Chicago Red Stars 1-1 Houston Dash
by Dan Gaichas
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—The Chicago Red Stars appeared they were going to scrap another 1-0 win, but were pegged back by a Rachel Daly goal and were held to a 1-1 draw. With the draw and Sky Blue FC winning over Washington on Saturday night, the Red Stars now fall to fifth and out of the playoff places on goals scored with points even with Sky Blue.
The match was delayed an hour due to lightning in the area. When the match get started, the Red Stars got off to a great start with Danielle Colaprico’s shot deflecting off a defender and in just two minutes into the match to give the Red Stars the lead.
Vanessa DiBernardo nearly made it 2-0 in the 21st minute, but her shot from distance went off the crossbar. She would have another effort go wide in the 42nd minute.
Those misses ultimately proved costly as Rachel Daly was given space to collect a pass from Kealia Ohai, turn, and wrong-foot Michele Dalton to equalize eight minutes from time. The Dash would hold on for the draw. The Red Stars have won just twice from their last eight matches (2-3-3).
“Better than taking a loss,” said Red Stars head coach Rory Dames. “I think we’ll be disappointed with it. From a creating chance opportunities (standpoint), I think we deserved to win the game. From an individual quality in the game, a tie is probably fair.
“It’s the same thing that happened in Portland and the same thing that happened in Western New York. We create plenty of chances. We just don’t have the quality right now to put those chances away. We’ve created more chances since Christen [Press] hasn’t been here than when she was here. For whatever reason, we’re not finding the back of the net.
“[It’s] not due to the players not trying, not due to the players not giving the effort, not due to the players not working in training. We just having to grind ourselves through it.”
Earlier in the week, the Red Stars traded four draft picks to the Boston Breakers in exchange for forward Stephanie McCaffrey. McCaffrey entered as a substitute and played the final five minutes of the match.
“It’s been a crazy 48 hours, but I was just thankful to get everything approved last night,” said McCaffrey. “I would’ve liked to come in those last 5-6 minutes and change the game. From what I know in the short time, I love the team. I love the philosophy. I love how upset we are that we just walked away with one point instead of three. That’s the biggest thing I took away from tonight is that nothing but winner here is acceptable.”
The Red Stars remain home next Saturday to take on two-time defending champion FC Kansas City. Kickoff is at 7pm with the match streamed on YouTube.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Danielle Colaprico (DiBernardo) 2
HOU-Rachel Daly (Ohai) 82
BOOKING SUMMARY:
HOU-Megan Crosson (caution, reckless foul) 63
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-4-2): #18-Michele Dalton; #3-Arin Gilliand, #5-Katie Naughton, #16-Samantha Johnson, #6-Casey Short; #24-Danielle Colaprico, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (C), #11-Sophia Huerta, #7-Taylor Comeau; #12-Cara Walls (#9-Stephanie McCaffrey 85), #2-Jen Hoy (#4-Alyssa Mautz 60)
Subs Not Used: #33-Brianna Smallidge, #14-Sarah Gorden, #15-Courtney Raetzman, #34-Mary Luba, #20-Jannelle Flaws
HOUSTON DASH (4-3-3): #1-Biannca Henniger; #25-Megan Crosson, #5-Cari Roccaro, #8-Ellie Brush, #23-Cami Privett; #12-Amber Brooks; #7-Kealia Ohai (C), #13-Denise O’Sullivan, #22-Stephanie Ochs (#19-Tessa Florio 81); #9-Choma Ubogagu (#21-Melissa Henderson 66), #3-Rachel Daly
Subs not used: #16-Monica Alvarado, #19-Tessa Florio, #24-Anna Maria Gilbertson, #27-Caity Heap, #31-Kate Scheele
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 9-6 HOU
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 2-3 HOU
FOULS: CHI 9-7 HOU
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-1 HOU
CORNER KICKS: CHI 8-10 HOU
SAVES: CHI 2-0 HOU
Referee: Levi Rippy
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Maggie Short
Fourth Official: Kali Langevin
Weather: Cloudy and 90º
Attendance: N/A
Woman of the Match: Rachel Daly (HOU)
Chicago Red Stars
