October 23, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
SEATTLE, Wash. – The #5 Kansas City Current’s historic run in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Playoffs will officially last another week after the club earned the most significant win in franchise history Sunday night. In perhaps Kansas City’s most complete performance of the entire 2022 season, the Current bested 2022 NWSL Shield winners #1 OL Reign 2-0 at Lumen Field. Rookie defender Alex Loera opened the scoring with a goal in the fourth minute, then forward Kristen Hamilton scored a crucial insurance goal in the 63rd minute.
Sunday’s victory marked another chapter in the greatest season-to-season turnarounds in NWSL history. After finishing in last place in 2021 with 16 points, the Current roared through the 2022 season en route to earning its first playoff appearance in franchise history. Now, after winning consecutive playoff road matches in front of record crowds, Kansas City can add at least one more accolade to an incredible season: a first-ever appearance in the NWSL Championship.
“When I came into the club I understood what it was that ownership had set in terms of the expectation and the ambition that they had shown,” said head coach Matt Potter. “To be perfectly honest it aligned with my own thinking and the way we wanted to play. I was just grateful to have the opportunity to be able to lead the group. I was so excited about the project and I was in a good place. This was something I think everybody would want to be a part of. We get to continue a journey that we’ve been on all season. It’s had everything in there. The fact that we get to play one more game and be together for one more week is pretty darn exciting.”
Much like last weekend’s 2-1 win over the Houston Dash, Kansas City took the lead inside the opening five minutes of the match. Loera’s fourth minute goal came even quicker than last weekend’s opener and marked the fastest goal scored by the road team in an NWSL playoff match. Forward Kristen Hamilton started the scoring move with some pressure in the middle of the park, and Hamilton’s pressure led to a ball down the right flank for forward Cece Kizer to chase. Kizer whipped in a dangerous cross to the feet of midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta in the penalty area, but she couldn’t steer the ball on net.
However, OL Reign was unable to get the ball cleared, and Loera pounced on the loose ball and slotted it past Reign goalkeeper…