2013 FC Kansas City season explained

Club:FC Kansas City
Season:2013
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Vlatko Andonovski
Stadium:Shawnee Mission District Stadium
League:NWSL
League Result:2nd
Cup1:NWSL Playoffs
Cup1 Result:Semifinals
League Topscorer:Lauren Cheney (12)
Highest Attendance: (Apr 13 vs. POR)
Lowest Attendance: (Jun 23 vs. WAS)

-->|largest win = 3–0 (Jul 24 vs. BOS)|largest loss = 1–3 (Jun 16 vs. CHI)|pattern_la1 = |pattern_b1 = _nwsl13|pattern_ra1 = |pattern_sh1 = |pattern_so1 = |leftarm1 = 0c44a3|body1 = 0c44a3|rightarm1 = 0c44a3|shorts1 = 0c44a3|socks1 = 0c44a3|alt1 = Blue shirt with white stripe across the chest, blue shorts, blue socks|pattern_la2 = |pattern_b2 = |pattern_ra2 = |pattern_sh2 = |pattern_so2 = |leftarm2 = fff|body2 = fff|rightarm2 = fff|shorts2 = fff|socks2 = fff|alt2 = White shirt, white shorts, white socks|pattern_la3 = |pattern_b3 = _nwsl13|pattern_ra3 = |pattern_sh3 = |pattern_so3 = |leftarm3 = 000|body3 = 000|rightarm3 = 000|shorts3 = 000|socks3 = 000|alt3 = Black shirt with white stripe across the chest, black shorts, black socks|American = true|nextseason = 2014}}The 2013 season was FC Kansas City's first season of existence, in which they competed in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Background

On January 11, 2013, FC Kansas City announced a new logo,[1] which would remain the club's logo until its dissolution in 2017. The team was the league's first to unveil its kits in March, using the same standard templates as the rest of the league in blue, white, and black colors. Overland Park-based Title Boxing Club sponsored the fronts of the shirts.[2]

Summary

See also: 2013 National Women's Soccer League season.

Founding

In November 2012, it was confirmed that a Kansas City-based women's professional soccer team had been accepted into a new women's professional soccer league, later named National Women's Soccer League.[3] The KC ownership group was composed of Chris Likens, his two sons Brad and Greg Likens, and Brian Budzinski, the same owners of the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.[4] [5]

Preseason transactions

On January 14, 2013, as part of the NWSL Player Allocation, Nicole Barnhart (USA), Lauren Cheney (USA), Renae Cuéllar (MEX), Marylin Diaz (MEX), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), Desiree Scott (CAN), and Lauren Sesselmann (CAN) were named to the team.[6] [7] [8] [9]

On January 18, the team selected Kristie Mewis, Erika Tymrak, Whitney Berry, and Nia Williams in the 2013 NWSL College Draft.[10] [11] The team signed Sinead Farrelly, Jen Buczkowski, and Leigh Ann Robinson as free agents.[12]

During the February 7 Supplemental Draft, the Blues selected Courtney Jones, Bianca Henninger, Merritt Mathias, Casey Nogueira, Tina DiMartino, and Casey Berrier.[13]

FC Kansas City held open tryouts in February, calling back nine players to be amateur reserves of the 65 who attended: forward Gisela Arrieta, goalkeeper Colleen Boyd, forward Ariana Calderon, defender Natalie Carter, midfielder Molly Dreska, midfielder Jaime French, defender Natalie Norris, forward Andrea Rodriguez, and midfielder Vendula Strnadova.[14]

Regular season

On April 13, 2013, FC Kansas City hosted Portland Thorns FC in the first regular-season match in NWSL history. In the 3rd minute of the match, Renae Cuéllar scored the first goal in the histories of both FC Kansas City and the NWSL. The match drew a sellout crowd of 6,784 and ended in a 1–1 draw.[15] [16]

Due to the search for suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing, the Boston Breakers were unable to travel to Kansas City for their scheduled match against Kansas City on April 19, resulting in a postponement.[17] Kansas City won its first game in its second match, defeating Seattle Reign FC 2–0 at home on April 26.[18]

On July 1, head coach Vlatko Andonovski traded Cuéllar to Seattle Reign FC for Teresa Noyola.

