Chicago Red Stars 1-1 Washington Spirit
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—It was a match that needed a goal, and got two late via defensive missteps. The Chicago Red Stars and Washington Spirit played to a 1-1 draw at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a goalless draw for 85 minutes despite numerous chances for the Red Stars—Mallory Pugh in particular and Ashley Sanchez for the Spirit getting in on goal only to be denied by Alyssa Naeher.
The Spirit got on the board first in the 85th minute after Andi Sullivan sent a long ball to Trinity Rodman who got in behind the defense and got it past Naeher. However, three points for the Spirit became one in stoppage time as Samantha Staab was called for a handball in the box and Morgan Gautrat converted the ensuing spot kick.
It’s been a while since the Red Stars scored on a penalty kick in regular play. So long that there is no real designated taker.
“I’ve taken some penalties in the preseason and I think a few of the girls just looked at me and I took the ball just went with it,” said Gautrat.
After two weeks without playing, play seemed a bit disjointed on both sides until the final few minutes of the match.
“A lot of times in these games, sometimes it comes to that,” said Gautrat. “It’s a chess match back and fourth until the game gets stretched. I do think it’s been two weeks since teams have played and that kind of showed a bit [Saturday]. It’s seems as if it’s disconnected at the beginning and as the game for on you get into your rhythm a bit. I know that two weeks not playing a game feels like a long time, sometimes, but for us it’s just getting back int that rhythm and playing together and taking the challenge of different formations and different players.”
It’s a quick turnaround for the Red Stars as they travel to Tacoma to face OL Reign on Tuesday night at 9pm CT on Twitch while the Spirit travel to Kansas City next Saturday for an 8:30pm ET kickoff—also on Twitch.
SCORING SUMMARY:
WAS-Trinity Rodman (Sullivan) 85
CHI-Morgan Gautrat (penalty kick) 90+2
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Rory Dames (caution, dissent) 88
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-2-3-1): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #6-Casey Krueger, #11-Sarah Gorden, #26-Tierna Davidson, #28-Kayla Sharples (#22-Bianca St. Georges 64); #13-Morgan Gautrat, #16-Sarah Woldmoe; #5-Rachel Hill (#33-Katie Johnson 63), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#18-Ella Stevens 90+3), #9-Mallory Pugh; #2-Kealia Watt
Subs not used: #38-Cassie Miller, #32-Zoey Goralski, #19-Sarah Luebbert, #4-Alyssa Mautz, #23-Tatum Milazzo, #7-Nikki Stanton
WASHINGTON SPIRIT (4-2-3-1): #1-Aubrey Bledsoe; #23-Tori Huster, #6-Emily Sonnett (#4-Natalie Jacobs 67), #3-Samantha Staab, #30-Camryn Biegalski (#5-Kelley O’Hara 63); #12-Andi Sullivan, #19-Dorian Bailey; #2-Trinity Rodman, #10-Ashley Sanchez, #9-Tegan McGrady; #33-Ashley Hatch (#27-Tara McKeown 35)
Subs not used: #18-Devon Kerr, #21-Anna Heilferty, #14-Paige Nielsen, #16-Julia Roddar, #20-Mariana Speckmaier, #17-Kumi Yokoyama
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 17-7 WAS
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-4 WAS
FOULS: CHI 4-10 WAS
OFFSIDES: CHI 2-2 WAS
CORNER KICKS: CHI 3-2 WAS
SAVES: CHI 3-3 WAS
Referee: Karen Abt
Assistant Referees: Art Arustamyan, Ethan Buege
4th Official: Jamie Padilla
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 88º
Attendance: 3,696
Woman of the Match: Morgan Gautrat (CHI)
