To all Fusion families and friends:
It is an exciting time for youth soccer in our community. As we continue to emerge from the global pandemic, there is renewed energy for life to return to normal. A large desire encompassed in that notion is that we get our kids back to regular school and other normal activities. For obvious reasons, soccer is high on that list. It is regarding soccer and our soccer club that I am sending this note to you.
In 2011, when Shawnee Soccer Club and Southwest United Soccer Club merged to form Metro United Soccer Club, the landscape of local, regional and national youth soccer was much different than it is today. At that time the decision was made to operate the recreational side of our program under the banner of Metro United Soccer Club while the competitive program would operate as KC Fusion.For the last 10 years we have existed as two entities. This has made communicating who we are and what programs we offer more difficult than it has to be. The original MUSC/KC Fusion naming convention has caused confusion for both recreational players and their families, as well as for competitive teams when they enter leagues, tournaments or other competitions.
That is why, today, I am excited to announce that moving forward we will be uniting both programs under one name. We are one club, it is only fitting that we move forward as such. We are retiring the Metro United Soccer Club name and are moving forward as one entity:
WE ARE KC FUSION.
Our mission is to develop the whole soccer player from a child’s first touch to the academy level-by delivering an environment built on integrity, accountability and respect. KC Fusion is committed to maintaining a family culture while embracing our position as the foundation of the game at all levels in Kansas City.We believe that this simplification of our name is the first step into moving our club, our sport and our players and their families forward.
Thank you for everything you have given our club and to me personally.
See you on the field!
Jason Pendleton
KC Fusion, Executive Director
Dear KC Fusion Family –
Moving forward, and effective immediately, the club will begin using the new version of GotSoccer’s software as our registration tool for all club programming. This includes premier, independent premier and recreational as well as any camps offered by KC Fusion.
The good news is this change is going to make your life easier. GotSport is a “SSO” or “single sign-on” platform. This will allow you to create one user account to access all children, teams or administrative roles in GotSport. Everyone MUST create a new GotSport User account in order to proceed with registration.
Pre-Tryout Camp , Tryout and Fall 2022 Recreational registration is open NOW. Click HERE for step-by-step instructions on how to create your NEW account from a registration link.
The new system is really user friendly and will make it easier to register your kids for all KC Fusion programs. If you need help, click the link above or simply call GotSoccer at 904-446-7746 and they will be happy to assist you.
Sincerely,
KC Fusion Administration
KC Fusion is joining the inaugural season of the Heartland ECNL Boys Regional League! We are excited to be able to offer this high level, national competition to teams in our Premier program.
RICHMOND, VA (March 4, 2021) – In conjunction with the launch of the ECNL Boys Heartland Conference, the league is thrilled to announce the creation of the Heartland Conference in the ECNL Regional League, including the following clubs: KC Athletics, KC Fusion, Lou Fusz Athletic, Puma FC, Sporting Blue Valley, Sporting Springfield and Sporting St. Louis. These clubs have committed to making the ECNL Regional League – Heartland the top competition platform for their top teams at all age groups. The addition of seven new clubs and a new conference will add to the league’s competition and talent pool, while also continuing to fulfill the ECNL’s mission to Raise the Game across the country. Since its inception, the ECNL has supported the nation’s top clubs as they develop the next generation of college and professional stars.
“It’s extremely exciting to announce the formation of the Heartland Conference for the ECNL Boys Regional League,” said ECNL Boys Commissioner Jason Kutney. “By forming a Regional League conference to complement the formation of the new Heartland Conference at the club level, we continue to build a great soccer foundation in the center of the country. Consisting of top teams from these clubs, the Regional League – Heartland will be a true proving ground offering potential advancement opportunities to the ECNL Club Competition based upon performance. Welcoming these clubs into the ECNL marks an important step forward, elevating the competitive level of the league and providing the best resources to more players.”
The health and safety of our players, families, and staff is our primary concern. We are adjusting to new environments in training, match play, and beyond. As things change, we believe it's important to keep everyone up to date on our policies and procedures. To that end, we've created a resource page where you can find:
1. Links to official sites for more information on the pandemic
2. Policies and procedures for training and match day across all of our programs.
We're asking everyone to review the information you'll find at the page linked here, and return to it frequently as the situation will likely change often. We are committed to keeping everyone informed, and if you are not sure what to do next your team manager and coach are your best resource for the latest information.
COVID-19 Policies & Procedures
KC Fusion prides itself on being the college and high school soccer preparatory soccer development club in the Kansas City area. There are more college and high school head coaches on our staff than any other club in the region. It is with great honor that we profile one of our own – University of Central Missouri Women’s Head Soccer Coach Lewis Theobald – for his and his team’s amazing accomplishments.
The UCM Jennies are having a historic 2017 season. The team is ranked #1 nationally by United Soccer Coaches amongst all NCAA Division II programs. The team’s perfect 21-0-0 record is a testament to its skill, determination and hard work. Defensively, the Jennies have only conceded three goals all season.
