Match Report: Kansas City Current draw San Diego Wave FC

A goal each from forwards Elyse Bennett and Kristen Hamilton propelled the Kansas City Current to its second result in two games at home as the team tied the San Diego Wave, 2-2. 

“I think we were more like ourselves,” said head coach Matt Potter. “We generally feel like getting the group back together has been important after the week we had.”

Kansas City kicked off the scoring in the 11th minute, when midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta played the short corner to Kristen Hamilton. LaBonta, who celebrated her 100th NWSL regular season appearance in the Current’s last match, now has a goal and an assist in two games. She found Hamilton at the back post, who headed it in to take the lead early. 

The Wave equalized before the half after Elizabeth Ball was whistled for a handball in the penalty box. Alex Morgan stepped up to the spot in the 37th minute and slid it to the bottom left corner for her fourth penalty goal of the season. 

The Current took the lead again in the second half, when midfielder Alex Loera found Elyse Bennett right at the center of the box. The forward volleyed it past San Diego goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to take the lead for Kansas City in the 63rd minute. 

San Diego had the last goal of the night when Morgan locked in her brace in the 90th minute. A skipping cross from Jakobsson bounced right under a diving AD Franch to find Morgan at the back post. She knocked in the ball to tie up the match right before the final whistle. 

The Current celebrated Pride Night in front of 7,954 fans, a club record for attendance. 

“The energy that the crowd gave us and the energy from the fans is also something that’s huge, and we’ll continue to need throughout the season,” said forward Elyse Bennett. “I think that we feed off of that and each other and the energy that we put in is shown.” 

The Current plays its next game at home against NJ/NY Gotham FC on June 11 before finishing out the home stand against the Chicago Red Stars on June 18. Season Tickets and Flex plans are available for all home matches at Children’s Mercy Park. For pricing and information visit kansascitycurrent.com.

NWSL Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs. San Diego Wave FC 
Date: June 4, 2022
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS 
Kickoff: 5:38 p.m. PT/7:38 p.m. CT 
Weather:  68 degrees, partly cloudy 
Attendance: 7,954

Discipline
45+3’ San Diego – Korniack (yellow)

Scoring
11’ Kansas City – Hamilton (LaBonta)
37’ San Diego – Morgan (PK)
63’ Kansas City – Bennett (Loera)
90’ San Diego – Morgan (Jakobsson) 

Scoring Summary

Lineups:
Kansas City:  Franch, Loera, Ball, Winebrenner, Scott ©, Del Fava (73’ Rodriguez), Edmonds (73’ Curran), LaBonta, Pickett (58’ Mace), Hamilton, Bennett
Substitutes Not Used: Schneider, Miller, Nolf, Johnson, Leach, McCain

San Diego: Sheridan, McNabb, Girma, Riehl, Westphal, Briede, van Egmond, McGrady (65’ Ali), Kornieck (45’ Turnbow), Taylor (45’ Jakobsson), Morgan ©
Substitutes Not Used: Lowder, Doniak, Pulver, Bruster, Gyau, Schimmer