Kansas City NWSL tied the Houston Dash 2-2 in soccer action Sunday in Houston.
Defender Taylor Leach scored the equalizer two minutes into added time to tie the game.
“I’m just very excited to be able to come away with a point on the road in a difficult situation,” Leach said after the game. “Here we go down a man and to be able to pull this one off – I think it’s good going back home to Kansas City and playing Chicago on Wednesday – I was super excited for that.”
Head coach Huw Williams said after the game that the goal scored in the final minutes “showed the character, showed the personality, showed the guts, showed the effort, showed the heart of this group. Sometimes it’s about tactics. Sometimes it’s about skill. Sometimes it’s about determination and finding a way, and Leach’s goal today, how she rose up, great header, couldn’t wish for a better header than that. That’s the type of moment, that can elevate and certainly boost the morale of a team and elevate the team to another level. That’s what we’ll use for right now, we’ll use this as a stepping stone for us to get better as a team.”
Forward Mallory Weber scored first for Kansas City, giving it a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The Houston Dash scored twice in the second half, including one goal by Kansas City native Shea Groom.
KC NWSL played much of the second half with 10 players as defender Elizabeth Ball was sent off with two yellow cards.
With Sunday’s tie, Kansas City now has one more point in the standings.
The professional women’s soccer team opens its regular home season with a match at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Legends Field against the Chicago Red Stars. Kathleen and the One Nite Stand Band will play outside the stadium for fans pregame, while The Voice Season 16 winner Maelyn Jarmon will perform the National Anthem and the Marching Cobras will perform at halftime. Gates open at 4 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.kcwoso.com/.