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KC Current loses Challenge Cup semi to NC Courage

Current Forward Kristen Hamilton and Courage goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland had differing reactions to Hamilton’s second-half goal in their Challenge Cup semi-final match. The Courage won the game 2-1. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

It was a soggy, disappointing Wednesday evening for Kansas City Current fans at Children’s Mercy Park. Under gray, dripping skies, the home team bowed out of the Challenge Cup pre-season tournament on a 2-1 loss to the North Carolina Courage.

The run of play favored the visitors almost from the start, and the Courage made it pay off in the 19th minute when Jenna Winebrenner was whistled for a handball in the penalty area. Midfielder Debinha put the penalty shot up the middle under the crossbar, nullifying A.D. Franch’s dive to the left.

The Courage doubled its advantage in the 36th minute when Kerolin Nicoli’s dribble caught the defense wrong-footed. Nicoli delivered a well-placed cross to Diana Ordoñez to shoot home from near the back post.

Kansas City created some momentum in the later stages of the first half, generating a series of corner kicks. The Current created some chaos in front of goal, and Alex Loera’s shot was deflected narrowly wide in the 39th minute.

The offense wasn’t able to find another clean shot, and North Carolina’s defense cleared the danger. A 42nd minute lunging save by Franch to stop a Nicoli sizzler from the left side kept the deficit at 2-0 at the break.

Current coach Matt Potter substituted freely through the second half to keep fresh legs on the field. Halftime substitute Lo’eau LaBonta brought some energy by finding lanes to push the ball up the left and center of the field.

Potter praised his team’s second-half response to the first-half deficit.

“I credit the team and the players for putting themselves in the position to score goals,” said the coach, “and we certainly did that in the second half. I felt we were the aggressor from start to finish.”

Kristen Hamilton got the home crowd back in a believing mood, scoring her fifth goal of the tournament in the 79th minute. Kristen Edmonds sent a free kick into the box, and Addie McCain won a header to put the ball at the feet of Hamilton in front of the goal.

Franch made another big save at the end of regulation to keep hope alive through stoppage, but the Courage kept the advantage and will move on to the Challenge Cup final against the Washington Spirit on May 7.

The Current are out of the tournament, but the regular season continues apace, with the home opener this Sunday against the Houston Dash, kicking off at 4 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Forward Addie McCain won a ball in the air that earned her an assist on Hamilton’s goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Kristen Hamilton’s second half goal got the crowd fired back up. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and Courage defender Merritt Matthias connected with the ball. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Hailie Mace blocked a clearance from Courage defender Merritt Matthias. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Victoria Pickett tried to connect on a first half corner kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Elyse Bennett fought for an opportunity up the right sideline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Defender Alex Loera headed the ball in front of the North Carolina goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Kristen Hamilton had a near-miss on a second chance on goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Midfielder Chardonnay Curran looked for an opportunity in the closing minutes of the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Turner Elementary teacher honored as Sporting Samaritan for May

Longtime Sporting KC player Matt Besler congratulated Maddy Shackelford on being named the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for May. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

First-year Turner Elementary kindergarten teacher Maddy Shackelford suspected something was up. Principal Tara Hudson had called her out of class to give her a Teacher Appreciation Week T-shirt, but the principal was “acting a little weird.”

The secret was revealed when she got back to her classroom to a big shout of “Surprise!” from her enthusiastic students, and longtime Sporting KC great Matt Besler announced her as the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for May.

Besler spent time with the very inquisitive class, reading two story books, answering questions from the students and personally autographing a card for each child.

A father of two, Besler deftly handled the question of why the letters fell from the tree in “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” a story he’s read to his own kids. He also got a big response from the kindergartners when he told them he started playing soccer at age 5. “I’m 5!” many of them said in unison.

Shackelford received a record 10 nominations for the Sporting Samaritan award, many from colleagues inspired by the passion for teaching she showed in a recent speech she gave to the Turner Elementary faculty.

Even though she’s a new teacher, she handled her class like a seasoned professional, getting the students to focus and work together despite the unusual events of the day. Shackelford credited her peers and mentors for helping her to learn so quickly.

Education runs in Shackelford’s family. Her father Rob, now an elementary school principal in the Shawnee Mission district, previously taught at the Turner Sixth Grade Academy. Her mother Tammy is a first-grade teacher at Lenexa’s Sunflower Elementary.

Hudson said she felt like Shackelford was meant to be in her new role. She requested Turner Elementary for her student teaching because of her father’s love for the Turner community and schools. The school “fell in love” with their student teacher, and when a full-time kindergarten position came open for the 2021-2022 school year, she was a natural fit for the job.

Hudson also credited Shackelford’s positive attitude while taking on the challenges of a slightly larger than normal class size and some students who are not native English speakers.

After meeting the class, Besler compared Shackelford to his first teacher, Mrs. Miller at Stanley Elementary.

“She made it fun for us, and she did a great job organizing the classroom. I can see a lot of her in Maddy,” Besler said.

The Blue KC Sporting Samaritan program is a partnership between Blue KC and Sporting Kansas City that recognizes the contributions to the community of students and teachers each month through the soccer season. Nominations can be made at www.sportingkc.com/blue-kc/.

Shackelford will be recognized on the field at Children’s Mercy Park before Sporting KC’s match against the Colorado Rapids on May 18, coincidentally the last day for students in the classroom at Turner Elementary. Shackelford’s fellow teachers are planning to be on hand at the game to cheer her on.

First-year Turner Elementary kindergarten teacher Maddy Shackelford got a big surprise when she opened her classroom door. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Matt Besler read “Pete the Cat” and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” to the class. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Maddy Shackelford and her kindergarten class posed with longtime Sporting KC player Matt Besler. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

One of Maddy Shackelford’s students showed off her autographed card. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Maddy Shackelford chatted with her students while Matt Besler signed autographs for them. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sabres take on Pembroke Hill at Legends Field

Senior third baseman Antonio Dunn hit a two-run single in the second inning on the Sumner Academy Sabres game against the Pembroke Hill Raiders at Legends Field. Dunn went 4-of-4 at the plate but the Raiders prevailed 8-3. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sumner Academy’s baseball team had an early lead on Pembroke Hill when the teams met Thursday at Legends Field, but the Raiders’ power in the middle innings caught up with them, sending the visitors home with an 8-3 win.

The Raiders got on the board with one run in the top of the second inning, but third baseman Antonio Dunn led the charge back for the Sabres, driving in Juan Galindo and Raul Martinez with a single to left.

The Raiders recaptured the lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run to left field by Reece Nutter. Pembroke Hill extended the lead to 6-2 in the top of the fifth on a string of base hits, and tacked on two more runs in the seventh.

Dunn led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and scored on Marcus Dierks’s single, but the Sabres got no closer in their comeback attempt.

Anthony Mendez pitched four innings for the Sabres, and Dunn and Martinez both took a turn on the mound in relief.

Dunn was the offensive star for Sumner, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs batted in. Charlie Meek and Juan Galindo each went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

The Sabres’ record is now 11-5 with just four games remaining in the regular season. Regional playoffs start May 16.