BRIDGEVIEW, IL—League-leaders Kansas City Current saw its 13-match unbeaten streak succumb to the sound of “Pugh! Pugh! Pugh!”. Pugh scored two wonder goals and an assist as the Chicago Red Stars thrashed the Current, 4-0, at SeatGeek Stadium. The win moved the Red Stars to fifth in the table and vitally four points clear of seventh-place Angel City, who lost 1-0 at North Carolina on Wednesday night.
It all started in the fifth minutes when Tatumn Milazzo was in the right place at the right time in front of goal to pounce on a loose ball off a corner kick to give the Red Stars the lead.
“We had a game plan and we just got to move into your spot and hope you can execute and I think we did really well tonight,” said Milazzo.
The best was yet to come as three minutes later, Mallory Pugh took a ball in her own third and ran all the way past two defenders and rounded keeper Cassie Miller to finish and double the Red Stars’ lead. Pugh would double her tally on the night by doubling the runs toward goal—this time from midfield at the hour mark and scoring from just inside the area.
Also doubling was the number of goals by defenders off corners. In the 72nd minute, Amanda Kowalski would be well-placed to head in a corner from Pugh to make it 4-0.
“I think the first goal was kind of scripted,” said Red Stars head coach Chris Petrucelli. “That was where we were literally trying to get the ball into that area and [Milazzo] jumped on it and got us the first one.
“I think for a good part of the first half, we were pinned in a little bit and one of the things that happens when you’re pinned in is you’re exposed to a counter attack and the speed of [Pugh]. We’re pinned in a little bit and [Pugh] breaks out and the next thing you know it’s 2-0.”
Petrucelli felt they didn’t play that well in the first half, but better in the second saying they ‘scored really well’ taking their chances.
Alyssa Naeher made four saves on the evening. Rachel Hill played in her 100th regular season match and 40th with the Red Stars. Vanessa DiBernardo was honored for making her 150th regular season appearance back on August 27th—all with the Red Stars.
The Red Stars remain home on Saturday to take on Houston Dash in another potential playoff six-pointer at 7pm. The match will be streamed on Paramount+.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Tatumn Milazzo (unassisted) 5
CHI-Mallory Pugh (Morse) 8
CHI-Mallory Pugh (unassisted) 60
CHI-Amanda Kowalski (Pugh) 72
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Mallory Pugh (caution, tactical foul) 26
KC-Taylor Leach (caution, reckless tackle) 42
CHI-Vanessa DiBernardo (caution, reckless tackle) 47
CHI-Amanda Kowalski (caution, reckless tackle) 75
KC-Elizabeth Ball (caution, tactical foul) 90
CHICAGO RED STARS (3-4-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #31-Amanda Kowalski, #20-Zoe Morse, #23-Tatumn Milazzo; #22-Bianca St. Georges (#14-Jill Aguilera 80), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#18-Sam Fisher 86), #24-Danielle Colaprico, #5-Rachel Hill (#15-Sarah Griffith 80); #7-Yuki Nagasato, #8-Ella Stevens (#27-Chelsie Dawber 73), #9-Mallory Pugh (#13-Morgan Gautrat 73)
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #25-Ava Cook, #19-Channing Foster, #26-Mikenna McManus
KANSAS CITY CURRENT (3-5-2): #38-Cassie Miller; #24-Taylor Leach (#22-Alex Loera 46), #7-Elizabeth Ball, #3-Kristen Edmonds; #8-Kate Del Fava, #5-CeCe Kizer, #11-Desiree Scott (#14-Chardonnay Curran 63), #10-Lo’eau LaBonta, #4-Hailie Mace (#19-Jenna Winebrenner 80); #25-Kristen Hamilton (#23-Elyse Bennett 63), #94-Claire Lavogez (#18-Isabel Rodriguez 80)
Subs not used: #21-Adrianna Franch, #66-Chloe Logarzo, #28-Addie McCain, #26-Addisyn Merrick
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 8-12 KC
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 6-4 KC
FOULS: CHI 11-11 KC
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-0 KC
CORNER KICKS: CHI 7-4 KC
SAVES: CHI 4-2 KC
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Ashlee Varnson, Art Arustamayan
4th Official: Rebecca Pagan
Weather: Clear and 72º
Attendance: 2,135
Woman of the Match: Mallory Pugh (CHI)
(Editor’s Note: Amanda Cortese has the photos from Wednesday night. You can view some below and more by clicking on the link.)
