FC Kansas City picks up third straight victory

Liz Bogus has never been much of a scorer.

However, when FC Kansas City has arguably needed their veteran forward most, she has caught fire, leading the Blues to consecutive victories.

Her first and only shot of the game came in the 73rd minute of Friday’s 1-0 contest against the Western New York Flash at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. The Blues improved to 3-2-0 with their third straight victory and second without their four U.S. Women’s national team players: Lauren Holiday, Amy Rodriguez, Becky Sauerbrunn and Heather O’Reilly.

“Before and after the goal, Liz Bogus played an unbelievable game,” FC Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “As one of the more experienced players on the team, she was a great example for the younger players.”

Four games into the 2015 season, Bogus already has doubled her National Women’s Soccer League career goals mark and now has three as a member of FC Kansas City. She is the only player with multiple goals so far.

“She is a great worker and an experienced soccer player,” Andonovski said. “She finds ways to get to the goal and help the team win.”

FC Kansas City struggled offensively in the first half with just three shots compared to 11 from Western New York. The Blues were ultimately out-shot 19-7, but goal keeper Nicole Barnhart picked up her third-straight shutout with a season-high eight saves. The Flash had seven shots on goal.

“We didn’t connect as much especially in the final third,” Andonovski said. “We worked a lot harder in the second half and managed to get the 1-0 win.”

The victory, which was the first for the Blues in Sahlen’s Stadium in three seasons, also helped the defending champions take over first place in the league as the only team with nine points from three victories. Four teams stand behind them with two.

FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash will have a quick turnaround when they face each other again at 7 p.m. Thursday at Swope Soccer Village.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 9:30 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City picks up third straight victory."