Holiday, Richmond Win 2014 NWSL Championship with FC Kansas City

UCLA alumnae Lauren Holiday (2006-09) and Jenna Richmond (2010-13) led FC Kansas City to the 2014 NWSL title on Sunday. Holiday set up both of Amy Rodriguez’s goals in the 2-1 victory over Seattle Reign FC and was named the Championship MVP.

Holiday, the 2013 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner, played a through ball to Rodriguez in the 23rd minute on the first goal, and made a brilliant run on the second goal in the 56th minute, weaving through defenders before laying a pass off to Rodriguez, whose sliding shot past Hope Solo proved to the be the game-winning goal.

Richmond nearly scored the game’s first goal in the 21st minute, just missing wide on a volley attempt. She and Holiday both played the full 90 minutes for Kansas City. Fellow Bruins Sydney Leroux (2008-11) and Lauren Barnes (2007-10) also earned starts in the championship match for Seattle, with Barnes playing the full 90 and Leroux playing 67.

This is the second championship in nine months for Richmond, who captained UCLA to the 2013 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship in December of 2013. Richmond was drafted by Kansas City in the second round of the NWSL draft as the 16th overall pick.