September 25, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Kansas City, Kan. – After seven consecutive matches with at least one goal, the Washington Spirit was shut out as it lost 3-0 to the Kansas City Current.
It was a flurry of attacking opportunities in the first half of the match. In the seventh minute, Bayley Feist struck a shot from distance into the top right corner, forcing a save onto the post from Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. As the ball came off the post, the Current broke onto a counter attack. Kizer found herself in a one-on-one starting at midfield but was stopped by a last-minute recovery run from Sam Staab. In the following minute, the Current was awarded a free kick just outside the box. As the ball was struck and bounced around the box, Aubrey Kingsbury was called upon to make a one-on-one save to keep the game even.
With the Current creating more attacking chances, it was only a matter of time until it opened up the scoring. In the 18th minute, Kate Del Fava crossed the ball in from the right hand side of the pitch and found the feet of LaBonta at the top of the 18-yard box. With her touch taking a bit of a bobble, she placed her finish into the top right corner, giving Kansas City the early lead.
In the 38th minute, CeCe Kizer doubled the lead for the Current. Following a corner kick, the ball was cleared out by the Spirit but only as far as Alexis Loera, who crossed the ball in from the left hand side of the pitch. The cross found the near post run of Kizer who knocked it off her thigh and past Kingsbury. Only three minutes later, Claire Lavogez added her name to the score sheet, tapping in a first time finish from a cross by Kristen Hamilton.
The Spirit made three changes to start the second half, bringing on Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez and Camryn Biegalski in an attempt to generate more attacking opportunities. However, it would be the Current who created the first major opportunity of the second half in the 75th minute. Hamilton made a run inside the box, cut the ball back and beat Kingsbury with her shot but was kept out by the post. In the same minute, Lavogez created space on the left hand side of the box. Cutting inside, she placed her shot into the upper right corner but was met by a leaping Kingsbury, resulting in a corner.
In a second half that remained relatively neutral, neither team was able to make any additional inroads to the scoreline. The Spirit will return home for its…