Month: March 2021

Pulido to join Mexico’s national team

Sporting Kansas City striker Alan Pulido has been selected to the Mexico Men’s National Team for two upcoming friendly matches in Europe, the Mexican Football Federation has announced.

Pulido will join a 26-player squad assembled by head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino for games at Wales on March 27 in Cardiff and against Concacaf rival Costa Rica on March 30 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Following the friendly matches, Pulido will adhere to mandated health and safety protocols in accordance with international travel before rejoining Sporting Kansas City in April for the start of the 2021 MLS regular season.

Pulido tallied seven goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions during his first MLS season with Sporting in 2020.

His six goals and five assists in regular season play were both team highs, marking the first time since 2005 that a player has led Sporting in both goals and assists. Sporting went 8-2-1 and averaged 2.27 goals per match in the 11 regular season games that he started.

Last November, Pulido was one of three finalists for 2020 MLS Newcomer of the Year and was selected as Sporting’s Offensive Player of the Year. His contributions helped manager Peter Vermes’ side finish atop the Western Conference standings with a 12-6-3 record and 1.86 points per match, the highest clip in club history.

Pulido has recorded five goals in 14 career caps for Mexico, most recently featuring in El Tri’s 2-2 friendly draw against Algeria last October in the Netherlands. He has notably represented his country at the 2011 Copa America in Argentina and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The 30-year-old forward is one of four MLS players on Mexico’s roster, joining Rodolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami CF and LA Galaxy duo Efrain Alvarez and Jonathan dos Santos.

A native of Ciudad Victoria, Pulido has featured for Mexico at the U-20, U-23 and senior levels. He led El Tri to the 2011 Concacaf U-20 Championship title, scoring three goals at the tournament, before making five appearances at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia as Mexico finished in third place.

In April 2012, Pulido and the Mexico U-23s hoisted the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament title at Children’s Mercy Park. The semifinal and final matches both took place in Sporting’s home stadium, with Pulido scoring in a 3-1 semifinal victory over Canada.

He finished as the competition’s leading scorer with five goals, helping Mexico book their place at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and guided El Tri to the Toulon Tournament championship later that year in France.

Pulido made his senior international debut on Jan. 29, 2014, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 friendly win against South Korea in San Antonio, Texas. He added another goal in a 2-2 friendly draw with the United States over two months later and bagged his fifth Mexico goal in a friendly win over Iceland in February 2017.

  • Story from Sporting KC

Women’s soccer team wins preseason match, 2-0

Amy Rodriguez scored for Kansas City NWSL in a preseason match Tuesday. (Photo from Kansas City NWSL)
Katie Bowen’s shot was knocked away by the opposing team’s goalkeeper in Kansas City NWSL preseason action Tuesday. (Photo from Kansas City NWSL)

Kansas City NWSL returned to preseason friendly action with a 2-0 victory over the University of Kansas at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.

Amy Rodriguez and Brittany Ratcliffe tallied scores and Abby Smith recorded the clean sheet in her first game action for KC.

Kansas City was on the attack from the very beginning of the game, getting its first shot on goal in the opening minute. Lo’eau LaBonta carried the ball down the middle of the field and dished off to a streaking Katie Bowen on the right side. Bowen then ripped off a shot on frame that the Jayhawks goalkeeper was just able to knock away.

LaBonta controlled the midfield for much of the day and created several chances for Kansas City, including a shot she took herself from 25 yards out that just barely cleared over the crossbar.

As the clock turned 14 minutes, forward Mariana Larroquette broke out from a cluster of Kansas defenders and found Rodriguez wide open at the top of the penalty box. KC’s team captain hit a perfect chip on her first touch that arced over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Brittany Ratcliffe scored the second and final goal of the game in the 63rd minute of action. She broke away from the Kansas defense along the right side and streaked towards goal. Facing the goalkeeper one on one she was able to slide the ball underneath her and find the far post for the score.

The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup opens April 9 with Kansas City NWSL traveling to face the Portland Thorns FC in the opening match.

