Erika Tymrak scored in the 3rd minute and rookie Shea Groom added a goal eight minutes after halftime to lift FC Kansas City past the University of Kansas, 2-0 on Tuesday in a preseason match.
The match came on the same day that defender Kate Deines, acquired in an offseason trade with Seattle Reign FC, announced her retirement. Deines is 25 years old. Her retirement leaves FC Kansas City short on defenders, meaning coach Vlatko Andonovski may have to get creative.
“I have been beyond blessed to have gotten the opportunity to play professionally in the NWSL the past two seasons,” Deines said. “I have recently been presented with a job opportunity that will jump-start the next phase of my professional life outside of soccer.”
This is the lineup Andonovski rolled out on Tuesday for the reigning NWSL champions, though it is unclear what formation they are in:
Barnhart (Rowland); Robinson, LePeilbet, Moros, Richardson (Kastor), Bogus (DeCesare), Buczkowski, Averbuch (Clark), Silva (Hagen), Tymrak (Averbuch), Groom.
