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Nielsen, Dwyer Named in SKC 20th Anniversary Best XI

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 04/13/16, 10:09PM EDT

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Energy FC coach, USL Golden Boot winner honored on Wednesday

OKC Energy FC Head Coach Jimmy Nielsen and former USL Golden Boot winner Dom Dwyer were honored on Wednesday night as Sporting Kansas City unveiled its 20th Anniversary Best XI ahead of its game against the Colorado Rapids.

More than 12,000 votes were cast by Sporting Kansas City fans at the club’s website to determine the lineup, which also included current Head Coach Peter Vermes, and players Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.

Nielsen spent four seasons with Sporting Kansas City, and helped the club win both the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and the 2013 MLS Cup – which proved his last game as a player. Nielsen’s 0.99 career goals against average is best in MLS history among goalkeepers with a minimum of 1,000 regular season minutes played, and he leads Sporting KC with 65 wins in all competitions.

Since then, Nielsen has helped establish Energy FC as a strong contender in the USL on the field, leading the club to the Western Conference Final of the 2015 USL Playoffs. He has also become a major part of the Oklahoma City community in his work off the field with the club.

Dwyer had a remarkable 2013 season on loan in the USL that saw him score 15 goals in 13 games with Orlando City SC to share the USL Golden Boot with then Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Jose Angulo. Dwyer returned to Orlando to help the club win the 2013 USL Championship, as he scored four goals in a 7-4 victory against the Charlotte Eagles to earn Championship MVP honors in front of 20,886 fans at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Dwyer then claimed MLS Cup alongside Nielsen later that year, and has gone on to become one of the most prolific goal-scorers in SKC history. His 48 goals are good for third in team history, and in 2014 he was named to the MLS All-Star Game. Last season, he scored five goals in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as SKC claimed the title for the third time.