May 14, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current kicked off a stretch of three road matches with a draw against the Orlando Pride. Forwards Elyse Bennett and Kristen Hamilton each scored to earn the Current a point on the road.
“I’m proud of the group, and we use this result to say this is the starting point, this is the standard,” said head coach Matt Potter. “There are lessons to be learned, but overall, it’s one that you’re happy to walk away with something. We wish it were a little bit more, given the way the game played out.”
After a scoreless first half, the action picked up in the 51st minute, when the Pride scored first. Darian Jenkins crossed into Sydney Leroux at the back post, who knocked it to the center for team captain Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir. Her shot slid under Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch to put the Pride ahead.
The Current answered in the 76th minute. A long ball in from Lo’eau LaBonta found Bennett at the far post. The rookie forward, who entered the match in the 60th minute, charged toward the goal to head the ball past Pride goalkeeper Erin McLeod and notch her first professional goal.
Kansas City took the lead with a late match stunner. Bennett again found herself with the ball on the right-hand side of the field. Her cross found Kristen Hamilton perfectly at the center of the box, who knocked it in right at the 91st minute.
The Pride tied it up six minutes into stoppage time, when Desiree Scott was whistled for a foul in the penalty box after clearing the ball away from Kylie Strom. Toni Pressley stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and tied the match at two goals each.
Kansas City defender Kristen Edmonds reached 10,000 NWSL regular season minutes played tonight in the 61st minute. She joins goalkeeper AD Franch, who reached the same milestone in the Current’s last match.
Next up, the Kansas City Current travel to Los Angeles to take on Angel City FC…