Surging Kansas City Current club will soon confront what coach calls ‘positive’ problem
The Kansas City Current are returning from a midseason break looking to continue their steady climb up the NWSL table.
Things looked dismal for the Current heading into June. But a 1-0 victory over Racing Louisville on May 30 busted open the floodgates, and they’ve been red-hot ever since.
The Current have won a National Women’s Soccer League-leading five of their last seven matches. Since May 26, the club has accumulated 17 points and four shutouts while allowing just five goals.
They recently played multiple matches without captain Desiree Scott and came away with a perfect record anyway. She’s back now, and the Current have also added Claire Lavogez, who is eligible to make her debut on Sunday night when the Current play host to the Orlando Pride.
“She has the ability to play in a forward line — both centrally and wide,” Current coach Matt Potter said of Lavogez. “She’s that kind of player that we see that can not only help us in connecting our possession to get into the attacking third, but she’s got some bright ideas and creativity in that attacking third.”
Using Lavogez as a forward more than an attacking midfielder is a boost, and U.S. Women’s National Team superstar Sam Mewis could be nearing a return from injury. Chloe Logarzo, who has yet to appear for the Current this season, is on the cusp of a return, as well.
“There’s kind of multiple steps to their being back on the field for the team,” Potter said of Mewis and Logarzo. “We clearly want to keep them on a positive trajectory that allows them to not miss out on the amount of time that they have.”
In other injury news, midfielder/defender Alex Loera’s availability is in doubt this week after she sustained an injury to her left leg in the team’s 1-0 win against OL Reign. But sources indicate the injury isn’t as bad as initially feared.
Add in the strong play of women like Alex Loera in the midfield, and Potter could soon face some important decisions about who starts and who comes off the bench. Some players who’ve made important contributions of late could find themselves occupying reduced roles.
“Anytime you get natural competition, the biggest thing for me is on a day-to-day basis it elevates the competitiveness of practice and training,” the coach said. “I think every player, their job is to create a positive problem for the coaching staff. And then that is about selection.”
Maintaining a high level of competition, even in training, figures to help the Current continue their midseason surge.
“Our job is on behalf of ownership to select a team that we feel gives us our best chance to win a soccer game,” Potter said. “That’s what this (competitive situation) is allowing us to do.”
The Current return to the field on Sunday against the Orlando Pride. Kickoff at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time.
This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Surging Kansas City Current club will soon confront what coach calls ‘positive’ problem."