Rookie Victoria Pickett Scores in Kansas City NWSL’s First Franchise Victory

KANSAS CITY (Aug. 14, 2021) - It took 14 games, but Kansas City NWSL finally earned its first win in franchise history by defeating OL Reign 1-0 on a second-half goal from Victoria Pickett. The record home crowd erupted in the 73rd minute after Pickett scored her first NWSL goal. The rookie midfielder had the ball deflected right to her in the box off a free kick from Hailie Mace and she drilled it past Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. The goal held up for Kansas City to secure the win and three points in the standings.

Head Coach Huw Williams dedicated his first win to all the people who keep the organization running. He stated after the game, “This is for all of us who work so hard to get this. Whether it be the stadium operators, ownership, obviously every single coach, every single client. And how about the Kansas City community that boosted us in the last few minutes today when we needed help. I'm very proud of every single person in our organization.”

Captain Kristen Edmonds was full of excitement after the team win, stating, “I have so many emotions right now, they're all good emotions, I'm happy. I'm grateful. I love my team, and we definitely wanted to get three points tonight and coming off that field just feels amazing.”

Kansas City sprung to action right at kickoff, getting into OL Reign’s backline in the opening seconds, when Lo’eau LaBonta just missed after a beautiful pass from Addie McCain, quickly showing that they would be bothersome all night. A great chance came in the 26th minute for Kansas City when LaBonta fired a high shot after she spun past her defender, but it was saved by Bouhaddi. Kansas City again found a dangerous attack in the 36th minute when McCain slipped a great through ball to Hailie Mace who had a breakaway, but Bouhaddi was a step ahead and swiped the ball before she could get a shot off. 

OL Reign had their own fair share of pressure in the first half, but Kansas City had the better of the play and led the way with nine shots to the Reign’s five, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, ending the first half in a 0-0 draw. 

Kansas City, again, came out firing in the second half when Pickett dribbled into the attack right off the bat to find herself in the box for an open shot, but it went just wide of the net. Another chance for Kansas City came in the 61st minute when Kristen Hamilton dribbled her way free to fire a shot, but it was saved once again by Bouhaddi. Eventually, Kansas City got the goal for their first victory, as Pickett found a way. The rookie found a wide-open chance off a free kick from Mace that deflected to Pickett’s feet where she slotted the ball near post for the first and only goal of the night. 

Fellow rookie Kiki Pickett (no relation) found herself with a great chance when she broke free on a long run to find herself one-on-one and got a decent shot off, but it went just wide. OL Reign found their own action in extra time of the match when the ball seemed to play ping-pong between Kansas City and the Reign in KC’s box, but Abby Smith continued to shine and came up with some huge saves to keep the ball out of the net. Smith led the charge and was a huge part of Kansas City’s first win with her clean sheet, and the team defense was able to shut down the potent offense of the Reign, limiting them to only one shot on targets the entire game.

Kansas City will now hope to keep the winning momentum going as they visit the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, Aug. 21st at 6 p.m. CT. The game will stream nationally on Paramount+.

Discipline
27’ KC - K. Pickett (Yellow)
45’ + 2’ RGN - Cook (Yellow)

Scoring
73’ KC - V. Pickett (Mace)

Scoring Summary

Kansas City: Smith, Weber, Edmonds©, Ball, Pickett, K., Bowen (88’ Vincent), LaBonta, Pickett, V., McCain, Mace (83’ Silva), Hamilton (90’+5’ Miramontez)
Substitutes Not Used: Rowland, Del Fava, Vasconcelos, Larroquette, Jenkins, Hess

KANSAS CITY (Aug. 14, 2021) - It took 14 games, but Kansas City NWSL finally earned its first win in franchise history by defeating OL Reign 1-0 on a second-half goal from Victoria Pickett. The record home crowd erupted in the 73rd minute after Pickett scored her first NWSL goal. The rookie midfielder had the ball deflected right to her in the box off a free kick from Hailie Mace and she drilled it past Reign goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. The goal held up for Kansas City to secure the win and three points in the standings.

Head Coach Huw Williams dedicated his first win to all the people who keep the organization running. He stated after the game, “This is for all of us who work so hard to get this. Whether it be the stadium operators, ownership, obviously every single coach, every single client. And how about the Kansas City community that boosted us in the last few minutes today when we needed help. I'm very proud of every single person in our organization.”

Captain Kristen Edmonds was full of excitement after the team win, stating, “I have so many emotions right now, they're all good emotions, I'm happy. I'm grateful. I love my team, and we definitely wanted to get three points tonight and coming off that field just feels amazing.”

Kansas City sprung to action right at kickoff, getting into OL Reign’s backline in the opening seconds, when Lo’eau LaBonta just missed after a beautiful pass from Addie McCain, quickly showing that they would be bothersome all night. A great chance came in the 26th minute for Kansas City when LaBonta fired a high shot after she spun past her defender, but it was saved by Bouhaddi. Kansas City again found a dangerous attack in the 36th minute when McCain slipped a great through ball to Hailie Mace who had a breakaway, but Bouhaddi was a step ahead and swiped the ball before she could get a shot off. 

OL Reign had their own fair share of pressure in the first half, but Kansas City had the better of the play and led the way with nine shots to the Reign’s five, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, ending the first half in a 0-0 draw. 

Kansas City, again, came out firing in the second half when Pickett dribbled into the attack right off the bat to find herself in the box for an open shot, but it went just wide of the net. Another chance for Kansas City came in the 61st minute when Kristen Hamilton dribbled her way free to fire a shot, but it was saved once again by Bouhaddi. Eventually, Kansas City got the goal for their first victory, as Pickett found a way. The rookie found a wide-open chance off a free kick from Mace that deflected to Pickett’s feet where she slotted the ball near post for the first and only goal of the night. 

Fellow rookie Kiki Pickett (no relation) found herself with a great chance when she broke free on a long run to find herself one-on-one and got a decent shot off, but it went just wide. OL Reign found their own action in extra time of the match when the ball seemed to play ping-pong between Kansas City and the Reign in KC’s box, but Abby Smith continued to shine and came up with some huge saves to keep the ball out of the net. Smith led the charge and was a huge part of Kansas City’s first win with her clean sheet, and the team defense was able to shut down the potent offense of the Reign, limiting them to only one shot on targets the entire game.

Kansas City will now hope to keep the winning momentum going as they visit the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, Aug. 21st at 6 p.m. CT. The game will stream nationally on Paramount+.

Discipline
27’ KC - K. Pickett (Yellow)
45’ + 2’ RGN - Cook (Yellow)

Scoring
73’ KC - V. Pickett (Mace)

Scoring Summary

Kansas City: Smith, Weber, Edmonds©, Ball, Pickett, K., Bowen (88’ Vincent), LaBonta, Pickett, V., McCain, Mace (83’ Silva), Hamilton (90’+5’ Miramontez)
Substitutes Not Used: Rowland, Del Fava, Vasconcelos, Larroquette, Jenkins, Hess