Tag: Kansas City NWSL

The first match of Kansas City NWSL held Monday night at the Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, ended in a 2-1 loss.

The professional women’s soccer club played the final game of the 2021 Challenge Cup against OL Reign.

It was the first time Kansas City played on its home field, after opening the home schedule last week at Children’s Mercy Park.

An early goal from forward Mallory Weber was not enough as OL Reign scored two goals.

In the sixth minute, midfielder Victoria Pickett slipped a pass through the back line of OL Reign to Weber, who then made two moves on five Reign defenders leading to a right-footed shot to the upper right corner of the net.

“It was limited capacity with COVID, but I thought they did a really good job of making it feel loud and kind of as that 12th man,” Weber said.

Later in the half, Jessica Fishlock of OL Reign made good on a penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1.

Reign took the lead after Celia Jimenez Delgado clipped a header over KC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.

Reign now is 2-1-1 in the Challenge Cup, with Kansas City at 0-3-1.

Kansas City now will move on to its first NWSL regular season match at 4 p.m. May 15 in Louisville, Kentucky, against Racing Louisville. The game will be streamed live on Paramount+.

Kansas City NWSL will play for the first time at its permanent home stadium, Legends Field (the former T-Bones Stadium) in Kansas City, Kansas, on Monday night.

The match is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 3, against OL Reign. It will close out the Challenge Cup series for Kansas City NWSL.

The weather forecast for tonight currently shows a break in the rainy weather, with dry weather during game time.

Although the team has been eliminated from the Challenge Cup final, head coach Huw Williams stated that he has seen several positives from the tournament.

“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t trying to win the Challenge Cup,” Williams said. “We didn’t advance, but playing the level of opposition we have will certainly help prepare us for the regular season.”

The final game of the 2021 Challenge Cup will give Kansas City a last chance to prepare for the team’s first regular season.

During the previous three games, Williams has had a chance to see the team in multiple formations, with team members playing different positions. The final Challenge Cup game could see another starting lineup with the return of Mallory Weber, who was on loan to Australia. The veteran forward started all 10 games she appeared in for Adelaide United this season.

Chloe Logarzo is expected to bring an offensive spark to the Kansas City team’s midfield, according to Williams.

Mariana Larroquette has been suspended for one game by the NWSL Discipline Committee for unsportsmanlike conduct. She will be eligible to play on Saturday, May 15.

The team will play 24 matches, including 12 at home at Legends Field.

The regular season opens on the road at Racing Louisville, at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 15. This is one of two trips the team will make to the Derby City, with a second game scheduled for 2 p.m. Aug. 8.

Kansas City’s inaugural regular season home opener will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, when the team faces off against Julie Ertz and the Chicago Red Stars at Legends Field.

For ticket information, visit https://www.kcwoso.com/.

Kansas City NWSL, a professional women’s soccer team, will play its first home match of the season tonight at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

KC plays Houston Dash in the match, will start at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 26.

After two weeks on the road, the team will get its first chance to play in front of a Kansas City crowd.

“We are so excited to get out in front of the home crowd,” head coach Huw Williams said. “Fans here have embraced this team and these players. Hopefully we can put together a performance worthy of them.”

Between the two teams, there are five players who hail from the Greater Kansas City area. Kansas City NWSL’s defender Sydney Miramontez hails from Lenexa, Kansas, and forward Jaycie Johnson is from Lake Winnebago, Missouri. Houston midfielder Haley Hanson is from Overland Park. Dash forwards Shea Groom and Maegan Rosa (Kelly) are from Liberty, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri, and both also played for FC Kansas City. In addition, Dash Midfielder Katie Mewis was the first draft pick for FC Kansas City in 2013.

Mariana Larroquette, Kansas City’s first international signing, could get her first start in the NWSL on Monday. The Argentine national entered the game late in last week’s draw against Chicago. She has a reputation for being creative on the ball with a nose for the goal.

Houston Dash forward Shea Groom is making her first return to Kansas City since 2017. A star at Liberty High School, Groom has a deep history in the Greater Kansas City market, and with Kansas City head coach Huw Williams. Williams coached her in youth soccer and drafted her when he was general manager of FC Kansas City.

The first 3,000 fans inside Children’s Mercy Park will receive a free teal-colored towel.