THE RIPPLE EFFECT:

Crucial matchups await Kansas City Current II as division race heats up

Kansas City Current II officially reached the halfway point of their inaugural Women’s Premier League Soccer campaign last Saturday. Current II’s scheduled match was not played — the team was awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory over Central Illinois United — but the result brought the team to 12 points through four matches. 

Current II has just four matches remaining in the regular season before the prospect of postseason can become a reality. Before that, though, Kansas City has a difficult weekend ahead.  

Head coach Huw Williams’ squad is hitting the road for the second and final time in the regular season for matches on June 18 and 19 in Illinois. On Saturday night, Kansas City faces off with Central Illinois United, then the team closes the weekend against Fire & Ice SC. The latter contest will undoubtedly be the most important of Current II’s season to date.  

Fire & Ice and Current II are the frontrunners in the five-team Heartland Division, with both squads entering the weekend undefeated. What’s more, both teams have been similarly dominant throughout the first four games of the regular season. Fire & Ice have scored 17 goals with at least three goals in each match this season, while only conceding two. The Current II have yet to concede a goal this season. The Saint Louis, Missouri based Fire & Ice has a relatively balanced attack, with six players scoring multiple goals this season. 

Not only does Kansas City Current II face off against Fire & Ice SC this weekend, but the two sides also meet the following weekend in Current II’s second-to-last match of the regular season. If Kansas City can secure positive results in both matches, it should be able to lock up the Heartland Division Championship and a playoff appearance.  

For more information on how to follow along with this weekend’s matches, visit Current II’s team page at www.wpslsoccer.com/teams/kansas-city-current-ii. Kansas City Current II’s official Twitter account, @thekccurrentii, will also provide score updates from both contests.