Hometown hero Cece Kizer’s first goal for KC Current salvages draw against Chicago
The KC Current coughed up a 1-0 halftime lead just 15 minutes into the second half.
But Cece Kizer’s strike from distance — her first for her hometown team — gave the Current a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
That draw makes it four matches unbeaten, including the entire month of June without a loss, for Kansas City. And every team the Current played during their run ranks above them in the standings.
“The team did everything that was asked of them on a difficult evening,” Current coach Matt Potter said. “To walk away in this period of time, it bodes well for the future. Now we have to use this as a platform to push again.”
It was a hot evening in Kansas City, and the Current got out to a hot start, too.
Kristen Hamilton again got on the end of a cross despite her smaller stature and flicked home Halie Mace’s pass to give the Current a 1-0 lead that stood through halftime.
Hamilton’s goal, her fourth of the team’s NWSL campaign, broke the club’s record for goals in a season. Hamilton now has 10 goals in all competitions, which is also good for first in club history.
The Current looked to come out firing in the second half as Elyse Bennett came on as a substitute. But a corner headed home by Amanda Kowalski leveled the match for the Red Stars.
Minutes later, Mal Pugh got a superstar call after colliding with Desi Scott inside the box. Pugh converted the penalty kick.
With momentum turned against the home team, the Current needed to find a moment of inspiration to get back in the match.
Kizer, the former Blue Valley Northwest High School and Ole Miss star, recalled Potter’s advice at halftime: take the opponent 1-v-1 up the left side of the field.
“I saw my opportunity, cut outside on my weaker foot, but it was one of those ones where i shot it and it felt good right off my foot,” Kizer said.
Her curling shot had U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher beat the moment it came off her foot.
“Honestly it was my first goal in a while, so it feels good just to get that one in the back of the net,” Kizer said. “And then for my family and all of them to be here, it was amazing. Just a lot of energy, a lot of emotion. I just hope that I inspire young girls around Kansas City to one day play here.”
The Current now get a break for the summer international window. They won’t return to NWSL play until July 1.
This story was originally published June 18, 2022 at 9:53 PM with the headline "Hometown hero Cece Kizer’s first goal for KC Current salvages draw against Chicago."