Louisville goalkeeper Michelle Betos got to the ball a split second ahead of the impact from forward Kristen Hamilton. Hamilton had 3 shots on goal, and scored the match winner. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Kansas City NWSL gained its second win of the season and second consecutive home victory on Wednesday evening against Racing Louisville FC 2-1.
Forward Kristen Hamilton, appearing in her 100th NWSL match, struck the game-winner in the 40th minute when she received a long pass forward from Hailie Mace and sprinted past the Louisville defense.
With only the goalkeeper to beat, Hamilton steered the ball neatly between the diving keeper’s outstretched arm and the near post to give Kansas City a 2-0 halftime lead.
Kansas City pressed high up the field from the start of the match, frustrating the Louisville back line and earning offensive opportunities and set pieces.
The intense effort paid off in the 18th minute with a Louisville own goal — a deflection off a Racing defender in close action near the goal.
Louisville forward CeCe Kizer narrowed the margin with a goal in the 64th minute, but Kansas City dropped back in a more defensive stance and held on for the remainder of the match.
An unexpectedly large contingent of violet-clad Racing Louisville fans swelled the Legends Field crowd due to two local players on the roster. Kizer, of Overland Park, started the match and scored Louisville’s only goal.
Sinclaire Miramontez, of Lenexa, came on as a halftime substitute for Louisville. She was sent off when she earned her second yellow card during stoppage time.
Despite the win, Kansas City remains in the basement of the NWSL league standings, but edges within 4 points of Louisville, the league’s other expansion franchise.
Kansas City will play at Chicago on Saturday. The next home match will be against the North Carolina Courage at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5.
Forward Gaby Vincent collided with Louisville forward CeCe Kizer as they both went for a header. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Jessica Silva held her own against two Louisville defenders near the endline. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta celebrated with the crowd in the supporters section in the west side of the stadium. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Kristen Hamilton got past Louisville defender Sinclaire Miramontez for a shot on goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Forward Kristen Hamilton celebrated her first half goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, a native of Salina, made her home debut with Kansas City after being traded from the Portland Thorns last week. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Defender Kristen Edmonds held off Louisville forward CeCe Kizer. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Midfielder Victoria Pickett tried to get an edge around the Louisville defense. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Louisville forward CeCe Kizer, an Overland Park native, had a big crowd of friends and family waiting to greet her after the match. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Kansas City NWSL recently acquired U.S. Women’s National Team and Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch in a trade. In exchange, the Thorns FC received goalkeeper Abby Smith and $150,000 in allocation money.
“Bringing AD home is an important strategic move for our team as we continue to add exceptional players who immediately make our club better. AD is one of the best goalkeepers to ever play in the NWSL and is a leader on and off the pitch,” said Christian Lavers, Kansas City director of sport and chief soccer officer.
Franch has eight appearances for the U.S. Women’s National Team, and most recently played in two matches as the U.S. took home the Bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was a member of the U.S. 2019 FIFA World Cup championship team. Her first call to camp with the senior national team was in 2012, and then again in 2013, 2016 and 2018. She made her senior team debut in February 2019 as the U.S. battled to a 2-2 draw against England in the SheBelieves Cup.
Franch was the first goalkeeper and sixth overall pick in the Inaugural 2013 NWSL Draft, taken by the Western New York Flash. She led her team to the first NWSL Shield (given to the best team in the regular season) and to the first NWSL Championship match.
She missed the 2014 season due to injury, and spent the 2015 season with Avaldsnes IL in Norway. In 2016, the Orlando Pride owned her NWSL rights, and traded her, Emily Sonnett and Meghan Klingenberg to Portland for Alex Morgan.
Franch is an accomplished keeper in the NWSL, ranking first all-time with a 0.95 Goals Against Average (Kansas City’s Katelyn Rowland is second with a 1.00 Goals Against Average). She is tied with Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher for second in clean sheets (33) and her 296 saves are fourth best in league history.
Her accolades continue with Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018, Best XI selections in 2017 and 2018, Second XI in 2013, three NWSL Finals appearances and the 2017 NWSL Championship. After winning the NWSL title in 2017, she was recognized as the CONCACAF Female Goalkeeper of the Year.
“This move is even more special to me as my life and career have come full-circle and I’m proud to represent the greater Kansas City area and play in front of the community,” Franch said. “I know what Angie and Chris Long are capable of and what their commitment is to the club and our sport. I am very excited to see what the future holds for my new club.”
The move to Kansas City will be a homecoming of sorts for Franch. Born in Salina, Kansas, she grew up idolizing Brianna Scurry as she excelled at soccer and basketball for Salina South High School. Collegiately, she played for Oklahoma State University, where she still ranks sixth in NCAA history and holds the school record for career shutouts (38).
Smith joined the Utah Royals in 2018, and then moved to Kansas City with the team for its inaugural season. She entered the 2021 season with 38 appearances and a 1.37 goals against average, making four appearances for Utah in the 2020 Challenge Cup and three more in the 2020 Fall Series. This season, Smith played in six matches for Kansas City with a clean sheet and 20 saves made.
Following Kansas City’s first franchise win last weekend, the team heads to face the North Carolina Courage at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. Franch is expected to be available for selection in the match.
Midfielder Victoria Pickett scored Kansas City’s only goal in the 1-0 win over OL Reign. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
On a beautiful summer’s evening at Legends Field, Kansas City NWSL earned the first victory in team history Saturday, with a 1-0 victory over OL Reign.
Although Kansas City’s offense provided scoring chances starting in the first minute, Victoria Pickett put over the match’s only goal in the 73rd minute, charging on to a deflected ball near the Reign penalty spot.
Pickett’s goal held up thanks to a much improved defensive effort. The error-prone back line that allowed three goals at Louisville last Sunday shut out the Reign, blocking four shots and requiring only one save from goalkeeper Abby Smith.
The Kansas City expansion club is still staring up the rest of the league in the standings, 7 points behind Racing Louisville FC, but the win gives fans hope of better things ahead as the team heads into the last 10 games of the 2021 season.
Kansas City will head to the second place North Carolina Courage next Saturday. Their next home game at Legends Field will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 against Louisville.
Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and defender Kristen Edmonds greeted the crowd enthusiastically after the win. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Defender Kiki Pickett sprinted at full speed toward the Reign goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Fans celebrated Pickett’s goal in the 73rd minute. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Reign defender Lauren Barnes slid in for a tackle, winning the ball and upending midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)The KC Chiefs Rumble drum group performed before the game. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Defender Elizabeth Ball broke up an attack by Reign midfielder Eugenie Le Sommer. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Fans celebrated the team’s inaugural victory. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta headed the ball back to keep it in play. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)Forward Kristen Hamilton fired a shot on goal. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
