FC KANSAS CITY WINS LAST MINUTE THRILLER

The Blues’ goals came from rookies Jenna Richmond and Frances Silva. This was Richmond’s first of her professional career and Silva’s second. Dash’s only goal of the match came from Becky Edwards.

Kansas City’s lineup saw some new faces tonight. Australian international Katrina Gorry and rookie Sara Keane tallied their first National Women’s Soccer League minutes. Amy LePeilbet made her first start of the season in the backline.

The first 45 minutes of the match tested both clubs offensively and defensively. A close call came in the 23^rd minute when Stephanie Ochs took a shot that bounced off the crossbar over Keane. Kansas City has a similar play when Merritt Mathias took a shot that found metal instead of net in the 27^th minute. Both Keane and former FC Kansas City goalkeeper, Bianca Henninger saved every shot, keeping the score tied at zero for halftime.

Second half had a similar pace as the first half until the 66^th minute. Richmond carried the ball up the center and crossed to Erika Tymrak running up the side. Tymrak sent it right back to Richmond who set up from way outside the box and fired the ball just out of Henninger’s reach.

The goal ignited the Kansas City squad and saw more attacks from the Blues. Silva came on for Mathias in the 70^th minute along with Mandy Laddish replacing Gorry in the 78^th minute. The Dash earned a corner kick in the 79^th minute. Ochs took the kick and sent it in to the box and found Edwards in the mix. Keane had come off the line to help defend, and Edwards put it in the net. The score tied 1-1 with just ten minutes to play.

The Blues still had energy to win this game up with chances throughout the remaining minutes led by Tymrak. Three minute of stoppage time were added on to the second half and it was the perfect amount for FC Kansas City. In the 93^rd minute, Tymrak put the ball in play to Jen Buzckowski on a throw in. Buczkowski sent it right back to Tymrak who took on two Houston defenders. She then sent the ball across and connected with a running Silva who headed the ball in to the net for the game-winning goal in the final seconds.

FC Kansas City will return home for next week’s match on Saturday June 21^st. The Chicago Red Stars will be welcomed to Verizon Wireless Field at Durwood Soccer Stadium and kick off will be at 7:00 PM Central Time. For tickets to all home matches, call 855.4KC.GOAL