Written By:  Andrew Mosier
Photography By:  Travis Gallipo

 

 

UNION KC OUTLASTS COLORADO PRIDE TO ADVANCE TO REGIONAL FINAL

 

 

After a wild opening Central Region Semifinal, it was only fitting that Sunday's nightcap came right down to the wire as well. 

Union KC held off a surging Colorado Pride to advance to the Central Region Playoffs Final at Bob Young Field at the University of Sioux Falls Sports Complex. 

Union KC faces FC Pride from the Midwest Conference on Sunday for a berth into the WPSL Championships next weekend. 

Adriana Benassi’s pair of goals bookended a goal by Kate Gibson over the Mountain Conference winners was enough to secure the win. Megan Davis and Nicole Ray scored for the Pride. 

After a frantic opening 10 minutes, Benassi (University of Missouri, Kansas City) took advantage of a perfectly weighted through ball near the midfield running at goal, poking the ball past an onrushing Alyson Campbell in goal, to put the Union KC up 1-0. 

 

Colorado Pride, Union KC meet in Central Region Semifinals, 2024 Photo by Travis Gallipo

The chaotic nature of the game did not change much after Union KC took the lead. Campbell (Louisiana State University) was called into action repeatedly in the moments following Union KC’s opening goal as Pride began looking for that final killer pass that had been there all through the regular season. 

Abby Stassi (University of Wyoming) nearly leveled things for the Pride in the 18’ minute off a broken play at the top of the penalty area, missing high by inches.

Union KC doubled its lead just after the half-hour mark by taking the ball the length of the field after a goal-saving tackle by Reagyn Messenger kept Pride from leveling the score. Gibson (Marquette University) did all the hard work for the goal, collecting the ball near midfield and making a looping run towards the right touchline, before running past two chasing defenders before putting her shot across the goal to the far post. 

The Pride came out from the halftime break more organized. 

After three early chances, the Pride took advantage of a clumsy turnover 40 yards from goal. Taylynn Levi (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) put Davis (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) in on goal to pull a goal back for the Pride. 

 

Colorado Pride, Union KC meet in Central Region Semifinals, 2024 Photo by Travis Gallipo

As the Pride chased the game with the field completely stretched, Union KC went back up by two in the 52’ minute when Banassi outmuscled her defender to poke the ball past Campbell at the near post. 

The Pride would not go gently, though, making it 3-2 in the 57’ minute off a perfectly threaded through ball from Levi for her second assist on the night to Ray (Oklahoma State University), who poked it past the Union goalkeeper, Madison Sibbing (University of Saint Louis) to keep Pride in the game. 

After more back and forth, Union KC’s Messenger (University of Illinois Springfield) had a clear opportunity to put the game away in the 70’ minute but missed well wide. 

At the other end, Nicole Rey forced Sibbing to save one-on-one to keep Pride from leveling the score. The resulting corner was cleared off the line twice before the ball was finally cleared to safety. Then, a minute later, the Pride’s Sarah Dunn (Colorado Mesa University) smashed a shot off the crossbar from distance with the Pride’s last real opportunity of the night. 

With the win, KC Union advances to the Central Region final on Sunday versus FC Pride. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM CDT. 

 

 

COLORADO PRIDE 2 – 3 UNION KC

 

0-1: Benassi 10’

0-2: Gibson 32’

1-2: Davis (Levi) 47’

1-3: Benassi 51’

2-3: Ray (Levi) 57’