San Jose – Bay FC knew Saturday night would be a test. And if not for two decisive strikes from the league-leading Kansas City Current, they just might have passed.
The Current entered Pay Pal Park as one of the NWSL’s most dangerous attacking sides. Despite a gutsy defensive effort anchored by goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, Bay FC couldn’t hold on in a 2-0 defeat, their fourth straight loss since a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Stars on August 10. The club’s last win came on June 7, a 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns.
Silkowitz delivered the best performance of her young career, recording seven saves, the third-most in a single match in Bay FC history, to keep her team within striking distance until stoppage time. But Bay FC never found the breakthrough on the other end.
“I thought we had a much better performance than we did last weekend,” head coach Albertin Montoya said. “This was more like ourselves. We played the best team in the league and, for the most part, kept them at bay. In the second half, I thought we were actually even better.”
Bay FC proved they could hang with one of the league’s top attacks defensively, starting in the 11th minute when Silkowitz stretched to deny Michelle Cooper’s header. The rebound fell to Kansas City’s Bia Zaneratto, but defender Joelle Anderson hustled back to clear her shot off the goal line, keeping the match scoreless.
That defensive stand sparked Bay FC’s best chances of the half. Midfielder Hannah Bebar pounced on a loose ball just outside the box and fired, only to see her shot blocked by the Current’s back line. Forward Rachel Hill collected the rebound but sent her effort just over the bar.
After both teams traded chances that either missed or were saved, Kansas City finally broke through before halftime. In the 45th minute, defender Hailie Mace delivered a long ball forward to Cooper, who controlled cleanly and slipped her finish inside the near post, just beyond Silkowitz’s reach, sending the visitors into the break with a 1-0 lead.
“It hurts that we were one minute, two minutes away before going into the half and they scored,” said Montoya. “That hurts. But credit to our players, they executed the game plan much better in the second half than the first.”
Bay FC came out sharper in the second half, pushing to find a response in the final 45 minutes.
“I thought we were very good, especially in the second half,” Montoya said. “They didn’t really get too many opportunities playing through the midfield against us. The players executed the gameplan much better in the second half than they did in the first half.”
Hill surged down the wing around the hour mark and set up Tess Boade for a look from distance, but her shot sailed high. Moments later, Debinha nearly doubled Kansas City’s lead, only for Silkowitz to come up with a highlight-reel save, denying the Brazilian star at point-blank range.
“Each game we continue to find the things that went well, find the things that didn’t go well and go from there,” said Silkowitz. “Tonight we learned a lot. There were good moments, and we need to continue to draw from those.”
The back line, anchored by veterans Caprice Dydasco and Maddie Moreau, drew praise for frustrating one of the league’s most potent attacks.
“Caprice had a stellar game. So did Maddie. So did our center backs,” Montoya said. “When they all play at that level, you give yourself a chance.”
Moreau, who, once again, managed to cover just about every blade of grass on the left wing, said her focus was simple: “I just love the girls and I just want to give energy to them when I’m on the field. That’s just the player I am, and I think it helps other players to play that way as well.”
Bay FC pushed numbers forward late, shifting to three at the back in search of an equalizer. But the gamble backfired, as league-leading scorer Temwa Chawinga struck two minutes into stoppage time to seal Kansas City’s 2-0 victory.
“Every game presents different opportunities, different problems, different things to solve,” Solkowitz said. “As a goalkeeper, you’re only as good as your last save, so I just try to give energy to my teammates and do everything I can to help us.”
“It’s frustrating not to get that goal, especially when Silk has the kind of night she did,” said Montoya. “But all we can do is keep creating opportunities. The finishing touch is what’s missing, the right pass, the right run, the right finish. We’re so close.”
Before Saturday night, Bay FC had gone nearly four months without losing by more than a single goal. And despite the setback, the club remains confident. Sitting 12th in the table at 4-10-5 (17 points) with seven matches still to play, Montoya and his players insist the playoff chase is very much alive.
“We start every game thinking we’re going to win and we bring the same attitude to every game,” Moreau said. “Eventually the tides will turn and until then we’re going to keep doing the same things.”
Silkowitz echoed that belief. “We know we can hang with anyone,” she said. “It’s one game at a time. Our next focus is Orlando, and we know we can go there and get three points.”
Bay FC heads to the East Coast next week to face the defending NWSL champion Orlando Pride on Saturday, before returning home to PayPal Park on Sunday, Sept. 21, to take on the 2023 champion Gotham FC.
Photo by BayFC/Twitter
