Kansas City Current battles Seattle Reign to a scoreless draw on the road

SEATTLE, Wash. (May 8, 2024) — The Kansas City Current (5-0-3, 18 pts., 1st place) return to first place in the NWSL table as the team battled the Seattle Reign (2-5-1, 7 pts., 11th) to a 0-0 draw at Lumen Field on Wednesday night. The Current and goalkeeper AD Franch earned the first clean sheet of the season, while tonight was also the first time Kansas City were held scoreless. Adding to the night, this was the first time the matchup between the Current and Reign ended up without a winner.

“As long as we’re creating opportunities, I know we’re going to score goals as well,” said Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “Games like this are going to happen, and it’s just part of it.”

Current forward Michelle Cooper made her first start this season and immediately made an impact, showing how dynamic she can be. In the 8th minute midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo dished a shot to Cooper who challenged the Seattle goalkeeper, but it went just wide of the net.

Kansas City defender Regan Steigleder made her first start as well, finding the ball and her teammates often with 49 touches and 90 percent passing accuracy.

The closest call for Kansas City came in the 32nd minute as forward Claire Lavogez bent the ball back in front of the far side of the goal. It connected with Seattle defender Sophia Huerta who sent it backwards towards an own goal, but Seattle goalkeeper Laurel Ivory made a quick reach and brilliant save off the fingertips.

In the 44th minute, Cooper connected on a powerful strike and got a great look from distance, but Seattle goalkeeper Laurel Ivory, diving to her left side for the save. She tallied four saves in the first half. The Current on the attack, had 12 shots on goal in the first half, but still went into the break scoreless, 0-0.

In the first six minutes of the second half the Current showed off their aggressive attack and made Ivory tally her fifth save of the match, as Bayley Feist found the seam and tried to convert. In the 90+6’ minute the Current made one last attempt that was saved by Ivory, as the Current and Reign end with a 0-0 final.

Kansas City returns home to CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a women’s professional team, Sunday, May 12 for a Mother’s Day match up with the North Carolina Courage at 5 p.m. CT. Fans who can’t make it to the match can watch on KMCI, 38 The Spot and NWSL+. Fans at home can listen along on 90.9 The Bridge and on the KC Current App.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Seattle Reign vs. Kansas City Current
Date: May 8, 2024
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Kickoff: 7:08 pm PT/9:08 pm CT
Weather: 61 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 5,083

Discipline
None

Scoring
None

Scoring Summary

Seattle Reign Lineup: Ivory, Huerta, Barnes ©, Holmes, McClernon, Athens (61’ Balcer), Van der Jagt (78’ Fishlock), James-Turner (61’ Stanton), Ji (90+6’ Mercado), Latsko, Adames (61’ Woodham)
Unused Substitutes: Perez, Brown, Lester, Weinert

Kansas City Current Lineup: Steigleder (46’ Mace), Chawinga, Ballisager, Cooper (89’ Pfeiffer), Hutton (75’ LaBonta), DiBernardo (75’ Spaanstra), Rodriguez, Franch ©, Feist, Robinson Lavogez (65’ Debinha)
Unused Substitutes: Wheeler, Ball, Scott, Silkowitz