Kaw Valley splits double header against Chicago City SC, Women suffer defeat while Men triumph.

Women: Kaw Valley 0 | Chicago City 4
In the first leg of Saturday’s double header, the women suffered defeat at the hands of Chicago 4-0 after a strong second half from City as they scored three goals. Both squads spent the first 20 minutes looking for an edge over the other with few opportunities for either team in the opening minutes. Chicago found the first threatening shot in the 21st minute when a shot took a deflection that forced Crane goalkeeper Monica Wilhelm into a fantastic diving save to keep Chicago off the board.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute and proved to be from Chicago. On a long-range free-kick, City midfielder Bailey Faulkner struck it perfectly into the top left corner to put Chicago up 1-0 in the first half.
The Cranes found their first shot on goal in the 37th minute when Sydney Watts produced a great run and buildup into the box, but her shot flew straight to the keeper. Chicago continued to be on the front foot for the rest of the half but couldn’t ever find the second goal as Kaw Valley headed into the locker room down 1-0. The Cranes started out on the right foot in the second half as they threatened in the final third
but couldn’t find the equalizer. Chicago would find their second goal of the game in the 75th minute and would only continue to tack on during the rest of the game with two more goals in the 83rd and 95th minute,
respectively. The Cranes will travel to Chicago to face off with City on Thursday, June 30. Kickoff is set for 7p.m.

Men: Kaw Valley 2 | Chicago 0
In the second game of Saturday’s double header, the men picked up a crucial 2-0 victory over Chicago with goals scored by Theo Klein and Ben Andoh. Will Lowry also picked up the shutout in the victory.
Chicago started out on the front foot putting pressure on the Cranes and found some scoring opportunities, but nothing too threatening against Kaw Valley. Crane goalkeeper Will Lowry was called upon in the 23rd minute though and produced a stunning save to keep Chicago off the
board.

As the half progressed, Kaw Valley settled into the match and became the instigators while finding greater chances in the final third, the best of which came from Stefano Campisi in the 43rd minute which forced the Chicago keeper into a diving save. Neither team found the breakthrough in the first half and entered the locker rooms knotted up at nill a piece.
After a relatively quiet first five minutes through the second half, the Cranes turned up the intensity and it paid off immediately. The Cranes produced a perfect counter-attack with Theo Klein eventually firing home the opening goal of the match and putting Kaw Valley up 1-0. It took less than three minutes for the Cranes to fire home their second goal of the match and double their advantage. This time, Klein produced the assist off a pass to Ben Andoh who fired home the goal two double the lead to 2-0. The rest of the half proved mostly uneventful with both teams finding some chances, but none good enough to find another goal as Kaw Valley ran off with the 2-0 against Chicago.

The Cranes will take a break before facing off with FC Wichita on Saturday, July 9. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.