Midfielder Hailie Mace broke up a play by Portland defender Natalia Kuikka. Mace scored on a free kick late in stoppage time for a 1-1 draw Sunday. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The latest of comeback goals earned the Kansas City Current a 1-1 draw at home against the Portland Thorns, a critical point in the standings with Kansas City battling for the top spot in the NWSL standings as the regular season draws to a close.
Well into the fourth minute of stoppage time, on a last-ditch drive toward goal, Hailie Mace was knocked down by defender Becky Sauerbrunn just outside the Portland penalty area, earning a free kick.
Mace and Kristen Edmonds lined up over the ball, and Edmonds gave the ball the merest nudge before Mace blasted it into the upper left corner of the goal.
The late game goal-scoring heroics partially overshadowed the Herculean effort of the defense and goalkeeper A.D. Franch, whose eight saves along with stellar back line play stymied Portland’s relentless offensive pressure until an 86th minute goal from midfielder Rocky Rodriguez.
U.S. women’s national team star Sophia Smith was a force on Portland’s front line, slipping into open areas in the Kansas City defense and providing a target for her teammates. Kate Del Fava and Addisyn Merrick had the unenviable task of keeping Smith in check, and were up to the challenge.
The draw pulls Kansas City even with Houston for second place in the NWSL standings, though Houston owns the tie breaker on goal differential. Portland remains one point behind, but the Thorns have a game in hand. The top two teams receive a bye in the first round of playoffs and will play host to their semi-final matches.
Kansas City has two games remaining in the regular season, and the NWSL Shield award for the best record is within reach. The Current plays 10th place Washington Spirit at home next Sunday and concludes the season at 11th place Louisville on Oct. 1.
Defender Addisyn Merrick and midfielder Rocky Rodriguez fought for a header in front of the Portland goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Goalkeeper A.D. Franch charged out to deny a shot from Portland forward Sophia Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Kristen Hamilton made a run at the Portland goal in the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Kristen Edmonds and Portland forward Sophia Smith raced after the ball. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Addisyn Merrick held up Portland forward Sophia Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Elyse Bennett came off the bench in the 64th minute and provided an offensive spark to the team. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Addisyn Merrick ran to cut off Portland forward Sophia Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Fans in the south stands celebrated Hailie Mace’s last-minute game-tying goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Hailie Mace was fouled just outside the Portland penalty area, creating the opportunity for the late equalizer. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Goalkeeper A.D. Franch kicked away a centering pass from Portland forward Sophia Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Kristen Edmonds signed autographs for fans after the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Willy Agada celebrated a goal just before the end of the first half of Sporting Kansas City’s 4-1 win over Minnesota United Saturday. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Though Sporting Kansas City has been eliminated from MLS playoff contention, its late season run of good form continued Saturday evening with a 4-1 home win over Minnesota United.
Willy Agada celebrated his 23rd birthday with a pair of goals, and the home side looked convincingly better than the Loons throughout the match.
Kansas City had some dangerous chances in the first 30 minutes, but didn’t break through until a Johnny Russell hot shot from the right side bounced off Minnesota defender Michael Boxall for an own goal in the 31st minute.
Sporting finished the first half with a flourish, getting a goal from Erik Thommy in the 41st minute off a feed from Russell.
Just 4 minutes later, Agada got his first goal of the night, finishing off a build-up from Roger Espinoza to left back Ben Sweat. Agada headed in Sweat’s perfectly placed cross for the 3-0 halftime lead.
Kansas City kept the intensity up after halftime, but Minnesota’s Mender Garcia scored for the visitors on a counter-attack in the 57th minute.
Agada finished off the visitors’ hopes with his second goal in the 81st minute. Daniel Salloi dribbled in from the left side then crossed to Agada just in front of goal.
Major League Soccer has a break for international play, providing Sporting’s Marinos Tzionas (Cyprus) and Logan Ndenbe (Belgium) the opportunity to play for their countries.
Sporting Kansas City will play its final home match of the season on Oct. 2, facing the Seattle Sounders. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. The season concludes with an away game at Dallas on Oct. 9.
