Second half sub Rosie White scored soon after entering the game, one of five goals for Chicago (photo by Don Mac Gregor).
Chicago Red Stars 5-0 Sky Blue FC
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—History was made by both sides tonight at Toyota Park. The Red Stars became the first team to make the NWSL playoffs four straight years by virtue of their 5-0 win over Sky Blue FC who were playing their second match in 48 hours.
Sky Blue FC made history for the wrong reasons as they now clinch records for the fewest wins (at most 1) and fewest points (at most 9) in a single season with their home finale on Saturday against Orlando. Sky Blue had already clinched the record for the most losses in a single season—this being their 17th of the year.
The Red Stars just needed 18 minutes to get on the board as Arin Gilliand sent a cross to Alyssa Mautz who headed over Kailen Sheridan and under the bar in the net. The flood gates opened in the second half for the Red Stars starting just 55 seconds in with Gilland again sending in the cross to Mautz for her second of the match.
Sam Kerr extended her lead in the Golden Boot race with her 15th of the year after a heading in a long ball from Brooke Elby. Kerr unselfishly turned provider for substitute Rosie White from point-blank range in the 80th minute.
Due to injuries and numerous stoppages, seven minutes of stoppage time was added. Too much time for Sky Blue to concede a fifth courtesy of Michele Vasconcelos on a breakaway to match their worst defeat of the season. It is also the biggest victory ever for the Red Stars in a top flight league (WPS or NWSL) and the first time in which they scored five in a match in NWSL (or WPS) play.
Sam Kerr heads one into goal photo by Don Mac Gregor).
Red Stars head coach Rory Dames has noticed that this playoff team is unique with all that the team has gone through this year.
“It’s a new team this year. You take out a big striker [in Christen Press]. You bring in a big striker [in Sam Kerr]. You change your captain. So it was going to be a different year. Then, you take in the injuries we had at the beginning of the year, so that made it a different year although I think we’re stronger for it in the end. And then, we had a big trade in the middle of the year with some big personalities going out. It’s been an interesting year, but since Orlando came in here and put a good beating on us, we’ve lost one time since then.
“The group’s coming together. We’re starting to play well. A lot of the players playing tonight were players that carried us at the beginning of the season when everybody was hurt. I think people have forgotten about since the other players were starting to come back in. They showed their quality again. I feel good about the group and where we’re at.”
“I’m thrilled that we’re not just a couple of great players. Not even just a great team, we have a DNA. We have a system and a philosophy and a set of characteristics that we look for. Players that come here tend to stay here through their careers or as long as it works out, but usually longer than other teams.
Red Stars owner and CEO Arnim Whisler also spoke after the match not only to tout Rory and his staff, but how the team has built itself over the years and looking towards the future.
What I love about is that we’ve built a core that keeps building on itself that keeps building onitself that carries the DNA through to the next season,” said Whisler. So it’s testament to Rory with his vision in the draft. There are two people in the league that even see the potential in players the way he does and we just build on that every year. So when I think about this and getting to this point it’s just remarkable and we’ve got a long way to go. We’re already looking at the future and we’ve been looking at the future since the last year and the original Press trade.”
Whisler mentioned the six first round picks over the next two seasons as well as the increased attendance and sponsorships that the team has accrued this season—the toughest in a four-year cycle.
Average attendance for the Red Stars this season was 4,301 which is a 34% increase from last season.
For Sam Kerr, making the playoffs feels good after missing them last season with Sky Blue FC and is hoping for her first final since 2013.
“It takes the pressure off the last game which is nice. We can go in there with an open mind,” said Kerr.
The Red Stars finish up the regular season on Saturday at the Utah Royals. Third place is still a possibility for the Red Stars, but that requires Portland losing on Friday night against Seattle and the Red Stars winning at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday at 2:30pm CT.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Alyssa Mautz (Gilliand) 18
CHI-Alyssa Mautz (Gilliand) 46
CHI-Sam Kerr (Elby) 64
CHI-Rosie White (Kerr) 80
CHI-Michele Vasconcelos (White) 90+7
BOOKING SUMMARY:
None
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #21-Emily Boyd; #3-Arin Gilliland, #5-Katie Naughton, #14-Sarah Gorden, #23-Brooke Elby; #4-Alyssa Mautz, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #2-Nikki Stanton, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#15-Michele Vasconcelos 74); #20-Sam Kerr (#25-Erin Yenney 83), #12-Yuki Nagasato (#22-Rosie White 79)
Subs not used: #99-Ryann Torrero, #26-Joanna Boyles, #29-Chandra Eigenberger, #28-Zoey Goralski
SKY BLUE FC (4-4-2): #1-Kailen Sheridan; #8-Erica Skroski, #22-Mandy Freeman (#29-Amanda Pierre-Louis 78), #17-Domi Richardson, #9-Amanda Frisbie, #73-Madison Tiernan (#7-Jen Hoy 46), #11-Raquel Rodriguez, #16-Sarah Killion, #31-Christina Gibbons; #6-Shea Groom, #2-McKenzie Meehan
Subs not used: #27-Caroline Casey, #18-Gabrielle Cuevas, #24-Nickolette Driesse, #15-Eliza Bona, #13-Rebekah Stott
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 25-4 NJ
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 11-1 NJ
FOULS: CHI 9-6 NJ
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-3 NJ
CORNER KICKS: CHI 5-0 NJ
SAVES: CHI 1-6 NJ
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referees: Diego Blas, Trent Van Haitsma
Fourth Official: Joshua Kelley
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 91º
Attendance: 2,974
Woman of the Match: Alyssa Mautz (CHI)
Chicago Red Stars
