FC Kansas City Looks For Sweep Against Seattle

Published on July 19, 2013 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
FC Kansas City News Release


PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan - FC Kansas City, riding a six-game unbeaten streak, returns home to Overland Park after a 3-3 draw last week on the road against the Chicago Red Stars. The ‘Blues' will face off against Hope Solo and the rest of the Seattle Reign tomorrow at 7:35p.m. on Verizon Wireless Field at Shawnee Mission District Stadium. This will be the fourth meeting between the two clubs. FC Kansas City leads the series with shutout wins in all three of the past meetings. Seattle, however, is also on a six game unbeaten streak, a season high for the Reign. Seattle will visit after a 2-1 win over the Washington Spirit last weekend.

Last Sunday, FC Kansas City took a road trip to Chicago to take on the Red Stars. The third meeting between Kansas City and Chicago ended up splitting the series; each team has a win, a loss and a draw. Sunday's meeting was action packed from start to finish. Chicago came out with a strong attacking mind set, but FC Kansas City would combat the advances. Lauren Holiday returned to the pitch with a new name following her marriage to NBA player Jrue Holiday, but her penchant for scoring was the same as it ever was. In the 17th minute as Erika Tymrak broke towards goal, Holiday calmly followed the play and easily buried the ball in the net after Tymrak's shot was blocked. Chicago's Maribel Dominguez would put the Red Stars on the board with a shot that went over Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart towards the end of the half. However, the 1-1 score would not last long; Kristie Mewis carried the ball up the left side of the field, shooting just wide of McLeod's reach, although the ball bounced off the crossbar, it fell right to Chicago defender Taryn Hemmings whose attempt to clear the ball went straight to the back of the net. With an own goal, the score bumped up to 2-1 in favor of the ‘Blues' just before halftime. Up and coming Kansas City star, Erika Tymrak would look to distance her side with the team's third goal of the match in the 81st minute. Although ninety minutes had elapsed in the game, the Red Stars were able to find goals from Ella Masur and Lori Chalupny in added time, tying the match at three goals apiece.

Seattle Reign FC hosted the Washington Spirit and the first Fox Soccer nationally televised match for the National Women's Soccer League on Sunday. In front of a sold out crowd of 3,855 fans, Washington was the first to score in the match. A penalty kick in the 11th minute by Diana Matheson would put Washington in an early lead. Seattle answered that goal later in the 30th minute when Jessica McDonald poked a ball past Spirit goalkeeper, Ashlyn Harris. Just four minutes later, Seattle received their second goal from McDonald when she chipped a shot from the right side up over Harris' head. No more goals would be scored in the match, but statistics show that both teams tried to score another. By the end of the match, Seattle had doubled Washington's shots at 22, but tied when it came to targeting at 6 each on goal.

This is the fourth and final match-up between Kansas City and Seattle this season. Although Kansas City has the series edge so far this season, with three wins by a combined four goals to none, this is a different Seattle team than they have played previously. Hope Solo was playing only the second game of her NWSL career in the last matchup and has racked up four wins since then. Her counterpart and fellow U.S. National Team goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart is second in the league in shutouts and third in wins for KC. Seattle's offense is completely revamped as well. Megan Rapinoe, following her season in Lyon and former FC Kansas City forward Renae Cuellar have joined forces with Jessica Fishlock to help the team score nine goals in their last four games. This will be Cuellar's first visit to KC since the trade that sent her to Seattle for Teresa Noyola and other considerations.

The key factors for FC Kansas City in this game will be Lauren Holiday, Erika Tymrak and the defense. Holiday continues to play at a MVP-like level and the addition and growth of Tymrak's game will fuel the team's offense. Becky Sauerbrunn and Lauren Sesselmann center a defense that has not given up a goal in any of the team's victories this season.

Kickoff is set for 7:35 PM CT on Saturday July 20th. The ‘Blues' will host the Reign on Verizon Wireless Field located at 7401 Johnson Drive in Overland Park. Looking ahead, FC Kansas City will stay home for a match against the Boston Breakers on July 24th The team will be debuting their third "All-Black" kits for this match. For tickets to either match, call 855.4KC.GOAL (855.452.4625)

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