August 28, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
KANSAS CITY – In yet another high-scoring matchup between the Kansas City Current (8-4-5, 29pts, T-2nd place) and North Carolina Courage (4-7-4, 16pts, 9th place), the Current earned a 3-2 victory at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday night. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta opened the scoring with a first-half penalty kick and, after going down 2-1 early in the second half, forwards Cece Kizer and Kristen Hamilton scored three minutes apart from one another to turn the match around. Sunday’s result extended the Current’s unbeaten streak to 12 matches, which is tied for the second-longest unbeaten streak in the history of the NWSL.
“Certainly, the team has shown the character that the game is never done,” said head coach Matt Potter. “It doesn’t matter the score, to be perfectly honest. They show the endeavor, they show the commitment, and they show the care for each other – that’s the most exciting thing. When you see them play, they’re definitely giving their all for each other. “
LaBonta kickstarted the scoring early. In the fifth minute, the referee whistled for a hand ball on a Courage defender inside the penalty area. LaBonta stepped up to take the spot kick and rolled the ball into the bottom corner to give the Current a 1-0 lead. The goal, LaBonta’s sixth of the 2022 regular season, placed her one goal shy of a league record for most penalty kick goals in a season.
The Courage were not fazed by the early deficit and found a foothold in the match in the 28th minute. North Carolina forward Kerolin settled a through ball from defender Merritt Mathias and slotted it past Current goalkeeper AD Franch to level the match.
Kansas City nearly crafted an immediate response minutes later as forward Claire Lavogez was inches from snatching her second NWSL goal. The French international tried to lob a shot over Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy from the top of the penalty box in the 36th minute, but Murphy stretched to tip the ball over the crossbar.
In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, the Current forced another save from North Carolina’s goalkeeper. Defender Hailie Mace bolted down the left flank and squared a ball to Lavogez, but Murphy tipped Lavogez’s goal-bound effort away.
The sides remained level heading into halftime, but Kerolin wasted little time putting North Carolina in front in the second half with a breakaway goal in the 48th minute.
Kansas City did not…