Preview: Pitt faces Kansas City Roos in the College Cup Sweet Sixteen

The first I’d ever heard of a DI university in Kansas City, Missouri called ‘Kansas City’ was when PSN editor John Krysinsky texted to ask if I would do a preview of the so-named Kansas City Roos, since that’s who the Pitt Panthers will be playing on Sunday, December 1, at 5pm EST in the third round of the NCAA Men’s College Cup. There’s three reasons I can be excused for having never heard of the KC Roos.

First, Kansas City Roos (“the” Kansas City Roos? I dunno) were rebranded from the UMKC Roos in 2019 – they’ve only been the KC Roos for the past five years. Second, the Roos have been in the Western Athletic Conference and the Summit League since 1994, where they don’t get a lot of exposure on national TV. And third, the Roos aren’t well known for athletics. The school has never had an NCAA champion in any sport – although the men’s soccer team has won the Summit League Tournament four times in school history (2001, 2003, 2008, and 2024).

The Roos earned their berth in the College Cup with an upset over Denver University on November 16th with a corner in the 90th minute scored by Elie Kisoka to win it 2-1; Denver would also end up with a bid to the tournament, though; it was the first time the Summit League place two teams in the College Cup in league history.

Kansas City proceeded to surprise their first round opponents in the College Cup, the St Louis Billikens, 2-0, and beat their second round foes, 15th seeded Missouri State, 2-1. Their appearance in the College Cup Sweet Sixteen is the first in the  history of the school, which was founded back in 1933.

What to Watch for – Lineup and Tactics

Here’s how the Roos lined up against Missouri State in the last round of the College Cup:

Missouri State had the better of the possession in the first half against the Roos, as their methodical possession and aggressive tackling made KC look a bit shaky and vulnerable, especially through the first 15 minutes of the contest. Missouri State would break through with the first goal in the 32nd minute on a set-piece that rattled around in the box uncleared for too long. At the end of the first half, the Bears of Mo State would have twice as many chances as the Roos, with 8 shots to their opponent’s 4. In the second half, though, the Roos started to find a groove, particularly with long line-breaking counter attacks. They scored on a play such as this in the 50th minute, as Roos wide defender Brevyn Cole shook his man down the right side for an open cross to the backpost, which Japanese-native Sora Shibata headed home – although officially the ball ricocheted in off a defender for an own goal.

In the 72nd minute, Kansas City would take a 2-1 lead on a corner kick, finished by a header from Sophomore defender Ales Kohoutek, and the Roos would stay the course to see out the win.

KC lost the battle for possession in the game but still found their way through. Look for them to spread the field and play line-to-line and by creating space. Their three forward combo up front can be very dangerous to defend, but that 3-4-3 offense is also vulnerable in defense. It shrinks into more of a 4-4-2 mid block when they get a moment to organize themselves in defense. Goalkeeper Brandon McGaugh made some tasty saves and is a tough one to beat.

The most dangerous man on the pitch and the one to watch for the Kangaroos is French center forward Elie Kisoka. The Junior and native of Marseilles had 12 goals, 8 assists and was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Year. He scored 5 game-winners for the Roos, so better hope that the Panthers don’t sleep on him.

Sunday’s College Cup third round match takes place December 1, 2024 at 5pm EST between the Pitt Panthers and Kansas City Roos at Ambrose Urbanic Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Image care of KC Roos via Instagram.

Mark Asher Goodman

Mark Asher Goodman is a writer for Pittsburgh Soccer Now, covering the Riverhounds, the Pitt Men's and Women's teams, and youth soccer. He also co-hosts a podcast on the Colorado Rapids called 'Holding the High Line with Rabbi and Red.' He has written in the past for the Washington Post, Denver Post, The Athletic, and American Soccer Analysis. When he's not reading, writing, watching, or coaching soccer, he is an actual rabbi. No, really. You can find him on twitter at @soccer_rabbi