Roger Espinoza
Encyclopedia
Roger Espinoza is a Honduran
footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer
.
when he was 12 years old. He attended Denver South High School
before transferring to Regis Jesuit High School
in Aurora, Colorado
, and played two years of college soccer
at Yavapai College
before transferring to Ohio State University
for his junior season. He participated in the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup Finals
losing against Wake Forest 2-1. In 2006, he spent one season with the Arizona Sahuaros
of the National Premier Soccer League
during the collegiate off-season.
by Kansas City Wizards
. He made his MLS debut on April 9, 2008 against the New England Revolution
. He scored his first professional goal on July 17, 2008 against Columbus Crew
.
It was announced on November 18, 2010 that Espinoza would graduate from the MLS Generation Adidas
program at the end of the 2010 season.
by Reinaldo Rueda for the UNCAF Nations Cup 2009
held in Honduras
for the first time in his career. He made three appearances during the tournament where he wore number 13. He scored his first goal for the national team in a 1-0 win against El Salvador
to give Honduras
3rd place in the competition.
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and College
Espinoza moved from his native Honduras to Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
when he was 12 years old. He attended Denver South High School
South High School (Denver)
South High School is a high school in the Washington Park neighborhood on the south side of Denver, Colorado. It is part of Denver Public Schools.-History:...
before transferring to Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School is a Jesuit Catholic college preparatory high school located in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 1877, the high school shares much of its history with its counterpart Regis University in neighboring Denver, Colorado....
in Aurora, Colorado
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, and played two years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Yavapai College is a community college located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The main Campus is in Prescott, with locations in Clarkdale, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Sedona.-History:...
before transferring to Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
for his junior season. He participated in the 2007 Division I Men's College Cup Finals
2007 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup for the final four teams was held at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. All other games were played at the home field of the...
losing against Wake Forest 2-1. In 2006, he spent one season with the Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros
Arizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
during the collegiate off-season.
Professional
Espinoza was drafted 11th overall in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft2008 MLS SuperDraft
The 2008 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 18, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the ninth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was made by the Kansas City Wizards, after acquiring the selection from the expansion San Jose Earthquakes...
by Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He made his MLS debut on April 9, 2008 against the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. He scored his first professional goal on July 17, 2008 against Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
It was announced on November 18, 2010 that Espinoza would graduate from the MLS Generation Adidas
Generation adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
program at the end of the 2010 season.
International
Roger Espinoza was called up to the Honduran national football teamHonduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
by Reinaldo Rueda for the UNCAF Nations Cup 2009
UNCAF Nations Cup 2009
The UNCAF Nations Cup 2009 was the tenth edition of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the biennial football tournament for the CONCACAF-affiliated national teams of Central America. The first five places qualified for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup...
held in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
for the first time in his career. He made three appearances during the tournament where he wore number 13. He scored his first goal for the national team in a 1-0 win against El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
to give Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
3rd place in the competition.