Sofia Huerta of Chicago broke down the Sky Blue defense to get the only goal for the Red Stars (photo by Don Mac Gregor).
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—The Chicago Red Stars are still awaiting a number of starting players returning to its team, but the club continues showing progress with its league standing sitting behind league-leading North Carolina.
The Red Stars put together a pretty good week picking up seven points out of a possible nine with three matches in an eight-day span. Which Chicago settled for a 1-1 draw against Sky Blue FC at Toyota Park on Saturdaynight.
The Red Stars (2-1-2, 8 points) had also defeated the Utah Royals on the road last Saturday, 1-0, and got past Houston, 3-0, at home this past Wednesday night.
“It was a long week,” Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames said. “I thought the effort we had tonight (against Sky Blue FC) was great. We’re obviously disappointed that we didn’t get the second goal with so many chances we created. If you would’ve told me before tonight that we would’ve gotten the effort we got out of the players and lose Sam (Johnson) in the warm-up. I would’ve taken the point.”
Johnson was a scratch minutes before the kick off and replaced by the dependable Taylor Comeau.
“Her achilles just tightened up,” Dames added. ‘So, it wasn’t worth risking. We’re not in any position to take chances with anybody.
Chicago got a big boost with a quick goal in the opening minute. Sophia Huerta hit what looked to be like a shot outside the top corner of the box and lifted it into the top corner of the goal. It was the second-fastest goal in Red Stars team history at 44 seconds. The fastest goal happens to be at 40 seconds.
“It was a shot but I just knew when (Alyssa) Mautz played it back to me, I just needed to get it in that area,” Huerta said. “In my head, I’ve always thought shot-cross. It’s like a shot or a cross. Either it’s going in or someone will be in it. I always was taught that in college.”
Red Stars keeper Alyssa Naeher was spectacular with 3 key saves but came off her line a number of times stopping Sky Blue FC’s attack.
“We had a solid 90 minutes and it speaks of our depth,” Naeher said.
“That’s the style that’s asked of me. My backline does a great keeping the play in front of them.and not giving up too many chances. When the ball sneaks through, I have to kind of be ready for it.”
Sky Blue FC (0-2-1, one point) found the equalizer when Savannah McCaskill delivered a shot that had deflected off one of the Red Stars into the goal in the 78th minute.
“I got the ball wide and Carli (Lloyd) made a through run,” said McCaskill who scored her first goal of the season. “It opened a gap for me to cut inside and I realized I had space. Then I ripped it. I did see the ball deflect off and curving in fast past (Naeher) going in.”
At least, Sky Blue was able to get something out of the match, after a tough beginning and its a step in the right direction in looking forward.
“I think from a defensive standpoint we came out with some opportunities in the first half,” Sky Blue FC coach Denise Ready said. “We had an offside goal called back and a few good opportunities. I thought for the majority of the first half Chicago took over the game. Going down 1-0 in the first 40 seconds on something that might have been a cross was rough to give away. Second half, we shifted and found ourselves. We made the field a little smaller instead of getting spread out with Chicago in the first half. Extremely happy with the second half to come back take a point on the road that’s a huge step.”
Chicago hits the road next Saturday playing the Spirit in Washington and Sky Blue FC has a weekend off before hosting the Houston Dash on May 5th
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Sofia Huerta (Mautz) 1
NJ-Savannah McCaskill (unassisted) 78
BOOKING SUMMARY:
None
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #7-Taylor Comeau, #5-Katie Naughton, #14-Sarah Gorden, #3-Arin Gilliand; #11-Sofia Huerta, #24-Danielle Colaprico (#13-Lauren Kaskie 90), #2-Nikki Stanton; #4-Alyssa Mautz, #15-Michele Vasconcelos (#19-Summer Green 83), #12-Yuki Nagasato
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #25-Erin Yenney
SKY BLUE FC (4-3-3): #1-Kailen Sheridan; #31-Christina Gibbons, #8-Erica Skroski, #13-Rebekah Stott, #22-Mandy Freeman (#14-Katyn Johnson 66); #10-Carli Lloyd, #16-Sarah Killion, #11-Raquel Rodriguez (#2-McKenzie Meehan 83); #6-Shea Groom, #12-Janine Beckie, #21-Savannah McCaskill (#73-Madison Tiernan 86)
Subs not used: #24-Michaela Abam, #7-Jen Hoy, #19-Adriana Leon, #27-Caroline Casey
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 20-11 NJ
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-4 NJ
FOULS: CHI 9-3 NJ
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-4 NJ
CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-4 NJ
SAVES: CHI 3-5 NJ
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
Assistant Referees: Adrienne McDonald, Gjovalin Bori
Fourth Official: Kyle Hannon
Weather: Cloudy and 51º
Attendance: 2,413
Woman of the Match: Alyssa Naeher (CHI)
Chicago Red Stars