2016 marks Theobald’s 11th season at UCM, where he has amassed an impressive 190-27-18 record. He entered this season as the second-winningest active coach in women’s Division II soccer with an .834 winning percentage. Theobald has been named the MIAA Coach of the Year for the 9th time in 11 seasons.
It’s not just at UCM that Theobald’s skills are appreciated. He also excels as the KC Fusion Assistant Technical Director. “Lewis applies the same work ethic, commitment to excellence, and discerning evaluation to Fusion that he has used to make the University of Central Missouri one of the top collegiate programs in the country,” said Jason Pendleton, Executive Director of KC Fusion. “We are excited that Lewis can bring his experience helping kids reach the highest levels to our players.”
The 2017 Jennie’s women’s soccer roster features three former Fusion players: Kayla Hamner, Mikala Modiri, and Megan Wooley. Hamner and Wooley earned All-American honors after their junior campaigns. Hamner has been named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year for 2017.
“In my time with Fusion, I had the opportunity to work with many different coaches and I developed as a player and person,” said Hamner. “Lewis has built a great program here at UCM and I have enjoyed being a part of such a challenging, competitive, and dynamic environment every day. Fusion helped me to become the player that I am today, showed me how to be a coachable player and prepared me to further my soccer career. I feel very fortunate to have landed at UCM with Coach Lewis and feel as though I have grown a lot in his program as well.”
Theobald joined KC Fusion in 2015 because of the player-centered culture and tradition of high performance. This commitment to developing players shows as former Fusion players seek and are able to join and contribute to one of the best and most successful college programs in the country.
Former KC Fusion player Kayla Hamner has been named the Defensive Player of the Year for the University of Central Missouri Jennies in the MIAA. Congratulations, Kayla! Your Fusion family is so proud of your accomplishment.
Former KC Fusion player Megan Woolley has earned her spot on the All-MIAA first team as a midfielder for the University of Central Missouri Jennies. Congratulations, Megan! Your Fusion family is proud of your success on the pitch.
After a comprehensive search process and consideration of many talented regional and national applicants for the position, KC Fusion chose Pendleton as the right person to continue to grow the Club and provide leadership in the Club’s quest to become a top regional and national developmental organization. Pendleton will also focus on promoting and growing our recreational program, which is already one of the largest and best programs in Kansas City.
Pendleton holds multiple United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA), U.S. Soccer and Coerver coaching and director of coaching diplomas and licenses. He has been a member of the United Soccer Coaches National Staff and a regularly featured presenter at United Soccer Coaches national conventions.
As an educator and head soccer coach at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, Pendleton strives to get the most from his students and student-athletes. His 2016 boys Timberwolves team was state high school runners-up and his 2017 girls squad were Kansas Class 5A Champions. He also has extensive college coaching experience.
United Soccer Coaches Director of Coaching Education Ian Barker affirms Pendleton’s promotion as a superb choice: “JP is an educator – a teacher and coach – who is uniquely dedicated to sharing knowledge to improve opportunities for those around him. He is incredibly professional, competitively effective and can always be trusted to act in the best interest of his Club and its membership. Jason’s promotion to Executive Director at [KC Fusion] should be considered a victory for all of us who support doing things the right way in youth sports.”
Pendleton has a demonstrated track record of success at KC Fusion with both the Recreational and Premier programs in the Club. Since joining us in 2010, he has served as a leading coach, Recreational Director, Premier Director and most recently the Premier Technical Director.
The Board of Directors is thrilled to elevate Pendleton to the Executive Director position. “After an extensive search and interview process, we felt there was no better person to continue and extend the great work we are doing at KC Fusion than Jason Pendleton,” said Board President Robert Mogren.
“The Board believe Jason is poised to take KC Fusion to new heights in developing and continuing to improve our premier and recreational programs, support and lead on- and off-field success and promote general growth and a high level of excellence within the Club. We are excited to support Jason and his efforts,” Mogren stated.
Pendleton succeeds Nate Houser as Executive Director following Houser’s promotion to Athletic Director at Baker University.
KC Fusion is incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication and amazing success Houser has achieved with the Club. Houser has been with Fusion since its inception as MUSC and was the Technical Director for Southwest United Soccer Club prior to the merger which saw MUSC created.
A representative few MUSC and KC Fusion successes earned under Houser’s leadership include:
Houser will remain an integral leader of the Club through a continued presence on our Board of Directors.
KC Fusion is pleased to announce the signing of Mikala Modiri with the University of Central Missouri. She is excited to be continuing her soccer journey with the Jennies. Best of luck to you, Mikala! We will be rooting for you all the way.
We’ve had some BIG events this June: Matthews 99 Girls conquered Presidents Cup, we had THREE boys teams make it to State Cup Regionals in Sioux Falls, we debuted our new Fusion Training Center, we hosted awesome tryouts & camps, and we welcomed Andy Gruenebaum’s AG30 training for our goalkeepers!
If you missed our big unveiling last month, Sporting KC put up a great article about our new fields on their homepage! Thank you to all our players and families for coming out to the Fusion Training Center ribbon cutting at Wyandotte Sporting Fields on June 1!
