Red Stars Heat Up in the Cold of Bridgeview

Chicago Red Stars 3-Houston Dash 0

BRIDGEVIEW, IL–On a cold, rainy night at Toyota Park, the Red Stars were red hot at the start and cooled things down in the end as they got their first home win of the season with a 3-0 decision against the Houston Dash. The Red Stars are a remarkable 2-1-1 despite missing several starters while the Dash, playing their first game in 18 days, fall to 0-1-2.

The Red Stars get two quick goals in the first eleven minutes of the match. The first in the 7th minute when Sarah Gorden’s cross was inadvertently knocked in by Kristie Mewis for an own goal. Four minutes later, Gorden crossed again and Jane Campbell made the initial save on Sofia Huerta, but Lauren Kaskie pounced on the rebound to double the Red Stars’ advantage.

Houston came close a couple times in the first half with Thembi Kgatlana forcing a save from Alyssa Naeher in the 23rd minute and then having to push a Mewis shot from distance over the bar in the 44th.

The Dash started the better of the two sides in the second half, but lacked a finished product while Huerta put the match away in the 75th minute after heading in a Danielle Colaprico long ball.

The return of seven points from four matches is remarkable for the Red Stars despite missing Casey Short, Julie Ertz, Vanessa DiBernardo, and Sam Kerr in the lineup. Red Stars head coach was glad of one thing after Wednesday night’s match.

“I’m glad nobody got hurt,” said Dames. “I think the best thing came out of the game was that both teams got out of the game clean. It wasn’t the best conditions to be playing in. Everybody got out of the game healthy.

“I’m happy that we’re getting better. Our focus hasn’t been points. Our focus has been growing belief in what we’re trying to do and our confidence growing and our team getting better. I’m pleased that in the first half we did some really good things. The second half was always going to be hard when they didn’t play on the weekend and we did. We found our way late [with Huerta’s goal and Yuki Nagasato closing things down]. You’re always happy to get a win, but I’m happier that nobody got hurt.”

The Red Stars have a quick turnaround as they host Sky Blue FC on Saturday night at 7pm CT with just 15 healthy field players according to Dames. The Dash are away to Orlando on Sunday at 5pm ET.

SCORING SUMMARY:

CHI-Kristie Mewis (own goal) 7

CHI-Lauren Kaskie (unassisted) 11

CHI-Sofia Huerta (Colaprico) 75

BOOKING SUMMARY:

CHI-Arin Gilliand (caution, dangerous play) 9

HOU-Kimberly Keever (caution, tactical foul) 45

HOU-Amber Brooks (caution, dissent) 82

CHI-Sam Johnson (caution, reckless tackle) 90+2

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #7-Taylor Comeau, #5-Katie Naughton, #16-Sam Johnson, #14-Sarah Gorden; #24-Danielle Colparico, #2-Nikki Stanton, #13-Lauren Kaskie (#4-Alyssa Mautz 58); #11-Sofia Huerta, #19-Summer Green (#12-Yuki Nagasato 73), #3-Arin Gilliand (#9-Stephanie McCaffrey 81)

Subs Not Used: #21-Emily Boyd, #15-Michele Vasconcelos, #25-Erin Yenney

HOUSTON DASH (4-2-3-1): #1-Jane Campbell; #3-Rachel Daly, #22-Amber Brooks, #5-Janine Van Wyk, #19-Kristie Mewis; #9-Haley Hanson, #6-Meleana Shim (#12-Veronica Latsko 78); #11-Thembi Kgatlana (#14-Nichelle Prince 66), #10-Linda Motlhalo, #13-Savannah Jordan’ #18-Kimberly Keever (#20-Lindsay Agnew 46)

Subs not used: #30-Bianca Henninger, #21-Alli Murphy, #4-Allison Wetherington, #8-Claire Falknor

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 9-10 HOU

SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 5-2 HOU

FOULS: CHI 10-9 HOU

OFFSIDES: CHI 2-4 HOU

CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-3 HOU

SAVES: CHI 2-2 HOU

Referee: Katja Koroleva

Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Diego Blas

Fourth Official: Lukas Szpala

Weather: Rain and 34º

Attendance: 2,327