FC Kansas City clinched its first playoff qualification after defeating Portland Thorns FC 3–2 on August 4, with Lauren Holiday scoring a brace and Kristie Mewis scoring the match-winning goal in the 74th minute. The road match set a league attendance record of 17,619.[19]

However, despite opportunities to clinch the NWSL Shield, Kansas City lost to the Boston Breakers on August 10[20] and the Chicago Red Stars on August 18,[21] resulting in a three-way tie atop the table for points. With the league's first tiebreaker being head-to-head record, the Western New York Flash won the 2013 Shield, Kansas City finished second, and Portland finished third.[22]

The loss to the Breakers snapped a 10-match unbeaten streak, the season's longest, and was the last time an opponent would shutout Kansas City in any competition until Sky Blue FC in the opening match of the 2015 season, a streak of 25 regular-season matches and 28 including playoffs.[23] The team's 11 shutouts on the season set a league record that stood until North Carolina Courage recorded 12 in the 2017 season, which was two matches longer.[23]

Postseason

On August 24, Kansas City hosted Portland in the first-ever NWSL Playoffs match in the league's history. After taking a 2–0 lead at halftime on goals by Erika Tymrak and Melissa Henderson, Portland scored twice in the second half to draw in regulation and force extra time.[24] Thorns midfielder Allie Long scored the match-winning goal in the 103rd minute and Kansas City were unable to equalize, eliminating Kansas City from the postseason. The loss was the seventh time in all of the season's competitions that Kansas City had led by two or more goals during a match but failed to win.[25]

Honors

FC Kansas City swept the league's postseason individual awards, led by Holiday winning the golden boot and most valuable player awards. Her 12 goals and 9 assists led the league in both categories, and she scored a goal or assist in 10 consecutive appearances, interrupted only by international duty and her wedding to Jrue Holiday.

Stadium

On February 6, the club announced its home matches would be played at Shawnee Mission District Stadium in Overland Park, Kansas, a 6,150-capacity high-school gridiron football and track and field stadium with artificial turf. Season tickets were initially priced from $135 to $255.[26]

Club

Roster

.[27]

Transactions

Team management

FC Kansas City's ownership group was composed of Chris, Brad and Greg Likens, and Brian Budzinski. The group also owns the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.[30] Budzinski is also owner of the Kansas City Soccerdome.[31] On December 12, 2012, the team announced the hiring of Vlatko Andonovski, a former professional player and head coach of the Kansas City Kings of the PASL and Missouri Olympic Development Program (ODP), as head coach for the season.[32]

Competitions

Key

NWSL regular season

See main article: 2013 National Women's Soccer League season.

Matches

Kickoff times are in CDT (UTC-05)

Statistics

Field player regular-season statistics[33]
scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col Namescope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col
6 MF 22221,980 020 1111 00 1111400
13 DF 22221,900 050 106 160 25510
11 MF 20201,800 000 75 20 0241200
19 MF 20201,784 101 3413 1043 1121920
9 DF 22191,738 230 2517 194 7221330
4 DF 19191,710 010 21 10 02500
14 DF 19191,633 000 41 30 0171031
12 MF 18181,620 1293 6331 927 3142800
15 MF 21161,453 641 2614 63 521800
2 MF 17131,030 000 129 20 1611900
17 MF 1610896 101 93 00 64700
10 FW 118682 502 2716 00 183800
8 DF 226670 411 3221 60 126700
7 MF 43275 111 94 25 12400
20 DF 72207 000 21 00 02100
16 DF 42182 000 00 00 03110
10 MF 71155 000 30 10 02100
16 FW 1011 000 00 00 00000
3 FW 104 000 00 00 00000
22 MF 101 000 00 00 00000
23 DF 101 000 00 00 00000
Goalkeeper regular-season statistics
scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col Namescope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col scope=col
18 GK 20201,800 1055 1878667 190.95 33 10
1 GK 22180 110 1785 31.50 11 1

NWSL Championship Playoffs

Honors and awards

See also: NWSL awards.

