August 7, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Current (6-4-4, 22pts, 5th place) extended its franchise-best unbeaten streak to nine matches with a monumental 2-1 road victory over the San Diego Wave (7-4-4, 25pts, 2nd place) on Sunday afternoon. Forward Cece Kizer and defender Hailie Mace’s first-half goals proved enough for the Current to secure the win, which marked the expansion Wave’s first home loss in club history.
“We had a really great week of practice where the quality was there to support the energy and endeavor and I thought that was reflected in the way we went about that first half,” said head coach Matt Potter. “So, very positive the goals were a reflection of that.
Kansas City applied pressure to San Diego from the opening kickoff. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta forced an early save from Wave goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan in the 8th minute on a one-on-one opportunity following a San Diego turnover, a harbinger of what was to come in the opening 45 minutes. The Current opened the scoring in the 27th minute after forward Kristen Hamilton launched a counterattack with a long through ball. Kizer ran onto the pass, weaved past a Wave defender and fired a shot past Sheridan to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Kizer’s fourth goal as a member of the Current, all of which have come during the team’s nine-match unbeaten streak, and her second go-ahead goal this season.
Potter’s squad continued applying pressure on San Diego’s back line and it paid off in the 39th minute. Following another Wave turnover, Mace dribbled right into a group of San Diego defenders and fired a rocket from the top of the penalty box. The Ventura, California native and July Best XI of the Month honoree’s curling shot sailed perfectly into the top corner to double the Current’s lead. The Current’s 2-0 lead stood heading into halftime as a stout Kansas City defense didn’t allow a shot on target in the first half.
Another Current player reached a significant individual milestone in the early stages of the second half. Team captain and midfielder Desiree Scott surpassed 10,000 NWSL minutes played in the 60th minute. Scott became just the second Canadian player and 29th player in league history to reach the milestone.
“You can really see a togetherness and a belief in the partnerships that are building, the connections on the field,” said team captain Desiree Scott. “You know, people are working for…