Kansas City, MO- Tonight, FC Kansas City hosted the Houston Dash for the final match for both teams of the 2017 NWSL season. The Blues came out with 30 points in seventh place while the Dash were right behind them in eighth place with 23 points.
The 95 minute match consisted of early attempts on goal, two goals, and incredible saves from both goalkeepers. Kansas City came out with a strong lead in the ninth minute and midfielder Desiree Scott crossed the ball to the right side of the field to forward Maegan Kelly who headed the ball into the right side of the net past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
In the 18th minute, Blues forward Sydney Leroux dribbled the ball past the Dash backline and was just too far off to the left side of the net when Campbell makes her way back to the line and defender Bruna Benites deflects Leroux’s shot. Leroux then manages to keep the ball in and passe it back to defender Christina Gibbons, but Houston midfielder Caity Heap clears the ball from the field.
The Dash continued to put forth all their efforts to see a goal and in the 42nd minute, Houston defender Cari Roccaro dribbled the ball up the left side of the field and passed the ball to Rachel Daly who made an attempt to head the ball in, but fell to the left side of the goalpost. Forward Nichelle Prince dribbled the ball to the box and passe dit through the legs of Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and defender Sydney Miramontez cleared the ball from seeing the back of the net.
Ten minutes in the 53rd minute, Prince passed the ball from the far left side of the box to Kristen Mewis, who passed it to Daly on the right and scored the first goal to equalize the score 1-1. The Blues were close to seeing another goal when Scott passed to Leroux, who took a shot on the Dash goal, but was saved by Campbell.
The intensity of the match continued to rise and in the 89th minute, defender Camille Levin gianed the ball from Shea Groom of Kansas City and Levin and passed to Sarah Hagen and then received the ball back and with Barnhart out of the box, Levin took a shot stright on Barnhart, who made one of the final saves of the match.
With both teams feeling the pressure from one another, the score remained 1-1 to conclude the final match of the season.
SCORING SUMMARY:
KC-Maegan Kelly 9’
HOU-Rachel Daly 53’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
HOU-Bruna Benites, yellow card, 48’
HOU-Cari Roccaro, yellow card, 51’
KC-Maegan Kelly, yellow card, 63’
KC-Shea Groom, yellow card, 71’
FC KANSAS CITY: #14-Sydney Leroux, #44-Maegan Kelly (#25-Brittany Ratcliffe 77’), #9-Lo’eau Labonta (#88-Alexa Newfield 82 ‘), #2-Shea Groom, #31-Christina Gibbons, #11-Desiree Scott, #3-Becca Moros, #17-Sydney Miramontez, #10-Yael Averbuch, #13-Brittany Kolmel (#6-Katie Bowen 65’), #18-Nicole Barnhart
Subs not used:, #15-Erika Tymrak, #19-Cat Parkhill, #21-Caroline Flynn#4-Becky Sauerbrunn
HOUSTON DASH: #14-Nichelle Prince (#9-Sarah Hagen 73’), #19-Kristie Mewis, #3-Rachel Daly, #27-Caity Heap (#17-Andressa Cavalari Machry 46’), #16-Janine Beckie (#2-Poliana Barbosa Medeiros 85’), #5-Cari Roccaro, #22-Camille Levin, #8-Claire Falknor, #4-Bruna Benites, #12-Amber Brooks, #1-Jane Campbell
Subs not used: #30-Bianca Henninger, #11-Meghan Cox, #23-Cami Privett, #55-Janine Van Wyk
TOTAL SHOTS: KC 16-18 HOU
SHOTS ON GOAL: KC 8-8 HOU
FOULS: KC 14-11 HOU
OFFSIDES: KC 3-1 HOU
CORNER KICKS: KC 5-2 HOU
SAVES: KC 6-6 HOU
