BRIDGEVIEW, IL–The Chicago Red Stars are in a stretch of matches that can make or break the early part of their season.
It appears the Red Stars are coming together with a number of younger players that are mixing quite well in recent matches. But a young veteran in Mallory Pugh found another way to score and lead host Chicago past OL Reign, 1-0, at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“I thought we were gritty, determined, and in the first half, it looked like we were running in mud,” Chicago head coach Chris Petrucelli said. “We knew that it was never going to be pretty, but the whole thing with us finding a goal and protecting the lead was very fortunate.”
After a scoreless first half, OL Reign (2-2-3, 9 points) had the possession and the run of play for the most part.
“I thought we did things that we wanted to defend that we did well in the first half,” OL Reign coach Laura Harvey said. “We had a lapse of judgement early in the second half. I think that we weren’t much of threat going forward around their goal.”
But Chicago needed something to change, and coach Petrucelli made a change inserting Sam Fisher starting the second half.
The move was a good one, as Fisher made an impact a couple minutes in and forced the OL Reign to make a mistake in the back on defense.
Fisher got the ball and sent it off to Pugh. She took control from there, made a move, created space and fired a shot into the back of the net in the 47th minute for Chicago (3-1-2, 11 points).
“First thing we did was to put in Sam (Fisher),” Petrucelli said. “She was the one that got the assist on the goal. She made an impact right away. We just talked about (at halftime) to limit our runs. But it wasn’t anything we said, it was more than Sam stepping up making the run and making a play for us.”
OL Reign had a pretty good match with its goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who had 6 saves and keeping the match within a goal.
“It was definitely a tough one for us and a tough one to swallow coming to Chicago,” Tullis-Joyce said. “We didn’t quite do the things we wanted to do on the field, and it doesn’t sit well with us. But there’s so many things to take away from this game. We did keep the game at 1-0.”
OL Reign played the without a couple of starters that were out with injuries Jess Fishlock and Megan Rapinoe with no timetable for their return.
Up next, OL Reign will play San Diego Wave FC at Torero Stadium on Sunday Jun 12th at 2 p.m. PT. While, Chicago has a quick turnaround to host Washington on Wednesday at 7 p.m, CT.
The Red Stars had played in Washington this last Wednesday and settled for a 1-1 draw.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Mallory Pugh (unassisted) 47′
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Jill Aguilera (yellow, unsporting behavior) 19′
CHI-Bench-Chris Petrucelli (yellow, dissent) 21′
CHI-Rachel Hill (yellow, delay of game) 90′
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-4-2): #1-Alyssa Naeher, #28-Kayla Sharples, #20-Zoe Morse, #23-Tatumn Milazzo, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#7-Yuki Nagasato 90), #15-Sarah Griffith (#18-Sam Fisher 46), #11-Sarah Luebbert (#4-Alyssa Mautz 75), #14-Jill Aguilera (#5-Rachel Hill 75), #9 Mallory Pugh, #25-Ava Cook (#8-Ella Stevens 64).
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #19-Channing Foster, #27-Chelsie Dawber, #31-Anna Kowalski.
OL Reign (4-3-3): #91- Phallon Tullis-Joyce, #11-Sofia Huerta, #4-Alana Cook, #17-San Hiatt, #3-Lu Barnes (#14-Jimena Lopez 79), #33-Olivia Vad der Jagt, #6-Angelina Constatine (#2-Nikki Stanton 66), #16-Rose Lavelle, #24-Veronica Latsko (#23-Tziarra King 66), #8-Bethany Balcer (#7-Ally Watt), #5-Quinn (#12-Olivia Athens 79).
Subs not used: #18-Laurel Ivory, #19-Sinclaire Miramontez, #13-Marley Canales, #21-Phoebe McClernon.
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 9-5 OLR
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 7-1 OLR
FOULS: CHI 15-14 OLR
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-1 OLR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-2 OLR
SAVES: CHI 1-6 OLR
FOULS: CHI 15-14 OLR
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-1 OLR
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-2 OLR
SAVES: CHI 1-6 OLR
Referee: Alexandra Billeter
Assistant Referees: Matthew Rodman and Jessica Carnevale
4th Official: Alex Beehler
Weather: Cloudy and 66º
Attendance: 3,002
Man of the Match: Mallory Pugh (CHI)
4th Official: Alex Beehler
Weather: Cloudy and 66º
Attendance: 3,002
Man of the Match: Mallory Pugh (CHI)
