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