BRIDGEVIEW, IL–An early gift for coach Rory Dames and an Olympic home send off. Throw-in a Sofia Huerta brace, Casey Short goal, Vanessa Dibernardo pair of assists and one for Alyssa Mautz.
It was one of the best performances of the season, as the Chicago Red Stars shutout visiting Boston Breakers 3-0 at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
The victory for the Red Stars moved the club back on top of the NWSL with a 5-1-3 record and 18 points. They sit one point ahead of Portland (4-0-5, 17 points) and Washington (5-1-2, 17 points).
Chicago hits the road with a rematch with the Thorns at Providence Park in Portland Wednesday night at 9pm (CT).
“It was a good (match), this was a trap game for us with the Portland game coming up on Wednesday,” Dames said. “I thought the players did a good job with their concentration. I would say we put a lot of time this week building our attack through the middle third to get into the final third. We relied to be way to direct in the few previous weeks, so we put a lot of work into it. It’s nice to see the players get rewarded with it, where we want to be when it matters.”
The Red Stars didn’t waste much time at all. They found the first goal in the third minute of play. Huerta connected on a half-volley into the back of the net off a cross from a DiBernardo cross.
Then, Huerta struck again off a short touch from Mautz, She controlled the ball with a turn-around move beating a defender and keeper Libby Stout for a 2-0 lead in the 47th minute just minutes into the second half.
“I definitely felt a little bit more pressure,” Huerta said, “Because, this was game eight and I had only one goal. I had to take it in my mind that I needed to score and needed to put it in. I wanted to come out and get multiple goals.”
Short added the other goal for insurance in the 62nd minute off DiBenardo’s second assist. She slid forward for the ball in front and knocked it in for the 3-goal advantage.
For Boston (1-7-1, 4 points), it wasn’t a game that they really could match up with Chicago from the outset. Also, the Red Stars keeper Alyssa Naeher was on her game in goal making 3 stops for another clean sheet.
“A lot of disappointment, we didn’t stick to what we worked on,” Boston Breakers coach Matt Beard said. “We caused a lot of problems and after 40 minutes it didn’t help. It was a disappointing performance. We seemed scared to pass the ball and scared to do things on the pitch. Nobody is getting forward and being reactive.
“(Chicago) is a good side and they know how to win games. The way (Chicago) scored their goals, they could’ve been preventable. The frustrating thing was that we didn’t deserve anything in this one. You wonder if the Olympic period will hurt them since they will lose their goalkeeper and a second back and a forward.”
One other note, the Olympic players Naeher, Christen Press and Julie Johnston will be available for the match up against Portland and they will depart after that match for Olympic training.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Sofia Huerta (Vanessa DiBernardo) 3′
CHI-Sofia Huerta (Alyssa Mautz) 47′
CHI-Casey Short (Vanessa DiBernardo) 62′
BOOKING SUMMARY:
BOS-Luoise Schillgard (yellow card, reckless foul) 55′
CHI-Sofia Huerta (yellow card, reckless foul) 56′
BOS-Eunice Beckmann (yellow card, reckless foul) 60′
BOS-Kyah Simon (yellow card, reckless foul) 92′
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher, #4-Alyssa Mautz , #3-Arin Gilliland, #6-Casey Short, #8-Julie Johnston, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#7-Taylor Comeau 82′), #11-Sofia Huerta (#2-Jen Hoy 68′), #13-Amanda DaCosta (#15-Courtney Raetzman 70′), #16-Sam Johnson, #23-Christen Press, #24-Danielle Colaprico.
Subs not used: #5-Katie Naughton, #12-Cara Walls, #14-Sarah Gorden, #18-Michelle Dalton.
BOSTON BREAKERS (5-2-1-3): #1-LIbby Stout, #4-Whitney Engren, #5-Kassey Kallman, #8-Julie King, #9-Stephanie McCaffrey (#27-Eunice Beckmann 59′), #10-Louise Schillgard, #17-Kyah Simon, #19-Kristie Mewis (#24-Rachel Wood 70′), #20-Mollie Pathman (#21-Christen Westphal 52′), #23-Brooke Elby, @, #26-Angela Salem.
Subs not used:#2-Jami Kranich, #11-Brittany Ratcliffe, #88-Katie Schoepfer.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 16-7 BOS
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 8-3 BOS
FOULS: CHI 10-9 BOS
OFFSIDES: CHI 10-3 BOS
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-0 BOS
SAVES: CHI 3-5 BOS
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Referee’s Assistants: Jennifer Garner, Adrienne McDonald
Fourth Official: Alex Beehler
Attendance: 2,553
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 82
Woman of the Match: Sofia Herta (CHI)
Chicago Red Stars
