RECAP: SUNFLOWER STATE FC, KANSAS CITY SCOTT GALLAGHER

Written By: Sofia Scekic | WPSL Correspondent

Kansas City Scott Gallagher closed out its first WPSL season with a 2-0 win over Sunflower State FC on Wednesday at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. The win capped off a successful inaugural season for Kansas City Scott Gallagher, which finished third in the Heartland Conference of the Central Region with 21 points and a 7-3 record.

Sunflower State came out swinging with three opportunities to score within the game’s first six minutes. Midfielder Thayline Teixeira (Coffeyville) — who only scored one goal this season but was integral in keeping the ball moving on Sunflower State’s offense — ended up with the ball in front of her in the second minute after a failed header by Kansas City. Teixeira attempted to put the ball into the right side of the net with her left foot, but the game remained scoreless.

Teixeira did not have any more opportunities to score for the rest of the game, but her hot start offensively sparked the rest of Sunflower State’s offense as they controlled the game early on. Six of Sunflower State’s 12 shots on goal came in the first 17 minutes of the game before Kansas City finally broke through with its first opportunity.

Sunflower State’s defense managed to hold a Kansas City offense that scored a total of 24 goals this season — second-most in the conference — scoreless until the 77’ minute. Midfielder Reiss Wood (Creighton) sent the ball through several Sunflower State players to forward Hailey Palmer (Missouri State), who then returned it to Wood with a slight tap. Wood took a shot at the right side of the goal from the left of the penalty box to break the tie.

Wood contributed to Kansas City’s second goal of the game just six minutes later as she dribbled the ball down the left side of the pitch and sent it to forward Kate Gibson (Marquette) on the far left side of the box. Gibson dribbled the ball around her defender to the left goalpost and brought out the goalkeeper before sending the ball to midfielder Greycen Erisman (Central Missouri) who was waiting in front of goal and finished the job to put Kansas City up 2-0.

Although both teams traded several more opportunities to score in the game’s final 10 minutes, neither team managed to put more points on the board. Kansas City Scott Gallagher remained in third place in the Heartland Conference standings with the win, while Sunflower State remained in fourth place and ended the season with 10 points and a 3-6-1 record.

The KC Courage were crowned conference champions by virtue of finishing with the most points in the Heartland Conference after the regular season. The Courage concluded the regular season with 24 points and a 7-0-3 record. The only remaining game between Heartland Conference teams will kick off at 1 p.m. CT on July 8 between Lou Fusz Athletic and AFC Columbia — the two teams at the bottom of the conference standings.