FC Kansas City remains winless this season after scoreless draw with Chicago Red Stars
FC Kansas City’s Jen Buczkowski’s final game of her career couldn’t end without at least one shot.
For a moment, it looked like she might head into retirement with NWSL Goal of the Week honors.
Buczkowski rocketed a shot towards the upper left corner of Chicago’s goal during the first half that seemed destined for the back of the net. At the last second, Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made a leaping save, tipping the ball away.
It marked one of many FCKC scoring chances during a 0-0 tie Friday at the Swope Soccer Village.
“I don’t get too many shots,” Buczkowski said. “It would have been nice to get a goal, but it wasn’t necessarily in the game plan.”
After the game, Buczkowski was officially done being a professional soccer player. She is retiring and is entering a program this summer to be a physical therapist.
“I don’t think it’s hit me,” she said about being retired. “I’m sure the next couple of days as I don’t go to practice it will sink in more.”
Buczkowski made the most of her swan song, playing well in the midfield and feeding Shea Groom with a great pass in the second half that led to a shot just over the crossbar.
“Every time she steps on the field I expect a solid performance from her because she has done it for years,” FCKC coach Vlatko Andonovski said of Buczkowski. “She’s done it for three years for us and helped us win two championships. She definitely set the bar high for the younger players coming in.”
The Blues, 0-3-2, had three other near misses in the second half. Frances Silva’s shot from inside the box bounced off the crossbar, Shea Groom’s diving header off a phenomenal cross from Mandy Laddish went right at Naeher, and Naeher made a kick save on a shot by Katie Bowen.
“I’ve told the girls each of the last three games that I’m really sorry for them, for how well they play and how hard they play that we were not able to get three points,” Andonovski said. “I think they deserve more. They’ve earned more.”
Chicago, 3-1-1, recorded 11 shots in the game, but the Blues mostly neutralized Red Stars forward and NWSL scoring leader Christen Press. Chicago’s best scoring opportunity came early in the second half off a corner kick where the ball bounced freely in front of the goal. Other than that, FCKC completely controlled the second half.
“I felt unlucky throughout the whole game,” Andonovski said. “That’s what makes this game interesting is you can dominate the whole game and not win. But it is what it is. We’re going to come out even stronger next game and hopefully turn this around.”
Buczkowski may be leaving FCKC, but she’s found a home in Kansas City, the fourth city she’s played in professionally.
“I’ve loved playing in all the cities I’ve played in, and playing in KC the last three years has been my favorite,” she said. “I’m staying here now, so it’s kind of my home now.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 9:42 PM with the headline "FC Kansas City remains winless this season after scoreless draw with Chicago Red Stars."