June 9, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Seattle Reign FC News Release
SEATTLE, WA. – On a hot evening at CPKC Stadium, Seattle Reign FC fell 5-2 to the Kansas City Current. Reign forward Jordyn Huitema netted a first half brace, but the Current answered back, leveling the score before half time. The home side managed to add three goals in the second half while holding the Reign scoreless, resulting in a Reign loss on the road.
Seattle had a strong start to the match, pressing forward into the attack almost immediately. Huitema showed her skill early on, slipping a well-weighted ball through Kansas City’s backline to forward Veronica Latsko, who fired off a shot in the second minute and earned a corner for the Reign. The ensuing corner kick also threatened the Current, as defender Sofia Huerta crossed a ball to the head of Huitema, but the shot did not find the frame of the goal.
As the teams settled into the match, it was clear it would be a back-and-forth battle in the Missouri sun. Midfielder and captain Jess Fishlock found a shot from distance in the 12th minute, yet again sending a warning sign to the Current but not quite finding the back of the net.
Kansas City had a threatening chance of their own in the 19th minute, when forward Temwa Chawinga was one on one with Reign goalkeeper Laurel Ivory, but Ivory came off her line to shut down the play and collect the ball on a big touch from Chawinga.
The 22nd minute of the match brought yet another chance for the Reign to take the lead, as forward Tziarra King took a shot on target, but Kansas City goalkeeper AD Franch got just enough on the ball, sending it off the crossbar instead of into the back of the net.
In the 24th minute of the match, the Reign finally found the goal that they had been searching for. Latsko served a ball to the top of the six-yard box from the right side of the field, finding the foot of Huitema, who surged beyond the Current’s backline to touch the ball into the back of the net.
Just four minutes later, Kansas City leveled the score when forward Michelle Cooper and Chawinga outpaced the Reign to get the home side on the scoreboard.
In the 41st minute, the Reign scored again, retaking the lead. The play started with a free kick taken by Huerta, played short to the feet of Fishlock. Fishlock’s service was a rocket into the box, bouncing around before Huitema’s head directed it into the back of the net.
In stoppage time of the first half, Kansas City equalized…