**Kansas City, Kansas** – The Kansas City Current clinched the club’s first-ever playoff berth with a statement 3-0 win over the Washington Spirit on Sunday night, as goals from midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and forwards CeCe Kizer and Claire Lavogez helped the Current to jump into third place.
Attacking early, midfielder Hailie Mace launched forward in the fourth minute and created some danger in the Spirit penalty area. Played in down the left side of the field, Mace then cut into the box and down toward the goal line where she was ultimately unable to convert. Washington then hit the post as Bayley Feist’s effort from distance was tipped onto the post by Kansas City’s Adrianna Franch and the chance eventually went clear. However, in the seventh and eighth minutes, Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury was again involved as she was forced into back-to-back saves on forward CeCe Kizer from separate chances in order to keep her side level.
Not to be denied for much longer though, Kansas City opened the scoring in the 18 ^th minute as midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta finished off a move with a rocket into the top right corner that send the home crowd bouncing. Teammate Kate Del Fava was in possession on the right flank and opted to send a speedy cross into the box that found its way to LaBonta on the edge of the area. Winding up from there, LaBonta powered her shot past Kingsbury to push her side up one early on.
After chances continued to flow in the first half, Kansas City then did well to double their lead as the forward Kizer was able to convert a chance and join LaBonta on the scoresheet in the 38 ^th minute. Teammate Alexis Loera was on corner kick duty for Kansas City and ended up swinging in a ball that was cleared and re-distributed back her way out wide. Crossing from the left side still, Loera whipped in a ball that Kizer was able to meet at the front post, and she bundled the ball over the line for her side’s second goal of the night.
Unfortunately for Washington as they say, when it rains it pours, and the Spirit would concede a second goal in a three-minute span as forward Claire Lavogez tapped home from close range following a Kristen Hamilton cross to go three goals ahead still in the first half. A well-worked move all the way from the goalkeeper Franch up field to Hamilton saw the forward played in down the left side. Carrying the ball inside toward goal then down toward the endline, Hamilton did well to keep the ball on a string and slot a ball in to Lavogez in the nick of time. From there Lavogez was in perfect position to tap in and the Current now carried all momentum and advantage heading into the halftime interval.
On the other side of the break, chances for Hamilton and Kizer in the 52 ^nd and 55 ^th minutes respectively failed to the hit the target, and beyond that it would take until the 72 ^nd minute for Washington to press Franch into action again. In the 74 ^th minute, Hamilton did hit the post on the other end as the Current nearly went a fourth goal up, but stubborn woodwork prevented the tally.
Past that, the Spirit threatened three times in the final ten minutes but would ultimately fail to score, meaning the Kansas City Current had officially clinched their spot in the postseason and were able to do so after a dominant three-goal shutout win against Washington.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights