LOS ANGELES — Angel City defender Savy King collapsed on the field and medical staff appeared to do chest compressions on her before she was carted off during a 2-0 victory over Utah on Friday night at BMO Stadium.
Angel City first assistant coach Eleri Earnshaw, who was filling in for interim coach Sam Laity, told reporters after the match that King, 20, was transported to a local hospital, evaluated and is responsive.
“Her family is with her, as is our medical staff, so she’s in good hands,” Earnshaw said.
Both sidelines cleared and gathered around the medical staff as King was being treated and teams throughout the NWSL along with the league office offered support for King via their social media channels.
On Superhero night, Christen Press came off of the bench, unfurled her cape and saved Angel City, but the goal and the victory took a distant back seat to King’s frightening situation.
Press, who entered the game in the 65th minute, scored scored 25 seconds after taking the field to give Angel City (4-2-2, 14 points) the lead.
Press, moving down the left wing, made a cut inside, losing defender Madison Pogarch, and curled a left-footed shot over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Amanda McGlynn into the top left corner of the goal. The goal was the first for Press since her comeback last season from four ACL injuries.
The excitement from Press’ goal left the stadium in the 74th minute when King went down and was quickly administered to by the training staff. After a lengthy period, King was eventually put on the stretcher and carted away.
Video review showed King kicked a ball away from a Utah attacker, then she sat down on the turf and laid back. Both teams joined in a prayer circle after the game for King.
The game was restarted after a near 15-minute real time break.
King, who is from Agoura High, joined Angel City in a trade with Bay FC in the offseason. This is her second season in the NWSL. She quickly settled into the center back spot, alongside Sarah Gorden this season.
“It was one of the Utah players that suggested it (postgame prayer circle) that we get together,” Earnshaw said. “Some people prayed, some people shared their energy. Just to show unity in that moment in support of Savy, without knowing the update at that time, obviously it was a scary situation to be in and at that point, it’s much bigger than football.”
Angel City put the game away midway through the 12-minute stoppage time on Alyssa Thompson’s goal, handing Utah (1-6-1, four points) its sixth loss in the past seven games.
Laity was unavailable after receiving a red card late in last Friday’s road win against the Washington Spirit and had to serve a one-game suspension.
The game was the first for Angel City since April 18 and the first after a tough three-game stretch against some of the league’s top teams (Gotham FC, Orlando and Washington). Angel City lost two of the three, but came away with valuable lessons in the process.
The win is the second in a row for Angel City and its first shutout of the season vaults the club into third place, but with two days of Week 7 games still to be played.
Angel City returns to action next Saturday in Northern California against rival Bay FC.
