Kansas City Current close out Florida preseason camp with friendly victory

The Kansas City Current closed out the Florida portion of preseason training with a friendly against the Houston Dash. A complete team effort saw the club finish the match with a 2-1 victory. Alexa Spaanstra and Alex Pfeiffer each worked through the opposing defenses to provide assists on a pair of Temwa Chawinga goals.

“It's just a good way to wrap up the preseason in Florida,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski. “Great competition and tough game for us, but very proud of the players that they competed well and showed some of the stuff that we've worked on. They showed well against a good opponent.”

A veteran-heavy lineup started the match with only a pair of rookies, Claire Hutton and Ellie Wheeler, cracking the starting eleven. Both youngsters earned some valuable time as they adjust to the professional level.

“Playing against an NWSL opponent has been something I have dreamed to do my entire life and having the chance to finally do it today did not disappoint," said Hutton. "Today proved to me the speed of play and physicality and showed me that this league is no joke. I am ecstatic for March 16th to come and to open the season on our front foot!!”

An even first half saw the teams head to the halftime break tied at 0-0. Each team had their chances, with the Current finding several good chances towards goal. Goalkeeper AD Franch was in midseason form as she made a clutch save on a close shot in the 22nd minute of the half.

The second half opened with the Current on the front foot as the team applied high pressure to their opponent’s back line. The pressure worked as midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo was able to win a ball around midfield and send a pass up the line where fellow midfielder Bayley Feist was able to run on and send a one-touch cross into the middle of the penalty box.

A host of Current attackers were ready for Feist’s pass and tapped the ball to forward Kristen Hamilton, who was able to hit a shot in stride. Although that shot went over the crossbar, it previewed the club’s attacking prowess that was on display throughout the second half.

Sixteen-year-old Alex Pfeiffer and second-year forward Alexa Spaanstra entered the game in the 60th minute and immediately got to work.

Ten minutes after entering the match, Pfeiffer moved wide and found an open spot where she could receive a pass from her defender. Taking two touches towards goal she saw Spaanstra running up the right sideline and lofted a pass that hit her teammate in stride. Fighting off two defenders, Spaanstra then laid off a point-perfect pass to where Chawinga could tap in the team’s first goal.  

In the 75th minute, Pfeiffer helped to pressure the opposing midfield into a bad pass. Defender Elizabeth Ball cleared the way and found the rookie Pfeiffer now running towards goal. Drawing in the defense, Pfeiffer lofted a pass to where Chawinga was able to run on and find her second score of the match.

Wheeler played the full 90 minutes and kept her defenders from even getting a shot on target. Her fellow 2024 NWSL Draftee Hope Hisey entered for the final six minutes of the match and made a pair of crucial saves down the stretch.

The Current will now head back to Kansas City to begin final preparations for the 2024 NWSL Season. The team will open the 2024 NWSL Regular Season with the Grand Opening of CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional sports team, March 16 against the Portland Thorns. A limited number of single-game tickets for 2024 regular season matches are on sale now. Visit /kansascitycurrent.com/schedule for availability and pricing. Current Club members receive priority access to 2024 single match tickets and an opportunity to add their names to the waitlist for future season ticket availability.

NWSL Exhibition Match Report
Match: Kansas City Current vs Houston Dash
Date: March 3, 2024
Venue: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida
Kickoff: 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET
Weather: 74 degrees, sunny 

Kansas City Current Scoring:
70’ Chawinga (Spaanstra)
75’ Chawinga (Pfeiffer)

Kansas City Current Lineups:
Franch (84’ Hisey), Mace (75’ Stiegleder), Ball (75’ Ballisager), Robinson, Wheeler, Hutton (46’ Scott), LaBonta (81’ Long), Lavogez (46’ Feist), Chawinga, Hamilton (60’ Spaanstra), DiBernardo (60’ Pfeiffer)