Month: July 2014

Sporting KC splits points with Chicago in 1-1 draw

Sporting Kansas City reached the halfway point of the 2014 MLS season on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

In front of the team’s largest crowd of the season and 45th straight MLS sellout, forward Dom Dwyer scored his 12th goal of the season before Mike Magee equalized for Chicago seven minutes later to split the points.

With the draw, Sporting Kansas City sits two points back of D.C. United for first place in the Eastern Conference after 17 of 34 regular season matches. Prior to Sunday’s nationally televised match on ESPN, Sporting Kansas City welcomed back Matt Besler and Graham Zusi following their participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

The visiting Fire nearly took an early lead when Magee intercepted a pass from Kevin Ellis inside Chicago’s attacking third less than 90 seconds into the match. Sporting KC goalkeeper Eric Kronberg came off his line and stood his ground while Aurelien Collin recovered to clear the shot inside the six-yard box.

Chicago saw another shot cleared in front of the goalline in the 5th minute as Patrick Ianni’s header off a Harrison Shipp corner kick was turned away alertly by Dwyer.

Sporting Kansas City’s first serious foray forward came in the 12th minute as Benny Feilhaber shrugged off a challenge from Logan Pause and picked out Soony Saad in the central channel. Saad struck his shot first time from 22 yards out, forcing Sean Johnson into a low save to his left.

Ten minutes later, Saad collected a poor clearance from Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and fed Dwyer to set up an acrobatic scissors attempt that was saved by Johnson at the near post. Dwyer led all players on Sunday with five shots and three shots on goal.

Magee, a 21-goal scorer in 2013, threatened again in the 31st minute on Sunday. Receiving a ball behind the Sporting KC backline from Homegrown Player Chris Ritter, Magee struck a left-footed shot that deflected off the far post and back into play.

Dwyer then struck for the game’s opening goal on the opposite end of the field, dispossessing Ianni and calmly slotting his shot past Johnson for his 12th goal of the season before capturing a celebratory selfie along with Soony Saad and South Stand supporters. The third-year pro moves into a tie with Erick Torres for the second most goals scored in MLS this season and now ranks third on the club’s all-time single-season goals scored chart.

The lead would be short-lived as Chicago pulled level in the 40th minute through Magee. Fire midfielder Alex forced a turnover to earn the assist and Magee buried his shot from the top of the penalty area for his fifth of the season.

The second half was controlled by Sporting Kansas City, to the tune of an 11-2 edge in shots and 79-21 percent advantage in possession, though neither side could find the coveted game-winning goal. The Fire’s only two shots of the half came in the 57th minute with Dilly Duka’s shot stopped on the goalline by Collin and Shipp sending his shot just wide of the post from 20 yards out.

Graham Zusi, in his first match back from representing the United States at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, entered the match in the 62nd minute and immediately made an effect with a corner kick headed on frame by Dwyer and saved by Johnson.

A little more than 10 minutes later, Zusi switched fields and found Igor Juliao along the right flank. The Brazilian right back played a pass into the path of Jacob Peterson, who fired a first-time shot toward the near post that was pushed over the endline by Johnson.

The Chicago goalkeeper made a season-high eight saves on Sunday, including two in short succession in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to preserve the draw. Johnson dove full extension to his right to deny Peterson’s effort from outside the area and then did just enough to thwart C.J. Sapong from burying the rebound.

Sporting KC will now enter a stretch with three of its next four MLS matches away from home, beginning Saturday at the Montreal Impact.

– Story from Sporting KC

Homicide victim identified

A homicide victim from a shooting July 4 in the 4100 block of Waverly Avenue has been identified.

Antwan D. Frazier, 34, was a resident of Kansas City, Kan., according to a police spokesman.

The incident remains under investigation by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Major Case Unit. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Eight Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth mark golden anniversaries

Golden Jubilarians of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, seated, left to right, Sisters Renée Washut, Jean Marian Rilinger, Phyllis Stowell; standing, left to right, Sisters Susan Rieke, Maureen Kehoe, Jean Lockett, Mary Ann Theisen and Margaret Finch. (SCL photo)

Eight Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth marked their golden jubilees with a combined celebration at the SCL Mother House, Leavenworth, Kan., on Sunday, June 22.

Renewing their vows during a Mass of Thanksgiving in Annunciation Chapel were Sisters Margaret Finch, Maureen Kehoe, Jean Lockett, Susan Rieke, Jean Marian Rilinger, Phyllis Stowell, Mary Ann Theisen and Renée Washut. A reception followed for family and friends.

· Sister Margaret Finch has ministered in elementary education, clinics for the uninsured and social services, including Mother-to-Mother Ministry and Alliance Against Family Violence in Leavenworth. She currently is an administrator at the SCL Mother House.

· Sister Maureen Kehoe has served in schools, libraries, a nursing home, senior housing, small trade school management and the former post office at the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth. Today, she applies her pastoral, liturgical, musical and Spanish talents as a volunteer at Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver.

· Sister Jean Lockett served as a physical therapist in hospitals, at the SCL Mother House and in home health. She then earned a master’s degree in social work and began offering counseling services in Topeka, a ministry she continues today as a military and family life counselor at Fort Riley, Kan.

· Sister Susan Rieke has taught at high schools in Falls City, Neb., Helena, Mont., and Kansas City, Kan. For the past several years, she has been a professor of English at University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, where she currently holds the McGilley Chair for Liberal Studies.

· Sister Jean Marian Rilinger spent 32 years of service at Mount Saint Vincent, Denver, where she was an office manager, secretary and bookkeeper. She opened a unit for girls at the residential treatment center and eventually became assistant director and therapist at MSV. In her current ministry, Sister Jean Marian is secretary to the SCL Community treasurer.

· Sister Phyllis Stowell realized her desire to be a teacher, enjoying service in schools in Kansas, Missouri and Montana. She spent the next 20 plus years in New Mexico first as an educator and principal who opened Santo Nino Regional Catholic School, Santa Fe. She then became spiritual director and director of adult faith formation for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe. She currently ministers at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, Kan.

· Sister Mary Ann Theisen taught 10 years in schools in Missouri and Colorado. She transitioned to become a school secretary at high schools and elementary schools in Kansas, Missouri and Montana. Her current role is office assistant at the SCL Community leadership offices in Cantwell Hall, Leavenworth.

· Sister Renée Washut was a teacher and assistant administrator for 23 years. Her other ministries have included roles with Denver’s Archdiocesan Housing and Catholic Charities of Wyoming and Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality. Since 2006, she has volunteered with the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, Denver.

Founded in 1858, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth serve in the United States, Peru and South Sudan. For more information, visit www.scls.org.


– from Therese Horvat, communications director, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth