2015 OKC Energy FC

[kwhey]

Energy FC Breaks Ground on New Practice Facility

OKLAHOMA CITY – The OKC County Health Department Board of Directors along with OKC Energy FC and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma broke ground Wednesday on a multi-field training facility on the grounds of the Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus at 2600 NE 63rd in Oklahoma City.

“Soccer is a great sport to expand the health and wellness of its participants. Energy FC is delighted with our partnership with the OKC County Health Department’s in their mission to improve the wellness of our community. The Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus is a perfect fit for the continued growth of our soccer club.” said Energy FC General Manager Jason Hawkins.

The foundation of this initiative is an earlier grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma to support construction of the sports fields as a part of BCBSOK’s Healthy Kids Healthy Families program

“The Health and Wellness Campus is a true healthy option for children and families to enjoy,” said Ted Haynes, President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. “We proudly support this project and we look forward to seeing the continued development of the sports fields with Energy FC.”

“This opportunity with the Energy FC will serve as a way to leverage our standing partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma and the Healthy Kids Healthy Families grant. Health and wellness should be a family affair, and that starts with providing both the resources and the avenue for families to be active together, this partnership will achieve just that,” remarked OKC County Health Department Executive Director, Gary Cox, J.D.

Construction on the state-of-the art fields should be completed by late fall. The ground will serve as Energy FC’s home base for training as well as the location for soccer camps, neighborhood resident recreation functions with Energy FC stakeholders and citizens of Oklahoma City. Included as part of the partnership, Energy FC will work closely with OKC County Health Department and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma to provide soccer clinics and physical activities to benefit area youth.

The OKC County Health Department’s Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus is aimed at improving the health and lifestyles for the citizens of Oklahoma City and County through the provision of much needed resources. Complete with walking trails, a customized demonstration kitchen, wellness classes and a community playground, the Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus is a key component in the continued improvement of the health of the citizens of Oklahoma City and County. Many of these amenities are made possible to the community through the generosity of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma.

[kwhey]

Oklahoma City Energy FC on Thursday announced it has signed Kalen Ryden for the remainder of the season.

Ryden, from Norman, was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew and had spent his rookie year splitting time between Columbus and the United Soccer League’s Austin Aztex. Ryden never appeared in a game for Columbus though and was released earlier this month.

A graduate of Norman North High School, Ryden was The Oklahoman’s Boys Soccer Player of the Year in 2009. Ryden went to Oral Roberts University before transferring to Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas.

He becomes the third Oklahoman on the Energy’s roster. Ray Clark, Norman High, and Bryan Byars, Putnam City North, are both goalkeepers for the Energy.

Ryden played in nine games for Austin this year, starting in eight of them. He scored the game-winning goal against Real Monarchs SLC and earned honorable mention to the USL Team of the Week for that.

The 24-year-old defender played a full 90 minutes against Oklahoma City in May when Austin hosted the Energy and played to a 2-2 draw. Ryden was recalled from his loan by Columbus just days before Austin played at Taft Stadium in June nixing the chance for Ryden to play in front of his hometown fans.

Ryden will finally get that chance now. The Energy has two home games remaining on the schedule and the first is Saturday against, of course, the Austin Aztex. Oklahoma City also hosts Colorado Springs in September.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Energy FC vs. Austin Aztex (Taft Stadium).

[andrew3077]

OKC Energy 2-0 Austin Aztex

Didn't get to go to the game but based on the video feed, attendance looked really solid tonight. I know I've personally received individual calls from the front office offering tickets and it looks like the push is working. I hope this keeps up and hopefully the team can keep the winning streak up and bring home-field advantage to the playoffs!

[kwhey]

It was officially a sell out. Looked like it too. Great atmosphere.

[IanMcDermid]

I thought it was strange that the majority of fans showed up 20-30 minutes after kickoff. It was my first game tonight. Was amazed a the value of the seats. I selected the automatic best available on Monday. $40 a seat got front row middle field. Good times! Local food trucks and brew by anthem. Awesome.

[bradh]

For some reason the crowd is always late arriving

[AP]

Danni boy ties the single season goals record. Sell out. Clinched playoff spot. Held first place. Great weekend for the Energy.

[bradh]

That really was a great night for the team. Would love nothing more than to celebrate a conference title that last regular season home game.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Energy FC occupies 1st place in the Western Conference with 24 games played vs. 2nd place Los Angeles Galaxy II who has played 25 games.

Oklahoma City Energy FC's final three regular season games--2 on the road & 1 home final:

Sunday, September 6: Tulsa Roughnecks FC @ OneOK Field
Saturday, September 12: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC @ Taft Stadium
Wednesday, September 16: Arizona United SC @ Scottsdale Stadium

Standings - United Soccer League

[AP]

All 3 of those teams are easily beatable. It would be awesome to finish out the season strong with 9 points and head into the playoffs in 1st.

[kwhey]

Oklahoma City Energy FC occupies 1st place in the Western Conference with 24 games played vs. 2nd place Los Angeles Galaxy II who has played 25 games.

Oklahoma City Energy FC's final three regular season games--2 on the road & 1 home final:

Sunday, September 6: Tulsa Roughnecks FC @ OneOK Field
Saturday, September 12: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC @ Taft Stadium
Wednesday, September 16: Arizona United SC @ Scottsdale Stadium

Standings - United Soccer League

You forgot that they play tonight against Real Monarchs at 8pm

[Bullbear]

I had gotten a notice sent to me offering special pricing for 08/29/15 game and billed as LGBT night. I have to say I was surprised to see that and very happy. Unfortunately I wasn't in town but many people I know attended for the first time and loved it.

[kwhey]

The supporter's section and south end zone stands will be back start September 12 and all playoff home games. Damn feels good to be back.

[John Knight]

One of the local home brewers associations, Red Earth Brewers, are brewing two batches of beer for The Grid for the playoffs. Stay tuned for details on the what will be the largest tailgate at Taft!

[Laramie]

Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Oklahoma City Energy FC

[bradh]

We did not make the game last night, but sounds like we got jobbed majorly, true?

[C. B.]

Really weak penalty call in stoppage time. We led 3-2 and gave up the PK for a late draw. Great atmosphere and crowd of almost 7,000.
We really needed those 3 points for a home playoff game.

[AP]

Great atmosphere and crowd of almost 7,000.

I believe this was a franchise record, which is quite impressive considering both OU and OSU had games at the same time.

[kwhey]

We did not make the game last night, but sounds like we got jobbed majorly, true?

Watched it on YouTube and they did get jobbed. Weak call.

[kwhey]

Apparently, the Energy will be fielding a PDL (Premier Developmental League) next season. More soccer! I can't complain about that.

Oklahoma City Energy FC returned to Taft Stadium on Sunday morning following a 2-2 draw with Orange County (Calif.) on Saturday night. The Energy hosted, in an unscheduled friendly, the Oklahoma City Pulse and in doing so introduced fans to the future of Oklahoma soccer with a development team.

(Story continued below...)
The Premier Development League is an amateur league predominantly filled with college athletes. The PDL runs from May through July and offers players the chance to stay in shape and get in live games during the offseason. The NCAA allows for players to participate with the exception being a PDL side cannot stockpile players from one school, which would essentially giving that school a summer league team.

Dustin Hooker, who helps with the Norman North High School soccer program as well as the Norman Youth Soccer Association, said he and his business partner, Mark Moore, were talking about a month and a half ago about how the local college soccer players have limited options while they are home for the summer.

“It was too late to get into the PDL this season,” Hooker said after the Pulse fell 3-0 to the Energy. “So we went to the Energy and said, ‘What do you think of doing a PDL team in May of 2016?’ They said, ‘Yea we think that would be great.’ So we actually jumped the gun a little bit, got the guys together, started organizing some things (now).”

The Pulse have played against Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas Reserve team as well as the C.F. Monterrey’s Under-20 side. The Energy won easily on Sunday behind goals from Reed McKenna, Kyle Greig and Peter Toth, but neither Hooker nor Energy coach Jimmy Nielsen were focused on the result.

“I think it’s just going to add more depth,” Hooker said about adding an official PDL side in Oklahoma City. “There’s going to be exhibition matches where their (Energy) players are going to come and get minutes. You know, it’s hard at the professional level to get on the field. It doesn’t matter if you’re in USL or English Premier League, if you’re at the end of the bench you might not play much. So just getting minutes and being able to play matches. And just soccer as a whole in the community, being able to kind of tie the two together, it just gives us another tier.”

Nielsen said it would carry huge benefits for his players who are constantly training but not featuring in games.

“It’s a perfect scenario,” Nielsen said. “To have a team like that in town where the guys who are not getting a lot of minutes on the weekend can get some minutes. And you can develop to a certain point in practice, but you still need the games.”

Energy owner Tim McLaughlin said the team is still figuring out all the details, but step by step, they are growing the game. The next step is the Oklahoma City Pulse coming to the Premier Development League next spring.

[Laramie]

Maybe this is a springboard for the playoffs and next season (2016) for the Oklahoma City Energy FC.

The crowds were impressive for the last two home games:

August 29, Austin 2-0 win. Attendance: 6,089
September 12, Colorado Springs 3-3 tie. Attendance: 6,847 Largest crowd in Energy FC's history.

[Laramie]

Arizona United SC vs OKC Energy FC

[kwhey]

With the win tonight over Arizona, the Energy are guaranteed one home pitch match!! Heck yeah.

[Rover]

Was there a good fan turnout?