Minnesota defender Michael Boxall watched helplessly as Johnny Russell’s pass ricocheted off him and into his team’s goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Roger Espinoza directed a header out to the wing. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair came out to challenge a shot from forward Erik Thommy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Daniel Salloi centered the ball in front of the Minnesota goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sporting KC recognized past Victory Project honorees on the field at halftime. The family of Hudson Sands carried his Sporting jersey in his memory. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Minnesota midfielder Franco Fragapane knocked defender Kayden Pierre off the ball with a hip check. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Erik Thommy scored from the edge of the 18-yard box in the 41st minute. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Andreu Fontas challenged Minnesota forward Joseph Rosales for a header. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Erik Thommy raced toward the Minnesota goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs senior quarterback Kahliek Rainey tried to stiff-arm his way past Washington senior Amarion Womack. Rainey had one running and one passing touchdown in the 31-12 win by the Braves. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Bonner Springs Braves overcame early turnovers to earn a 31-12 win over the Washington Wildcats in Bonner Springs on Friday. The win is the first in head coach Byron Mays’s tenure with the team and moves Bonner to 1-2 on the season.
The Wildcats scored first, taking advantage of a short field and scoring on a strike from Ja’Quarey Williams to Jeremiah Miller for a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats got an interception and drove down to the Bonner Springs 15-yard line on their next possession but weren’t able to convert the opportunity.
The Braves moved into the second quarter with a 6-0 deficit, but quickly got back on top with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kahliek Rainey to Dainan Whetstone. Whetstone was nearly tackled at the 5-yard line but with a second and third effort willed himself into the end zone.
Desmon Williams ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-6 Bonner Springs lead.
The Braves got into an offensive rhythm, running Peyton Parks behind the left side of the offensive line for consistent gains and first downs. The Braves finished the drive on a 1-yard quarterback sweep from Rainey.
Rainey connected with Bryce Wendt on the 2-point conversion for a 16-6 advantage.
Kicker Hayden Hernandez set the Braves on a short field with a well-executed on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff. Parks gave the Braves a three-score lead on a 2-yard scoring run, set up by a long run from Rainey. The Braves converted the 2-point conversion for a 24-6 lead that they held to the half.
The third quarter saw the teams battle for position, with neither getting the upper hand.
In the fourth quarter, Washington took advantage of a short punt to start on the Bonner Springs 44-yard line. A few plays later, a 20-yard pass to Amarion Womack set up a 5-yard touchdown run by JohVonte’ Ross.
Bonner Springs hit back with 5 minutes remaining in the game. Starting at the Washington 45-yard line after a penalty, Rainey hit Wyatt Caldwell for a 30-yard gain, followed by a 6-yard touchdown run from Parks. Hernandez converted the extra point attempt for the final 31-12 score.
The end of the game was marred by an injury to Washington’s Chaddrick Jones, who was hit under the chin on the final touchdown play. Jones was tended by paramedics, and the teams and spectators spent several anxious and helpless minutes before Jones was transported by ambulance for treatment.
The game resumed, and finished uneventfully.
Bonner Springs is now 1-2 for the season. The Braves play a Frontier League game at Louisburg next Friday evening. After the loss, Washington is also 1-2. The Wildcats play Wamego at home on Friday.
Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack hauled in a 20-yard pass, as Bonner Springs senior defensive back Mason Freese closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore lineman Drake DeLeon blocked on a run by senior running back Peyton Parks. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs Dazzlers dance group performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs head coach Byron Mays warmed up the team before the start of the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams got some sideline instruction from Washington head coach Camron Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs defensive back Desmon Williams defended a pass to Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior receiver Jermiah Miller leaped to bring down a pass then turned and ran for a touchdown. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Washington senior Chaddrick Jones slipped a tackle from Bonner Springs senior linebacker Brenden Graham. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore defensive back Desmon Williams grabbed an interception in the first half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs cheerleaders performed during a break in the action (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Washington cheerleaders led the visiting fans in the Wildcat Rumble. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior kicker Hayden Hernandez was all smiles as he came off the field after the Braves covered an on-sides kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams threw down field as senior lineman Dmytro Maslak closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bonner Springs marching band performed at halftime. Sophomore lineman Maddox Clary did double duty as drum major. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
