Flash Shutout by Defending Champs Friday Night; Rematch Thursday in Kansas City
May 8, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Friday, May 8, 2015) - The Western New York Flash fell 1-0 to defending NWSL Champion FC Kansas City on Friday night, closing out a two-game homestand at Sahlen's Stadium. The two teams will meet up again on Thursday night, as the Flash (1-3-0, 3 points) travel to face the Blues (3-2-0, 9 points) at 8 p.m. ET at Swope Soccer Village.
After 73 minutes in a deadlock, visiting FC Kansas City broke through with Liz Bogus scoring her second goal of the year. Mandy Laddish sent Bogus running on the left side, and the forward powered into the box before roofing a shot over Flash goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo.
Despite the Flash holding possession for much of the match, the Kansas City goal would prove to be the difference maker as the Flash were unable to find the back of the net.
"I think tactically we dominated the game. We controlled the game for long periods. There was a period in the second half where we didn't," said Flash general manager and head coach Aaran Lines. "One moment in this league will cost you. We couldn't finish. We created numerous opportunities; we outshot them 11-3 in the first half. You've got to take those opportunities and we didn't."
The Western New York offense built on its season-opening win last week, totaling 19 shots in the game.
Rookie Lynn Williams, who started for the first time in Sahlen's Stadium, led the Flash with seven shots on the night and her team totaled 11 in the first half.
Just two minutes in, defender Kristen Edmonds got in the mix with the ball on the right side. Edmonds quickly cut the ball of her left foot and tried a shot on Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart but the ball ricocheted off of the crossbar to stay out.
After a takeaway in the midfield, Jasmyne Spencer and Samantha Mewis used a quick give-and-go to cut through the Blues' defense, before Mewis found Williams making a run through the box. Williams took a hard shot on Barnhart, but the Kansas City keeper was able to parry the hard shot away.
Early in the second half, Edwards and Mewis looked to recreate magic from the home opener, this time on a 52nd-minute corner kick. Edwards sent the kick in from the right side and the ball bounced in front of Mewis, but she was unable to connect on the half volley.
In the 63rd minute, Edmonds found Williams open on a cross from the right side, with the Pepperdine product testing the defense from just inside the box. The Blues were able to block the ball with the scramble ultimately leading to a distance shot from Spencer that fluttered wide left.
D'Angelo was tested in the 68th minute, after Sarah Hagen broke free on a run in the box. The Canadian goalkeeper was able to make the stop, tipping Hagen's shot over the bar from eight yards out. D'Angelo finished with four saves in the game.
Three minutes later, Bogus carried the ball down through the left channel, eventually finding Hagen in the 18. With her back to the goal, the forward kept possession before laying it back to Erika Tymrak. Tymrak ran onto the shot and struck a low shot to the left but D'Angelo was able to make the diving save.
After going down a goal, the Flash pressed late in the game, creating one of its best chances in second-half stoppage. Jaelene Hinkle floated a long ball just feet from the goal but neither Edwards nor Camilla Kur could connect on a header.
"I said to the group, 'tremendous effort' and we outplayed the championship team from last year with six 21-year-olds in the starting lineup," added Lines. "So we will build on that, obviously disappointing. I thought we deserved it, but we will reevaluate and see them again next Thursday."
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