The team opens its home schedule on Monday, April 26, against the Houston Dash.

Kansas City NWSL is now accepting season ticket deposits ahead of the team’s inaugural season. The team plans to play its inaugural season at Legends Field, formerly T-Bones Stadium, in Kansas City, Kansas.

For more information, visit KCWoso.com.

Legislative update from Rep. Pam Curtis

Guest column

Opinion

Rep. Pam Curtis

by Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.

The Legislature was not in session on Monday and Tuesday of last week as we prepared to head into the second half of session.

On Wednesday, committees resumed meeting, holding informational briefings, hearings on Senate bills and blessed House bills.

There was no action taken on the floor by the House, but as we look into the next few weeks there are many controversial issues peeking over the horizon. These issues include medicinal marijuana, an education bill aimed at defunding public school education, a bill that would give tax cuts to giant multinational corporations, and even a bill that discriminates against transgender people.

It was a pleasure to join Gov. Laura Kelly on a tour of the newly opened COVID-19 vaccination site at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 South 20th Street, KCK. This added site is conveniently located for those that live in the eastern part of Wyandotte County and will add to the capacity to deliver vaccinations in our community.

The governor also met with members of the Health Equity Task Force to learn about strategies in implementing to ensure vaccine distribution is equitable for communities of color and people at highest risk of illness from COVID-19. People in Wyandotte County, 65 years or older, are now eligible to receive a vaccine without an appointment.

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I value and appreciate your input on issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at (785) 296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. You can also email me at [email protected].

In coming weeks…

Medical marijuana

Medicinal marijuana has been an issue that we have tried to pass for a while now. We do expect to see a medicinal marijuana bill before the end of session, and hope that we can gain enough support to pass it into law.

According to a poll 66% of Kansans–both Democrats and Republicans–have indicated that they support medical marijuana. Therefore, the passage of medicinal marijuana is not just important for Democrats, but also Republicans. Now, if not earlier, is the time to pass this important piece of legislation to provide Kansans with additional access to much-needed health options.

Sub HB 2119 (defunding public education)

Before the end of session, we expect to see Sub HB 2119 on the House floor. This is an extreme anti-education bill that will inevitably divert millions of taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools. This bill uses the governor’s recommendations and bits of important educational enhancements as a thinly veiled disguise to shove through a Republican wish list of anti-public education bills, which includes school vouchers. This Frankenstein of a bill will ultimately defund education, force us back into the courts, and is a clear message from Republicans that they do not have our children in mind–rather, they prefer to play political games.

Brownback (2.0)

We are still waiting to see the Brownback 2.0 tax bill, whether that is SB 22 or the House Republican’s version of the bill. This bill is a revival of the Brownback tax experiment that almost bankrupted the state of Kansas. Like the original plan, this bill is aimed at giving tax relief to giant multinational corporations rather than working families. Just looking at this bill, it is clear that the only people that the Republicans care about are the wealthy. We should be focused on helping working Kansans rather than pushing a bill that only benefits those in the upper class.

WyCo COVID-19 vaccination sites

Important news for Wyandotte County seniors ages 65 plus – now you can get a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment. Visit any of the Unified Government’s mass vaccination facilities Monday through Friday to get vaccinated. Those locations are:

• East Location (The Armory), 100 S. 20th St., KCK 66102
• West Location (Former Best Buy), 10500 Parallel Parkway, KCK 66109
• Central Location (Former Kmart), 7836 State Ave., KCK 66112

Please bring these items with you so you can get your vaccination:

• Proof of age, such as an ID or birth certificate, or similar.
• Proof that you live in Wyandotte County, such as a piece of mail addressed to you.

If you are not eligible to walk in but you want to be vaccinated, fill out the Vaccine Interest Form online or by telephone. Visit WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1 for assistance.

Resources

My Legislative Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/PamCurtisKCK
My Twitter account, https://twitter.com/pcurtiskck
Kansas Legislature website, http://kslegislature.org/li/.