FC Kansas City swaps U.S. national team players with Seattle

FC Kansas City has its frontline goal scorer, at last.

In a swap of U.S. national team players Thursday, FC Kansas City acquired forward Amy Rodriguez from the Seattle Reign in exchange for defender Kristie Mewis.

Rodriguez has scored 26 career goals in 102 appearances with the national team — fourth most among active players.

“When I heard Kansas City was interested and looking to trade for me, I was quite surprised,” Rodriguez said. “But at the same time, I was very excited. I admire the way they play. I like their style. I think from a soccer standpoint, this is a great situation for me.”

Rodriguez, 26, sat out the 2013 National Women’s Soccer League season because she was pregnant. She had her first son, Ryan John Shilling, on Aug. 6. She has already started training and plans to rejoin the national team next month, she said.

“It was hard to sit back and watch,” Rodriguez said. “Although I was going through an exciting time with my husband, I did miss my soccer life. I’m excited to come back.”

The Blues finished third in goals in the NWSL, but they have no strikers on the current roster who scored during the regular season.

Rodriguez tied a national team record last year when she scored five goals in a game against the Dominican Republic. She scored all five in one half.

Mewis started 20 games for FC Kansas City in its inaugural season. She tallied one goal while primarily serving as a left outside defender. Mewis was the club’s first-round choice in the 2013 NWSL College Draft.

This story was originally published November 7, 2013 at 12:06 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City swaps U.S. national team players with Seattle."