KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 3, 2026) – Bay FC fell 5-1 Saturday at the Kansas City Current at CPKC Stadium. A fast start saw forward Karlie Lema put her club ahead in just the fourth minute with her eighth goal on the year, setting a new club record for goals in a single regular season. The match went to the break deadlocked at one goal each before the hosts scored four goals after halftime to earn all three points.
“I thought we did a good job to go 1-0 up,” said Head Coach Emma Coates. “I’m really disappointed in the manner of the goals we conceded. I feel that the break gives us a chance to reflect and make sure that we maximize the last three games.”
Bay FC wasted little time going ahead, taking a 1-0 advantage in just the fourth minute. A heavy touch by forward Racheal Kundananji allowed her to beat a defender and play a perfectly weighted ball to Lema, who took advantage of the goalkeeper coming off her line to slot it past and into the back of the net.
Kansas City put a spell of pressure on Bay FC in the following moments, but the club was able to keep its hosts from making anything out of it. Kansas City forward Haley Hopkins put a half volley from a cross on frame, but didn’t get enough on it to challenge goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz.
The Current leveled the scoreline near the midway point of the first half after a corner kick was served into traffic from the right. A short video review confirmed the goal after multiple players collided as the ball bounced over the line and in, with Hopkins credited with the tally for influencing the final direction of the ball.
Both clubs nearly found the net heading into the break. Bay FC took possession and cycled play to forward Alex Pfeiffer in the fifth of six minutes of first half stoppage time, where the St. Louis native cut inside for a shot on her left foot, but missed the target high by mere inches. Moments later, Hopkins headed a corner kick on frame on the other end, but saw her effort cleared off the line by defender Jenna Nighswonger just before the halftime whistle sounded.
Kansas City scored the first of four goals after the break less than a minute after the second half began. Forward Debinha netted her first of three, finishing with a second half hat trick from a right footed strike and a pair of headers. Forward Temwa Chawinga turned a spell of Bay FC pressure on its head as time ticked down, scoring a fifth for Kansas City after getting out on the break.
NWSL action will pause for the October international break that will see 10 Bay FC players represent their respective national teams from Oct. 5 to 13. The club will be back in action Oct. 18, hosting Portland Thorns FC at PayPal Park for the club’s penultimate home contest of 2026.
Kansas City Current v Bay FC
October 3, 2026
CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
Kickoff: 3:32 p.m. PT / 5:32 p.m. CT
Weather: 76 degrees, sunny
Attendance: 11,500
Discipline
None
Scoring Summary
BAY – Lema (Kundananji) 4′
KC – Hopkins 24′
KC – Debinha (Hopkins) 46′
KC – Debinha (Rouse) 53′
KC – Debinha (White) 75′
KC – Chawinga (R. Rodriguez) 89′
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Kansas City Current | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Bay FC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Starting Lineups
Kansas City Current: Lorena, I. Rodriguez, Sharples, Robinson, Ball (Rouse 45′), DiBernardo (R. Rodriguez 68′), LaBonta (C) (Feist 80′), Chawinga, Debinha (Hocking 80′), Cooper (White 68′), Hopkins
Unused Substitutes: Jordan, Scott, Suliafu, Gemelli
Bay FC: Silkowitz, Nighswonger, Anderson, Gilchrist, Collins (C) (Moreau 84′), Bebar, Hutton, Kundananji (Girelli 73′), Huff (Fuller 58′), Pfeiffer (Barry 58′), Lema (Holzheier 84′)
Unused Substitutes: Miller, Hubly, Cometti, Conti
