September 13, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Kansas City Current (9-4-5, 32pts, 1st place) is set to play its second game in just four days when the club travels to play the Chicago Red Stars (7-5-6, 27 points, 6th place) on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7p.m. CT. The match will be broadcast locally on KMCI, 38 the Spot and nationally on Paramount+.
The Current ascended to the top of the table after defeating NJ/NY Gotham 1-0 Sunday. After playing an even match through the first half, Kansas City started to put on the pressure in the second half. Late in the match, forward Claire Lavogez drove towards the goal, then was taken down inside the penalty box. With NWSL leading penalty scorer Lo’eau LaBonta already subbed out of the match, defender Hailie Mace stepped to the spot in the 78th minute and slotted her shot into the left of the goal for the score, and the win.
The Red Stars were last in action on Sept. 9 at the OL Reign. In a back-and-forth affair, Chicago was able to salvage a point and remain in playoff position with a 2-2 draw. After falling behind 1-0 in the 28th minute, and nearly allowing a second goal ten minutes later, forward Ella Stevens recovered a shot off the post and tied the score for the visitors. Chicago took the lead on a Danielle Colaprico penalty kick in the 67th minute, but they were unable to secure the win after Reign forward Rose Lavelle gathered the ball at midfield and sprinted towards goal and found the equalizer.
TOP OF THE TABLE
For the first time in club history, the Current sit in first place in the NWSL standings, an accomplishment that may seem hard to believe after the team’s opening season in 2021. With a turnaround of only a few months between the team being awarded to Kansas City and the first match, the club struggled through its debut season and finished in 10th place out of ten teams.
The team’s turnaround this season has been nearly unprecedented. In 24 games last season, Kansas City earned 16 points and scored 14 goals. In 18 games this season, the club has already earned 32 points and the top three goal-scorers (LaBonta, Kristen Hamilton and Cece Kizer) have combined to score 18 goals and the team has scored 25 goals altogether.
FEELING FINE AT FORTY
Sunday’s 1-0 victory was goalkeeper AD Franch’s 40th career shutout win. Picking up her first clean sheet with the Western New York Flash on June 8, 2013, Franch is only the second goalkeeper…