FC Kansas City to play Western New York for second time in seven days | The Kansas City Star

For the second time in seven days, FC Kansas City will go head-to-head with the Western New York Flash.

This time, it will be on the Blues’ home turf at 7 p.m. Thursday at Swope Soccer Village.

“In a way, it feels like a continuation of the first game,” FC Kansas City forward Liz Bogus said. “It was an intense game and highly physical, so I would expect much of the same.”

Bogus led FC Kansas City to a 1-0 victory with her goal in the 73rd minute last Friday. It was her second goal in as many games, which has contributed to a three-match winning streak for the National Women’s Soccer League defending champions. The Blues enter the match with a 3-2-0 record and a chance to take sole possession of first place. Western New York is 1-3-0 this season.

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“Whether we are playing a five-on-five game in practice, a college team in preseason or a final in Seattle, she is going to be the same person,” FC Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski said of Bogus. “She doesn’t have a middle gear. It is all top gear.”

Last week’s victory did not come without challenges, though.

It was just the second time this season the Blues had been outshot, and goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart recorded a season-best seven saves. She also picked up her third-straight shutout, and she has not allowed a goal in 295 minutes.

“It was a competitive game and even though we didn’t play our best, we still had some good things,” Andonovski said. “We were very organized defensively and managed to stop their attacks. Also, we did some good things offensively, so the goal will be to do more of those.”

This will be the seventh meeting between the two squads, with each squad having two victories, two ties and two draws.

In support of The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, FC Kansas City players will wear pink jerseys. Those jerseys will be available in a silent auction that starts when the gates open at 6 p.m. and continues through the 75th minute of the match. Proceeds will be donated to the TAKE Foundation.