Notes and References

  1. News: FC Kansas City unveils new logo . January 11, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Jeff . Kassouf.
  2. News: More details on FC Kansas City's uniforms . March 24, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Thad . Bell.
  3. Web site: New women's soccer league links and news . Equalizer Soccer . January 26, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121129161631/http://equalizersoccer.com/2012/11/22/new-womens-soccer-league-links-and-news/ . November 29, 2012 . mdy-all .
  4. Web site: FC Kansas City To Launch This Spring . November 27, 2012 . FC Kansas City . December 16, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082948/http://www.fckansascity.com/2012/11/27/fc-kansas-city-to-launch-this-spring/ . March 4, 2016 . mdy-all .
  5. Web site: Women's professional soccer coming to Kansas City . The Pitch News . December 16, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121129201816/http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/11/27/womens-professional-soccer-coming-to-kansas-city . November 29, 2012 . mdy-all .
  6. Wambach, Morgan also allocated to NWSL teams . https://archive.today/20130216185811/http://m.si.com/1035498/wambach-morgan-also-allocated-to-new-nwsl-teams/ . dead . February 16, 2013 . Sports Illustrated . January 26, 2013 . mdy-all .
  7. Web site: NWSL allocation easier said than done . ESPN . January 12, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130402215815/http://espn.go.com/espnw/more-sports/8836654/espnw-nwsl-allocation-easier-said-done . April 2, 2013 . mdy .
  8. Web site: Player distribution sees NWSL take shape . FIFA . January 12, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130115032037/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/footballdevelopment/women/news/newsid=1983348/ . January 15, 2013 . mdy-all .
  9. News: New Women's League Allocates Players . New York Times . January 11, 2013 . January 25, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130119192053/http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/new-womens-league-allocates-players/ . January 19, 2013 . mdy-all .
  10. News: FC Kansas City gets top choice in Mewis . January 21, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  11. Web site: Eight Teams Make Selections at 2013 NWSL College Draft at NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis . U.S. Soccer . January 18, 2013 . August 22, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130121003150/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/NWSL/2013/01/Eight-Teams-Make-Selections-at-2013-NWSL-College-Draft.aspx . January 21, 2013 . mdy-all .
  12. Web site: FC Kansas City officially announces the signing of Sinead Farrelly . NWSL News . December 1, 2013 . Lewis, Scott . February 9, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000522/http://www.nwslnews.com/fc-kansas-city-officially-announces-the-signing-of-sinead-farrelly/ . December 3, 2013 . mdy-all .
  13. Web site: Results: Ochs taken first in NWSL Supplemental Draft . Equalizer Soccer . February 7, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130209201501/http://equalizersoccer.com/2013/02/07/in-progress-nwsl-supplemental-draft-results/ . February 9, 2013 . mdy-all .
  14. News: FC Kansas City call back nine from open tryouts . February 20, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Thad . Bell.
  15. News: Portland, Kansas City tie in first-ever NWSL game . April 13, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  16. News: Lauletta: Five things I’ll remember most about FC Kansas City . November 21, 2017 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  17. News: Breakers-FC Kansas City game postponed due to security, travel issues . April 19, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer.
  18. News: FC Kansas City earns first victory over Seattle Reign FC . April 26, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Meg . Linehan.
  19. News: Holiday, Kansas City clinch in huge win over Thorns . August 4, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer.
  20. News: Breakers upset FC Kansas City first-place clinch . August 10, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Meg . Linehan.
  21. News: Red Stars stun KC in added time; Flash get 1st place . August 18, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  22. News: WNY Flash win inaugural NWSL regular season title . August 18, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Jeff . Kassouf.
  23. Book: Cooper, Jen . Keeper Notes NWSL Almanac . 2020 . 2021 . Keeper Notes.
  24. News: FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns headed to overtime . August 24, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  25. News: Thorns rally past Blues, advance to final . August 24, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  26. News: FC Kansas City announces home venue . February 6, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Jeff . Kassouf.
  27. Web site: FC Kansas City Roster. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130801161024/http://www.fckansascity.com/roster/ . August 1, 2013 . June 30, 2023 . FC Kansas City.
  28. News: Reign make two trades, land Cuellar for Noyola . July 1, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  29. FC Kansas City Signs Jaime French . July 31, 2013 . June 30, 2023 . FC Kansas City.
  30. Web site: New Kansas City women’s soccer team releases logo. Kansas City Business Journal. December 1, 2013. January 10, 2013.
  31. Web site: Joco’s pro women’s soccer team, FC Kansas City, seeks longevity where others have failed. Kansas City Star. December 1, 2013. McDowell . Sam. July 30, 2013.
  32. FC Kansas City Coaching Staff Announced. FC Kansas City. 26 January 2013.
  33. Web site: National Women's Soccer League . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130903063830/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/Stats/index_E.html . September 3, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . National Women's Soccer League.
  34. Web site: June's Best: Lauren Cheney. NWSL. 2 August 2013. https://archive.today/20130802214105/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/News/734503.html. 2013-08-02. dead.
  35. Web site: Player of the Week: Erika Tymrak. NWSL. 2 August 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212144731/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/News/740331.html. 12 February 2014.
  36. Web site: July's Best: Erika Tymrak . NWSL . 2 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130805150242/http://nwslsoccer.com/home/743790.html . 5 August 2013 .
  37. Web site: Lauren Holiday, Hall of Famer: Her greatest moments for club and country . May 4, 2023 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Dan . Lauletta.
  38. News: Erika Tymrak named NWSL Rookie of the Year . August 21, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Jeff . Kassouf.
  39. News: Holiday named 2013 NWSL MVP; KC sweeps awards . August 27, 2013 . July 1, 2023 . The Equalizer . Jeff . Kassouf.