Plenty of excitement fueled by new Current energy, but KC loses final game of season
It was a night of both celebration and frustration for Kansas City’s women’s pro-soccer team on Saturday.
Entering the final game of the National Women’s Soccer League’s regular season, KC (3-7-14) had nothing but pride left to play for. Any hope of making the NWSL playoffs was squashed weeks ago.
A first-half own-goal by KC defender Kiki Pickett and two goals from the Reign’s Eugénie Le Sommer accounted for the scoring in a 3-0 decision at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan.
“I think today we played against the best team that we’ve played against all year,” KC coach Huw Williams said.
The KC club still had reason to celebrate, however. At halftime, the team unveiled its new, permanent name — the Kansas City Current — along with a new logo.
More than 6,300 fans attended the game and witnessed the “reveal” of the new name during a ceremony at halftime. Many wore flashing red-and-teal wristbands emblazoned with “I WAS THERE 10.30.21 KC NWSL.” The ceremony included a laser light show.
“It’s a good feeling to not just only represent the city but now we have something that we can own on our own as a women’s soccer team,” Pickett said.
The Reign, still hoping to secure a first-round playoff bye, stretched KC from the outset Saturday, forcing a goal-saving dive from goalkeeper A.D. Franch in the opening two minutes. The Reign had a suffocating 11 shots to Kansas City’s three by halftime.
The visitors finally broke through in the 35th minute. The Reign’s Sofia Huerta took a shot that deflected off Pickett and into the Kansas City net.
“Once it came through, if you go back, I feel like I kind of tried to leap out of the way,” Pickett said. “But at that point, you’re just running straight through and it’s kind of hard to turn your body.”
KC captain Rachel Corsie went down with a hip injury that forced the Scottish centerback off the field. She was replaced by Taylor Leach, who made her return from a long-term injury two weeks ago against Chicago.
After halftime, the home team retook the field wearing its new Kansas City Current jerseys. But Le Sommer doubled the scoreline just four minutes into the second half.
The French forward’s first goal of the night was a close-range effort. She also headed home a cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 64th minute. The Current, meanwhile, managed just six shots all night, and only one on-target.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to tip your cap to the other team,” Williams said. “To be able to play that style of football, on our pitch, well done to them. We worked hard and we just couldn’t match up to them today.”
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 9:37 PM with the headline "Plenty of excitement fueled by new Current energy, but KC loses final game of season."