March 25, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Kansas City Current News Release
CARY, NC – The Kansas City Current opened its season in North Carolina with a 1-0 loss to the Courage. Despite a standout debut performance by four newcomers who started the match, the Current were unable to find the back of the net.
“I don’t feel that we gave as great an account of ourselves for an opener,” said head coach Matt Potter. “But for us we’ll go back and take a look at the film and go from there. With a lot of new faces, it’s going to give us the pictures to see how we can grow and that’s what we want to do.”
North Carolina forward Kerolin proved to be a challenge for the Current backline early on. In the second minute, she found space down the right-hand side, capitalizing off a stumble by the Current backline, to force a massive save out of goalkeeper AD Franch.
An early highlight for the Current that would continue throughout the match was the tenacious play of rookie forward Michelle Cooper. She had several close chances throughout the first half, the best of which came when she found herself 1-v-1 with Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy, chasing down a loose ball. Murphy came far off her line to snatch it away and preserve the shutout.
The Courage broke the stalemate in the 23rd minute. Newcomer Mille Gejl found herself open about 30 yards out from the goal. Her shot bounced just over the fingertips of a diving Franch.
Rookie defender Gabrielle Robinson earned her first NWSL start, lining up next to veteran Elizabeth Ball at the center back position. Just before halftime, the two combined for one of the best goalscoring opportunities of the first half. A long ball in from Robinson found Ball in the center of the penalty box. Ball tapped the ball in toward goal, but it just barely rolled out to the left.
The Current started to find more space in the second half, building through the midfield to provide more opportunities to newcomer forwards Cooper, fellow rookie Alexa Spaanstra and Swedish international Mimmi Larsson. The team also focused in on set pieces, logging 10 corner kicks to North Carolina’s three.
In the 69th minute, midfielder Alex Loera launched a free kick from 25 yards out and perfectly placed the ball at the back post. Unfortunately, the Current’s forwards were blocked by the Courage backline.
The Current closed out the match with another incredible chance in stoppage time from Cooper. As the ball bounced around in the box from a free…
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