RECAP: FC Kansas City falls to Western New York Flash in season opener

KANSAS CITY (April 16, 2024) — FC Kansas City’s championship celebration fell short in a 1-0 loss to the Western New York Flash on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park in front of 8,022 fans.

The Blues started the night by handing out 2024 National Women’s Soccer League championship rings with help from local high school soccer players and then their signature stout defense took over.

They held the Flash scoreless for the first 70 minutes despite fielding 13 shots in that time. Samantha Mewis slipped a penalty kick past Nicole Barnhart to give Western New York the lead.

“Overall, I think we showed a lot of fight when we went down,” defender Becky Sauerbrunn said. “We had some chances to put away and we could have taken better care of the ball at times, but it’s a typical first match. We’re trying some things tactically and saw some glimpses of really good soccer. Now we have to make it more consistent.”

The Blues had a flurry of shots at the end of the game and a penalty kick in extra time, but could not covert.

The Flash outshot the defending champions 18-11 in the match and Blues goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart recorded five saves. Six of FC Kansas City’s 11 shots were on goal.

With the loss, the Blues dropped to 0-2-2 in season openers and 0-2-0 at Children’s Mercy Park.

FC Kansas City will head across state line for its second home opener at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday at Swope Soccer Village. The Blues will play eight games at Swope this year and one more at Children’s Mercy Park.

GOALS 1 2 F

FC Kansas City (0-1-0) 0 0 0

Western New York (1-0-0) 0 1 1

SCORING SUMMARY

Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Note

1 71 Western New York Samantha Mewis Penalty Kick

FCKC Starting Lineup:

Barnhart; Groom, Scott, Sauerbrunn, Buczkowski, Laddish,  O’Reilly, Averbuch, Silva, Taylor, Tymrak.

WNY Flash Lineup:

D’Angelo; Hahn, Eddy, Mewis, Erceg, Kennedy, Williams, Dahlkemper, McDonald, Hinkle, Leon.

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS

Time Team ## Player Card Reason

74 FC Kansas City 9 Heather O’Reilly Yellow Card Reckless Foul

SUBSTITUTIONS

Time Team OUT IN

69 Western New York #19 Adriana Leon #17 Kristen Hamilton

75 FC Kansas City #15 Erika Tymrak #20 Tiffany McCarty

76 Western New York #15 Jaelene Hinkle #23 Courtney Niemiec

76 FC Kansas City #6 Jen Buczkowski #88 Alexa Newfield

89 Western New York #9 Lynn Williams #3 Makenzy Doniak