Press’ late equalizer earns Red Stars point against Dash

By Rusty Silber from Windy City Soccer

Bridgeview, IL-A late Christen Press goal handed the Chicago Red Stars a point and a bit of confidence before next weekend’s National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

The Red Stars settled for a 1-1 draw with visiting Houston Dash in the regular season finale at Toyota Park on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago (8-3-9) with the tie finished the season in the second spot with 33 points and they were one point ahead of FC Kansas City (9-6-5, 32 points).

The Red Stars will host FC  Kansas City in the NWSL semifinals back at Toyota Park next Sunday at 12:30 p.m. While top-seeded Seattle (13-3-4, 43 points) will be hosting Washington (8-6-6, 30 points) in the other semifinal.

USWNT teammates Christen Press and Meghan Klingenberg fight for possession in Sunday night’s match between the Chicago Red Stars and the Houston Dash (Photo Credit: Don MacGregor).

Chicago needed some type of push in the late stages on Sunday to come away with the draw. Press delivered a game-changing goal in the 90th minute with the help of Julie Johnston setting her up with an assist.

“I think we were definitely high-pressed trying to get a goal back,” Press said. “I think it was important for our identity. We’re a team that’s won a lot of games and taken a lot of points. I think the core payers on the team know that and everyone starts to push for it.

“The ball went way over my head. Julie (Johnston) was playing high and has that mentality that we’re coming back and we’re going to win. She sees me there, trusts me and plays the ball back. I just ran for the ball.”

Dash midfielder Carli Lloyd leaps up to win possession (Photo Credit: Don MacGregor).

Earlier in the second half, Houston got on the board from a former Red Stars player Ella Masar, who hit a 20-yard blast into the cornet that was set up by Morgan Brian in the 62nd minute.

“I did a lot of time in Chicago,” Masar said. “But whether it was Chicago or Sky Blue, it’s just good to get a goal. I had family here with 40 of them and it was good to put one in the back of the net.”

Houston Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod’s dive to the right was unable to keep Chicago Red Stars forward Christen Press’ effort from reaching the back of the net (Photo Credit: Don MacGregor).

The Red Stars keeper Karina LeBlanc was pretty active and put together a strong effort, making 10 stops in the match. She also made a several point-blank stops that included a few off the leg of the Dash’s Carli Lloyd.

Still, the Red Stars managed to maintain its intensity but didn’t start playing better until late in the match.

“I think we will be much better next week,” Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames said. “We’ll be playing with a much bigger purpose. I really don’t think we played in the game until we went down. The only thing that I was disappointed in the game was that we didn’t get a win for Karina (LeBlanc). She deserves to win in her last regular season game. She did everything in her power to make that happen. She made some great saves.”

Houston Dash forward Meghan Klingenberg working against Red Stars defender Arin Gilliand (Photo Credit: Don MacGregor) 

Looking ahead for the playoffs, the Red Stars will be making its first-ever appearance and will be in uncharted territory, The first team to face will be FC Kansas City, a team that has been there before.

“Kansas City is the defending champions,” Dames added. “Kansas City has Rodriguez, Holiday, O’Reilly. Lepeilbet and Sauerbrunn and it takes 10 minutes to rattle it off.

“Pressure will be on Kansas City and not on us. They’re the defending champs and were the ones just in. They will be the one feeling it. We’ll be the ones to play and feeling it. We expect to win. I don’t think we will feel the pressure like the last few weeks trying to get the points that we needed to get into the playoffs.”

SCORING SUMMARY:

HOUS-Ella Masur (Morgan Bryan) 62

CRS-Christen Press (Julie Johnston) 90′

BOOKING SUMMARY:

CRS-Vanessa DiBernardo (caution, reckless foul) 85’

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-4-2):  #1-Karina LeBlanc, #2-Jen Hoy (#11-Rachel Quon 81′), #3-Arin Gilliand, #6-Abby Erceg, #8-Julie Johnston, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo, #13-Michelle Lomnicki (#16-Samantha Johnson 46′), #24-Danielle Colaprico, #17-Lori Chalupny (C), #19-Adriana Leon (#9-Melissa Tancredi 69′), #23-Christen Press

Subs not used: #18-Michelle Dalton, #12-Cara Wells, #34-Mary Luba

HOUSTON DASH (4-4-2): #1-Erin McLeod, #2-Andressa, #5-Toni Pressley, #6-Morgan Brian, #10-Carli Lloyd, #14-Jessica McDonald (#40-Rachel Axon 76′), #15-Allysha Chapman, #21-Melissa Henderson (#12-Tiffany McCarty 33′), #24-Ellie Bush, #25-Meghan Klingenberg, #30-Ella Masar (#9-Camila 89′).

Subs not used: #18-Bianca Henninger, #13-Jen LaPonte.

TOTAL SHOTS:  CRS 19-20 HOUS

SHOTS ON GOAL:  CRS 10-11 HOUS

FOULS:  CRS 7-4 HOUS

OFFSIDES: CRS 6-2 HOUS

CORNER KICKS:  CRS 10-4 HOUS

SAVES:  CRS 10-9 HOUS

Referee:  Margaret Domka

Referee’s Assistants:  Nick Uranga, Khalaf Al-Latayfeh

Fourth Official:  Edgar Osario

Attendance:  4,130

Woman of the Match:  Christen Press (CRS)