THE RIPPLE EFFECT:

Kansas City Current II closes inaugural WPSL regular season on top, looks ahead to postseason play

All Kansas City Current II needed out of its final two Women’s Premier Soccer League regular season games was two positive results. Simply avoiding a loss across both matches would have been enough for Current II to secure the Heartland Division title in their first-ever season. 
 
Instead, head coach Huw Williams’ team did what they had done all year and wrapped up the regular season in style. 
 
Kansas City’s first game of the weekend was a highly anticipated rematch against Fire & Ice SC last Saturday. The weekend prior, Current II eked out a 2-0 victory against Fire & Ice on the road, a win that moved Kansas City to first place in the Heartland Division. With the added advantage of playing at home on a scorching hot afternoon, the match wasn’t nearly as close.  

Midfielder Felicia Knox opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a fantastic finish from outside the 18-yard box to give Current II a 1-0 lead. Knox’s goal started a run of three goals in 12 minutes for the hosts that essentially cemented the victory. Forwards Chelsea Wagner and Caroline Kelly scored in the 30th and 36th minute, respectively, to give Kansas City a 3-0 halftime lead. 

Current II’s dominance continued in the second half. Kansas City notched three more goals in a 6-0 win, highlighted by midfielder Olivia Garcia’s two second-half goals. She also assisted Wagner’s goal in the first half. The win officially handed Current II sole possession of the Heartland Division and secured a spot in the WPSL postseason.  
 
The following day, Kansas City blanked Iowa Raptors FC 5-0. Garcia continued her impressive weekend with a hat trick, and Kelly and forward Kennedy Faulknor provided the other goals. The win moved Kansas City’s record to an impressive 8-0-0 on the season, good for the best record in the Midwest Conference. 

Current II’s statistics from the regular season are nothing short of staggering. Kansas City recorded a +49 goal differential, which includes a 3-0 forfeit victory over Central Illinois United. Current II recorded 47 total goals led by Kelly, who finished the regular season with 10 goals and four assists. Forward Brie Severns finished second on the team with eight goals, while Farkas was one behind with seven. Eight Current II players recorded at least two goals during the dominant campaign, and Kansas City’s 47 total goals ranks second in the entire WPSL, which includes over 100 teams.   
 
Next up, Current II begins WPSL postseason play on Thursday, July 7 against FC Milwaukee Torrent in the Midwest Conference Championship. The Torrent won the conference's other division, the Lake Michigan Division, with a 7-1-0 record. Milwaukee scored 20 goals and conceded four times in the regular season, while recording five shutout victories.

The winner of the Midwest Conference will advance further in the WPSL playoffs. Thursday's winner will advance to the Central Region Playoffs in Colorado, which will feature the winners of the Northern Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Mountain Conference and Midwest Conference. The schedule for future rounds of WPSL postseason play is to be determined. 

Follow Kansas City Current II's official twitter account, @thekccurrentii, for updates from Thursday's match and the WPSL playoffs. Current II home matches are closed to the general public.