Haley Hopkins

I think that's a good question.

And I think if you ask me, it has to be Haley Hopkins.

Not that it has to, but if you ask me, Who is the player that if the game is going a certain way that you need athleticism? Not to say Dabini's not athletic, but.

in terms of pace and in terms of presence in the box to be able to get on the end of long balls and just put something different in front of a back line in front of a keeper I would say Haley Hopkins now Part of that is because of the versatility of Dabinia, because she can operate in the midfield, you can put Di Bernardo out wide, or you can put Dabinia out wide, keep Di Bernardo next to Kroi in the attacking midfield.

I think starting off with Dabinia allows you to move her around during the course of the game, and I think that is an extra added benefit of letting Dabinia start, assuming everybody's fully healthy.

So that's kind of the way I see it.

They did go down early, fourth minute, I think Carly Lima.

Uh, Haley Hopkins walked a ball into the goal f- in the 24th minute to get a goal.

Debinha, hat trick, natural hat trick, boom, boom, boom, three goals in a row, and a late Timwa goal.

What do we need to discuss from this game?

Um, ceremony lasted maybe 90 seconds.

Anyways, uh, and then during the reception, we saw that we scored, and then scored, and scored, and scored.

Um, and it was fun to see the, the goal that Haley Hopkins first scored, and we were like, "Okay, that's kind of a bad goal.

Like, that's pretty lucky on our, our end." But then we felt like it made up for the goal that Lima scored Almost.

But first, it is the factoid of the week.

Debinha had a hat trick for Kansas City one week after Haley Hopkins had a hat trick for Kansas City.

First time ever a team has hat tricks in consecutive games.

Add Timwa Shuwinga's hat trick earlier in the season, and it is the first time that three different players from the same club have had a hat trick in the same season, and Kansas City now a little bit more insulated in that playoff race.

Goal last week, hat-trick this week, and then, I mean, listen, Chuwengo.

Continue to give shout-outs to Hailey Hopkins for the entirety of her season that she's had, and then, and then Coop across that, that front line.

So, I mean, if you're looking at, at a front line in this league or front four or five, I mean, listen, no one's gonna wanna go against that group.

So-

For me, she just is honestly one of the best players that has ever played in this league.

And my favorite thing, especially about Kansas City, is that when a vacancy gives opportunity, and every time that Kansas City has had an injury, the next player down has showed up and balled out.

And Hailey Hopkins, same thing.

The reason she was given her opportunity was 'cause Temwa Chuwengo was injured, and then she gets to show what she can do.

It really should have been the momentum shift, but unfortunately, that is not what happened.

Haley Hopkins-

Before you, before you go, before you go into what happened, I do wanna point out, I think I've only seen Abby Smith guess wrong for one penalty this season.

She always knows, and I was so stoked for that, uh, that diligence in studying, uh, PK tend- tendencies of players and being prepared for it to pay off and her to get, get the mid on this one and swipe that away.

That, that doesn't go unseen, Abby, like preternatural ability to know where the ball's gonna go.

Totally.

I mean, yeah, it was an absolutely huge moment until Haley Hopkins found the equalizer just before halftime, sending the team into the break tied at 1-1.

After the last several matches, I feel like there has been this hope, this excitement, this, "Okay, we'll come back second half, let's see it." And then the second half really just got away from Denver fast.

You're funny.

Haley Hopkins.

I was gonna say, to add to poor little Carrie, I was also could not attend the game because I was recovering from being car sick that morning.

Oh.

Um, and whatever they cleaned up at halftime, um, was good.

I also thought Denver kind of made some choices that were not good that the Current pounced on.

Um, but Haley Hopkins had a really good game, and I think this is why we've said all along she'd make a good striker.

And it's not so much, like, the finishing of the chances.

Okay.

Well, um, Hailey Hopkins got a hatty, which we-

I, I did see that.

That's, that's great

... we, we are Hailey Hopkins truthers-

Yeah

... on this podcast.