Month: February 2022

KC Current opens preseason with victory over Washington Spirit

The Kansas City Current opened the preseason schedule with a victory and clean sheet as it defeated the Washington Spirit 6-0 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Six different players found the back of the net for the Current, and goalkeepers A.D. Franch and Cassie Miller split time as they shut out the Spirit.

For head coach Matt Potter, Saturday’s match was about continuing to build the team identity, while getting a look at some of the youngest players on the roster.

“To play three rookies in the back four, in their first ever real competitive game…I thought that group stood out well,” Potter said.

Third-year defender Maddie Nolf was the only veteran on the team’s starting back line. Alex Loera and Jenna Winebrenner were the team’s starting center back pairing, with Izzy Rodriguez manning the left back position.

Rodriguez got the scoring started in the 10th minute of the match after fellow rookie Chardonnay Curran won the ball in the midfield and attacked the Spirit goal. Her cross into the box found forward Kristen Hamilton who touched the ball back to Rodriguez for the power strike.

Newly acquired forward Lynn Williams was next on the scoring sheet with her first goal of the preseason in the 21st minute. Williams followed that up in the 29th minute with her first assist of the preseason, crossing the ball from the right side to where midfielder Addie McCain was waiting to bury it home.

Hamilton closed out the half with a score of her own, beating the entire Spirit defense to the ball and curling a shot into the goal.

Thursday, midfielder Victoria Pickett returned to the club after spending time with the Canadian National Team at the Arnold Clark Cup in England. In today’s match, Pickett needed no time to get back into club form as she found herself inserted into the second-half lineup.

While the Spirit tried to build their attack, Pickett jumped the defender and stole the ball. With a clear path to goal, the second-year player chipped her shot over the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The scoring was capped off by 2022 First Round Draft Pick Elyse Bennett. After winning the ball on the side, she passed into a running Jaycie Johnson. The resilient Johnson worked her way to the right side of the box, drawing the defense to her before sliding the ball across the box where Bennett only needed to tap it in.

Despite the 6-0 score, Potter was most impressed with his team’s defense. The Spirit were held to three total shots with none on goal.

“I think, obviously we want to score goals, but more importantly we want to be known as a team that it’s tough to score goals on, and anytime you get a clean sheet you’ve earned that, and that’s what we want to be about,” he said.

The preseason continues March 2 as the Current travel to Exploria Stadium to face the Orlando Pride at 6 p.m. The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup kicks off March 18 with the Current on the road to face off against Racing Louisville FC at 6:30 p.m.

Season tickets and flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. For pricing and information visit KansasCityCurrent.com.

  • Story from KC Current

Frontier League title in the cards for Piper

Senior Jaron Briggs made a move into the lane. Briggs led all scorers with 22 points in the Pirates’ 58-50 win over Eudora. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

With the Frontier League championship on the line, and both teams holding an unblemished league record, the Piper Pirates defeated the Eudora Cardinals 58-50 at home Friday evening.

The game was tight through the first half. The Cardinals used their height to control the boards and extend offensive possessions. Senior Jaron Briggs hit 2 three-pointers during a stretch in the second quarter to open up a 7-point lead midway through, but Eudora scrambled back within a single point at the break.

The Pirates built out a more comfortable lead after the break, extending to 9 points and ending the quarter with the score 39-31. Aaron Simmons and Gannon Roth both hit shots from outside the arc in the quarter.

The Pirates won the game in the fourth quarter at the free throw line. Briggs hit eight free throw attempts and two baskets from the field to dominate the score sheet. A desperate run by the Cardinals, including 2 three-pointers from Logan Sullivan, closed the gap from 14 to 8 at the buzzer.

Briggs led the Pirates’ scoring with 22 points for the game, and Simmons scored 12. The Pirates attempted 39 free throws, and made 22.

In a ceremony before the game, Piper recognized seniors who participated in winter activities, including basketball, cheer, dance, band and power lifting. The four departing seniors from the boys’ basketball team, Briggs, Simmons, Blake Porter and Alex Ivanuska, were all in the starting lineup.

Piper finishes the regular season with a 13-7 overall record. Substate playoffs start next week, and the 10-10 Lansing Lions will travel to play at Piper in the first round. The game will take place on Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m.

The Piper dance team performed at halftime, recognizing senior members of the team. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Senior Aaron Simmons hauled in a contested rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Senior Alex Ivanuska took a shot in the paint. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Senior Blake Porter met some resistance on a drive to the basket. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Piper cheerleaders performed stunts featuring their senior members. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Freshman Mikey Burgess drove past Eudora sophomore Braylen Hoobler. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The referee signaled sophomore Gannon Roth’s three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Junior Colin Vigil elevated for a short jumper. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Junior Miguel Martin looked to pass around the perimeter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

UG Health Department provides more details about Similac baby formula recall

Similac, Similac Alimentum and EleCare have been recalled for possible salmonella contamination.

The Unified Government Public Health Department is providing additional details about the ongoing recall of several Similac powdered baby formula products, and urged parents and caregivers to immediately check any products they have before giving them to infants.

The products being recalled are all manufactured by Abbott. This recall is specific to three powdered baby formulas: Similac, Alimentum and EleCare.

According to the manufacturer’s recall announcement, these products are being recalled after the company received four consumer complaints related to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants who had consumed powdered infant formula manufactured in a facility located in Sturgis, Michigan. The recall does not include any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas.

What parents and caregivers should do

According to the manufacturer’s recall notice, the products under recall have a multidigit number on the bottom of the container, starting with the first two digits 22 through 37, containing K8, SH or Z2 and with an expiration date of April 1, 2022, or after.

To find out if the product you have is included in this recall, visit the Abbott Product Recall Tool (https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html) and type in the code on the bottom of the package, or call +1-800-986-8540 (U.S.) and follow the instructions provided. No action is needed for previously consumed product. If you have questions about feeding your child, contact your healthcare professional.

If a baby formula product you purchased is part of this recall, return to the store where you purchased the formula and ask for a refund or exchange.

Some product was distributed to countries outside the U.S. A list of these products can be found at the Abbot Product Recall Tool.

Specific instructions for Wyandotte County residents

In addition to the overall recall information, the Unified Government Public Health Department also issued guidance specifically for parents and caregivers in Wyandotte County:

• Any Wyandotte County residents who have recently received goods from the Healthy Families Wyandotte program, which included small packets of formula, should immediately check those items to make sure they are not among the recalled products.

• The Kansas Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has approved a list of products that can replace recalled product. WIC participants can purchase these products using their WIC card to replace any recalled products.

Expiration date locations and lot numbers are printed on the Similac product package.
The Kansas Women, Infant and Children’s (WIC) program has sent out a graphic showing which formulas are approved temporarily as substitutes for the recalled formulas for WIC participants. These substitute formulas can be purchased using the WIC participant card.
  • Story from Janell Friesen, Health Department public information officer