Tag: Kansas City Current

Current to travel to Houston tonight

The Kansas City Current play the Houston Dash at 730 p.m. tonight, March 30, in the final away match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.

The match will be played at PNC Stadium in Houston, Texas, and will stream live on Paramount+.

Kansas City comes into the match after the team’s first-ever comeback win against the Chicago Red Stars.

Defender Hailie Mace scored first in the 58th minute with a screamer from the top of the penalty box. Later, she assisted Kristen Hamilton on the game-winning goal with a pass over the Chicago back line. The Current won the match 2-1.

The Houston Dash also earned three points off a comeback win over Racing Louisville, after falling behind 2-0 at the half. María Sánchez, Marisa Viggiano and Rachel Daly each scored in the second half for the 3-2 Houston win.

Last meeting

Kansas City defeated the Dash October 13, 2021, in the midst of a seven-game unbeaten streak to close out the inaugural season.

Following a goal from Darian Jenkins, defender Elizabeth Ball scored her first career goal to give Kansas City a 2-0 cushion at halftime.

Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta converted a penalty late in the game to seal the 3-0 victory for the home side. The three goals represent the most scored by Kansas City in a single game and its largest margin of victory.

Top of the table

By virtue of the Current’s 2-1 victory last week, Kansas City sits atop the Central Division with four points. The Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars are close behind with three points each.

The 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup features three regional groups of four teams. The groups compete in double round-robin preliminary matches. Following the round-robin portion of the tournament, the winner of each group and then the next top overall team advances to the semifinal round on Wednesday, May 4. The NWSL Challenge Cup Final will be Saturday, May 7.

Establishing identity

The 2022 Kansas City Current has adopted an attacking mentality under head coach Matt Potter. The Current opened the Challenge Cup by outshooting Racing Louisville 24 to 8 in the opening match.

Potter’s team then rallied in Friday’s match, defeating the 2021 NWSL finalist Chicago Red Stars 2-1 to earn the club’s first road victory. Falling behind 1-0 with only two shots at halftime, the Current’s halftime adjustments increased the offensive pressure with seven shots in the second half and two goals.

Players to watch

Kansas City Current: Defender Hailie Mace – Mace joined Kansas City in a trade midway through the 2021 season. After finding some time at forward and midfield, Mace settled in on the defensive back line last season and through the first two matches of the Challenge Cup this year. A defender with an offensive mindset, Mace can often be found bringing the ball over the half and igniting the Current attack.

Houston Dash: Forward Shea Groom – Groom started both matches for Houston so far this season. The Kansas City, Missouri, native was originally drafted in 2015 by FC Kansas City. She joined the Dash before the 2020 season and has 10 goals in 39 appearances for Houston.

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KC Current comes from behind for 2-1 victory

The Kansas City Current advanced to first place in the Central Division of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win Friday over the Chicago Red Stars.

Defender Hailie Mace and forward Kristen Hamilton scored their first goals of the season to bring home three points for Kansas City in the club’s first ever comeback win.

“A hard night, not only with the conditions, but playing a very strong Chicago team,” Kansas City Current head coach Matt Potter said. “So, all in all, we couldn’t be happier to get something out of the game and obviously enjoy the win.”

The Red Stars took an early lead in the 22nd minute. A blocked shot from Mallory Pugh fell to the feet of Vanessa DiBernardo, whose shot deflected off Kansas City defender Alex Loera and fell past goalkeeper A.D. Franch.

Chicago nearly had another in the 31st minute when Pugh got out ahead of rookie defender Alex Loera. Franch closed the tight angle to deny the Red Stars a second score.

Kansas City’s first goal came in the 58th minute, when a swift cross from Lo’eau LaBonta found Hailie Mace at the top of the 18-yard box. The defender launched a rocket past Alyssa Naeher into the top right corner of the goal to score the day after her birthday.

Mace’s runs were dangerous on the flanks all night. Just under a half-hour later, her pass was key for the Current finding the lead in the 86th minute. Mace chipped the ball over the Red Stars back line right to the feet of Kristen Hamilton. The NWSL veteran knocked it past Naeher to bring home three points for Kansas City.

The Current again started two rookies on its back line, Alex Loera and Jenna Winebrenner, to hold forward Mallory Pugh at bay. All five of the team’s rookies saw time in the match, with Elyse Bennett and Izzy Rodriguez entering in the second half. Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava and Taylor Leach all saw their first minutes of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.

This is the Kansas City Current’s first win in the NWSL Challenge Cup and its first win on the road in club history. The team next travels to Texas to face the Houston Dash (1-1-0) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 30. The first home match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup will be at Children’s Mercy Park at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2.

Season tickets and flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit kansascitycurrent.com.

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In Challenge Cup opener, KC Current plays to a draw with Louisville

The Kansas City Current opened the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup with a 1-1 draw against Racing Louisville FC Friday night.

Overland Park, Kansas native Cece Kizer opened the scoring for Louisville in the 20th minute, but midfielder Addie McCain scored her first career goal in the 78th minute to equalize the match at 1-1.

In Kansas City’s first match under the direction of head coach Matt Potter, the Current opening lineup featured seven players who were not on the team’s roster to begin the 2021 season, including rookies Alex Loera and Jenna Winebrenner at center back.

“Jenna and Alex have done nothing but stand tall and be accountable for their performance. They showed that they belong on this stage,” Potter said. “The way they went about handling what I believe is one of the best players in this league, in terms of their forward, Jess McDonald. I thought that they handled it very well for a first outing in Challenge Cup.”

Along with defenders Hailie Mace and Kristen Edmonds, the rookie pairing were able to keep Louisville at bay for most of the game. However, against the run of play, Racing’s Kizer was able to sneak past the Kansas City back line and distribute a pass to McDonald on the right side and then find her way to receive a near immediate return pass and score.

Kizer’s shot was one of only two that the Current allowed on the night as the defense clamped down any additional chances from Louisville. The Current were able to hold the possession advantage for the entire game as Potter encouraged his team to remain on the attack.

McCain entered the match as a second half substitute for midfielder Sam Mewis. She wasted no time in making her mark on the match. Within moments of Louisville taking the kickoff, McCain could be found tracking down the ball and winning it back for her side.

In the 78th minute, McCain and teammate Lynn Williams pressured Racing’s backline, forcing a bad touch that Williams was able to steal away and pass to an open McCain. The second-year midfielder found the right corner of the goal and knotted the game at 1-1.

Williams exited the match shortly after that with an injury to her leg. With Kansas City having already used its allotted substitutions, the team was forced to play the final 10 minutes of the match with only 10 players.

Potter did not allow his team to panic as he directed his team to keep on the attack. McCain nearly netted her second goal in the 83rd minute, but a Louisville defender was able to just save the ball from crossing the line.

Kansas City remains on the road next week as the team travels to face the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 25.

The first home match of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas.

Season tickets and flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit KansasCityCurrent.com.

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