Match Preview: Kansas City Current activates forward Claire Lavogez ahead of crucial Friday night match against Angel City FC

The Kansas City Current (6-10-1, 19 pts.) will welcome back a familiar face when the team faces off against visiting Angel City FC tomorrow, September 1 at 7 p.m. CT. Forward Claire Lavogez has been activated from the NWSL Season Ending Injury (SEI) list and is expected to be available for selection in the match.

The French international has 35 caps for her country with three international goals. Lavogez signed to the Current in July of 2022 and made nine regular season appearances for the club, with seven starts. She finished her first season in the NWSL with two goals and an assist. Her goal against the North Carolina Courage on August 13, 2022 secured the Current’s fourth win on the road and earned her the Budweiser Player of the Week award. Lavogez suffered a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the 2022 NWSL quarterfinal match against the Houston Dash last October and has been working diligently to return to the pitch since.

Kansas City comes into the match with points in four of the last five games (four wins, one draw) and needs to keep up the pace to climb the league table and find a way into the playoffs again. Kansas City earned a draw in the last match, playing to a 1-1 score on the road against the Houston Dash on Saturday. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta scored the lone goal for the Current in the 51st minute. Collecting the ball on a failed Houston clearance, LaBonta struck a shot from outside the box that rocketed to the far corner of the net, away from any attempt at making the save from Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell.

Angel City FC is also on a positive run of late, with two wins and three draws in the past five times out. Last week, Angel City hosted OL Reign and earned a 2-1 win at home. Forward Clarisse Le Bihan opened the scoring in the 13th minute for the home side, then provided an assist in the 57th minute as midfielder Madison Hammond doubled the score. Angel City was mostly able to stand up to a relentless attack after that, but OL Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe, a second half substitute for the visitors, was able to claw one score back in the 74th minute. The defense did hold up just enough to preserve the win and earn three points.

THREE CURRENT PLAYERS NAMED TO BEST XI
Three players from Kansas City were named to the August NWSL Best XI, presented by Mastercard, goalkeeper AD Franch, midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and forward Kristen Hamilton. Franch led the way in August with two wins and a draw in three starts across all competitions. Under her watch, the Current defense played 247 minutes without giving up a score and only allowed one total goal throughout the month. She posted an 85.7 save percentage with six crucial saves, including her penalty save against OL Reign August 18 that helped to preserve the win for the Current. It is no coincidence that LaBonta’s return from injury coincided with the Current’s return to form. She started all three matches for Kansas City, providing a calming influence for the Current midfield and helping to shape an attack that scored five goals in August. She completed 108 of her 134 passes (81 percent) across three matches for the Kansas City Current and scored her first goal of the season in a draw against the Houston Dash. LaBonta capped the month off with a screamer of a shot from five yards outside of the penalty box that gave Kansas City the initial lead on the road against Houston August 26. Hamilton had a record-breaking August, both for the club and the NWSL. Kicking off the month with a bang, Hamilton scored a brace against Racing Louisville. Those two goals broke her own club record for most goals scored in a Challenge Cup season (5) and tied the all-time NWSL career-record for goals (12), a record she now shares with teammate Debinha. 

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS
The Kansas City Current signed two world-class defenders during the recent FIFA World Cup and both players have arrived in market and should be available for selection in Friday’s match.

Stine Ballisager Pedersen has a long history with the Danish national teams, appearing for her home country 45 times at the senior level, with 43 starts The solid 5’ 7” defender has helped the Danes to the Finals of the 2017 UEFA Women’s Championship and anchored the back line for Denmark’s 2023 in Australia and New Zealand at this year’s World Cup.

Brazil’s Lauren made her senior team debut for Brazil on September 20, 2021, entering the match in the second half on the way to a 4-1 win over Argentina. Her first start came later that year when she played the full 90 minutes of a 4-1 victory over Venezuela. She has 11 caps for Brazil. In 2023 she has started three of the team’s six games and appeared in all but one.   

SECOND ANNUAL MEDIA GAME
Fans should stay in their seats at halftime to see the annual KC Current Media Game, with 40 members of local publications, TV and radio stations facing off for glory. Team Heartland, led by KSHB’s Dia Wall, will face Team Electric, captained by internet sensation Kevincho. In-stadium host Aly Trost Martin will report on the action live from the field, while the match will be officiated by local music legend, Tech N9ne. 

Community Champion
In honor of KC Kicks Cancer Night, presented by Saint Luke’s, Friday’s Community Champion of the Match is Gilda’s Club. Gilda’s Club Kansas City uplifts and strengthens people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities and breaking down barriers to care. They offer free support groups, various classes on subjects like nutrition, exercise/movement and mental health, counseling and resources/referrals. Learn more at GildasClubKC.org.

Hometown Hero, presented by Midwest Ford
Kim Day, manager of the Breast Centers at Saint Luke’s Hospital and Saint Luke’s East, is Friday’s Hometown Hero, presented by Midwest Ford. Kim has been a career mammography tech since the early 1990s and joined Saint Luke’s in 2000 when the Breast Center opened. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of patients facing potential a breast cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment and cancer survivorship.