spent three years with FC Dallas Academy and two years with FC Dallas Premier.
Personal: Born on July 17… son of Ronald and Marilyn Jackson… plans to major in Marketing at Kansas City.
Coach Pore: "Trevor is another transfer goalkeeper that we believe has his best years still in front of him. He has elite physical tools and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. I'm excited to see him compete with our other goalkeepers."
Jasper Köhler | Midfielder | 6-1 | 175 | Münster, Germany | Pascal-Gymnasium Münster High School
High School/Club: Team Captain for several years… two-time winner of the district cup… Futsal district champion… played for the youth team of SC Preußen Münster for two years… Participated on FC Gievenbeck team that played in the Oberliga.
Personal: Son of Björn and Margit Köhler… plans to major in Business Administration at Kansas City
Coach Pore: "Jasper is a very intelligent central midfield player that has good technique and vision. He plays with good physicality and energy and can play multiple roles in midfield."
Sekou Kromah | Forward | 6-0 | 170 | London, England | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College (2018-19): Totaled 18 points in 2019, scoring seven goals with four assists… collected 19 points as a freshman, scoring six goals and adding seven assists
High School/Club: Attended Thomas Beckett Catholic Secondary School… also ran track and holds the school record in the triple jump, 300m and 400m dash… played rugby and basketball as well… Team captain on the soccer team.
Personal: Born on October 7… son of Saah and Lynda Kemayah… plans to major in Marketing at Kansas City.
Coach Pore's thoughts on the transfer attacker: "Sekou is a dynamic attacking player that can play in a few different roles for us. He is good in combination and can score goals. His athleticism will translate well at our level."
Mario Sandoval | Forward | 5-9 | 155 | Emporia, Kan. | Iowa Western Community College
Iowa Western Community College (2019): Started in 17 of 18 games in 2019… totaled seven goals and eight assists.
Barton Community College (2018): Played in 23 games his freshman year and started in 11 of those games… totaled 20 points, racking up five goals… ranked second on the team with 10 assists.
High School/Club: Record holder at Emporia High School for most goals scored… was the team captain since his sophomore year… earned all-conference, all state, and Team MVP throughout his four years… was a member of the Sporting KC Academy.
Coach Pore: "We are going to make it a priority to recruit the best players in our area and we believe Mario is one of those players. He's a former Sporting KC Academy player from Kansas that has really developed over the last few years. Mario is creative, especially in 1v1 situations, can finish with both feet and can see a final pass."
Hugo Martinez | Forward | 5-10 | 171 | Comillas, Cantabria | IES Valle del Saja
High School/Club: Attended IES Valle del Saja and played for his providence's team... competed for the Spanish championship… injured his arm, however, scored six goals for his club and led the club in goals.
Personal: Born in Santander, Cantabria... son of Susana Martinez Poo… undecided on his major at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the striker: "Hugo is a mobile striker that has a proven track record of scoring goals in the top youth level in Spain. His movement is very good and he's consistently looking to unsettle the backline. He's simple in his link-up play and I believe he fits the style of soccer we will play."
Gustavo Leal Murtha | Defender | 5-11 | 172 | Niteroi, Rio De Janeiro | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College: Selected to the 2019 NJCAA Division I All-America Third Team... received Iowa Community College Athletic Association (ICCAC) All-Tournament team honors and tournament MVP… tabbed to First Team ICCAC All-Region… started in 17 of 19 games… recorded four goals and one assist in the defender position… helped lead the Tigers to a 14-4-2 record in 2019… as a freshman, named second-team all-conference… tallied three assists… started in 15 of 21 games… part of a program to win conference, region and district championships.
High School/Club: Attended Institutio Educacional Luminis during his high school career… Competed on the club teams C.R. Flamengo from 2010-2013 and Figueirense FC in 2014.
Personal: Born on Feb. 21… Son of Fernando Augusto Lima Murtha and Monica Da Silveira Leal Murtha… intends to major in sports management at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the defender: "We are extremely excited to add someone of Gustavo's ability and character to our program. He brings tremendous experience and leadership, along with being named a NJCAA All-American for his play on the field this past year. He will help us immediately and he is excited about the vision of Kansas City men's soccer."
Cesar Soler | Defender | 5-7 | 157 | Barcelona, Spain | Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown Community College (2018-19): Totaled seven points his freshman year and nine points his sophomore year… Led the team in assists (9) in 2019… Played on a program that was a two-time conference champion, one-time district champion and one national tournament participation… earned honorable mention all-region soccer and first team all-region academic in freshman season… first-team all-region soccer and first team all-region academic in sophomore season
High School/Club: Attended Segrada Familia in Barcelona…played four years with R.C.D. Espanyol and four years with C.F. Damm.
Personal: Born April 22… son of Antonio and Yolanda Soler… plans on majoring in Pharmacy at Kansas City.
Coach Pore on the transfer defender: "Cesar is an attacking outside back that defends his position very well. He has consistently played at a high level and another player that loves to compete every day."
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