RECAP: WITH GOALS FROM BOGUS AND GROOM, FC KANSAS CITY DEFEATS HOUSTON DASH 2-0

Jen Buczkowski reached 50 consecutive starts

HOUSTON, Tex. (May 2, 2024) – Without their U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team players, FC Kansas City and the Houston Dash squared off in front of 4,186 fans at the BBVA Compass Stadium where the visiting Blues snatched a 2-0 victory on Saturday night reaching.

Amateur call-ups Caroline Kastor and Meghan Lisenby made their professional debuts, while midfielder Jen Buczkowski became the first and only player to earn fifty consecutive starts in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s team now stands fifth in the league standings with an overall record of 2-2-0, tied with the Seattle Reign and the Washington Spirit each with six points.

The Blues came out to the field with an offensive mindset, which nearly paid off early in the match when Leigh Ann Robinson sent a cross to the box from the right side of the field that landed in Sarah Hagen’s feet but her shot went just wide off of a former FCKC goalkeeper Bianca Henninger’s goal in the 12^th minute.

It wasn’t until the 40^th minute when the Blues got on board after a corner kick from Erika Tymrak was punched away by Henninger and cleared off the edge of the box where Bogus grabbed it before rifling to the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

Moments before the halftime whistle, Groom came close to extending the lead when she got behind Houston’s defense but her short-range shot was well saved by Henninger.

Seven minutes into the second half and after a couple of opportunities for the Dash, Hagen sent a cross from the right side, which was directed towards defender Niki Cross, however, Groom cut in front of her to head the ball to the back of the net making it 2-0 in the 52^nd minute. The goal was Groom’s first professional tally after being drafted and signed in the offseason.

Houston’s best chance came not to long after Kansas City’s second goal when former Blues player Melissa Henderson beat her defender in the air and headed a cross from Jessica McDonald but the ball ricocheted of the crossbar.

FC Kansas City held the Dash scoreless for the first time in the season and won their second straight matchup. Next up, the Blues will visit the Western New York Flash on Friday.

Houston Dash (1-2-1; 4 points) vs. FC Kansas City (2-2-0; 6 points)

May 2, 2024 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas


Attendance: 4,186

Scoring Summary:

FC Kansas City: Liz Bogus 1 (unassisted) 42

FC Kansas City: Shea Groom 1 (Sarah Hagen 1) 51

Houston Dash: Bianca Henninger; Ella Masar ©, Niki Cross, Carleigh Williams, Allysha Chapman; Rachael Axon, Jordan Jackson (Cami Privett 58), Ashley Nick; Melissa Henderson (Tiffany McCarty 59), Jessica McDonald, Kealia Ohai (Allie Bailey 77)

Substitutes Not Used: Jordan Day, Lauren Sesselmann, Jen LaPonte, Stephanie Roche

TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Jessica McDonald, Rachael Axon, Kealia Ohai tied with 2); SHOTS

ON GOAL: 3 (Ella Masar, Jessica McDonald, Rachael Axon tied with 1); FOULS: 8 (Allysha Chapman 4); OFFSIDES: 1 (Kealia Ohai); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Melissa Henderson 4); SAVES: 1

FC Kansas City: Nicole Barnhart; Leigh Ann Robinson ©, Amy LePeilbet, Yael Averbuch, Becca Moros; Frances Silva, Jen Buczkowski, Erika Tymrak (Meghan Lisenby, 88), Liz Bogus (Mandy Laddish, 70); Shea Groom (Caroline Kastor, 77), Sarah Hagen

Substitutes Not Used: Katelyn Rowland, Kaysie Clark

TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Sarah Hagen 3);

SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Shea Groom 2);

FOULS: 4 (Amy LePeilbet, Becca Moros, Erika Tymrak, Shea Groom tied with 1); OFFSIDES: 4 (Sarah Hagen, Shea Groom tied with 2); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Erika Tymrak 2); SAVES: 3 (Nicole Barnhart 3)

Disciplinary Summary

FCKC: Becca Moros (caution) 63

Referee: Margaret Domka

Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Jeffrey Greeson

Fourth Official: Christina Hutchinson