Franch makes save of the season in front of record KC Current crowd: ‘Very impressed’
Amid a season full of injuries and a last-place NWSL record entering Friday, the Kansas City Current haven’t been dealt the best hand in 2023.
That has also been the case for Current goalkeeper AD Franch, who lost her starting spot early in 2023 and had to battle back for it.
Now back in the lineup, her play has become even more magnified, as the Current attempt to make a playoff push with six regular-season matches left. That started against OL Reign, who began Friday in fourth in the standings.
Outside of Cece Kizer’s goal in the 61st minute, Franch had one of the biggest moments of the match. It came just 14 minutes later, as she stared down — and saved — a penalty kick.
Interim coach Caroline Sjöblom emphasized the magnitude of the play and how the goalkeeper’s save sums up how hard she’s worked to be ready for a situation like that.
“AD’s mentality throughout the season (has been) fantastic,” Sjöblom said. “To not go to the World Cup, staying home, being on the bench, and then from there, practice extremely hard, dedicated, she’s getting better and better with her feet.”
Franch started the first three matches of the regular season back in March and April. But after surrendering nine goals in three contests, Franch was replaced by goalkeeper Cassie Miller.
Additionally, Franch was called into the U.S. women’s national team’s camp in February, but after losing her starting gig for the Current, she missed out on a spot on the USWNT roster ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Franch had been with the USWNT in two recent major tournaments: the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Summer Games.
Outside of two starts in May, the goalkeeper didn’t return to the starting lineup consistently until July. But her play has started to improve, leading to a dominant showing on Friday.
After making eight saves but allowing two goals against Racing Louisville on July 7, Franch became a brick wall in her next three matches. She surrendered only one goal in KC’s Challenge Cup run from late July to early August.
The Current will resume Challenge Cup play in the semifinal round on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Although Franch didn’t find that type of success early in the season, the way she bounced back has caught Sjöblom’s eye.
“It’s how you handle tough moments,” Sjöblom said. “Today, she makes two mistakes, and that’s a very, very low number for a team that wants to build out from the back, so I’m very impressed.”
The most impressive moment, undoubtedly, was the one-on-one showdown with Jordyn Huitema.
Huitema was awarded a penalty kick in the 75th minute with the Current ahead 1-0. The only person in her way was Franch.
And with a record Current crowd of 13,455 on its feet, the goalkeeper didn’t disappoint. She lunged to the right and saved the goal, reading Huitema the entire way.
KC players swarmed the goalkeeper in excitement as Children’s Mercy Park erupted.
Franch’s save proved to be a critical one, as the Current won 1-0.
“If that ball goes in or Cece doesn’t make her goal, those moments change games and, you know, that was a big moment that everybody got excited out of,” Franch said. “Momentum is everything in sports. You can be on the highest high and then all of a sudden something happens and the game shifts.”
With six regular-season matches remaining, Friday’s win helps KC’s odds — however slim — of making the postseason. The win moved the Current to 10th place in the NWSL standings — four spots from the last postseason slot (at least before the weekend’s matches continued).
But Franch senses the tide turning with Friday’s result.
“All of these moments, we’re creating so many tools within our locker to deal with,” French said. “I do think there are moments that are bouncing our way a little bit more, and hopefully they keep going that way.”
