Red Stars Unable to Breach Fort Sheridan in Loss to Wave

Chicago, IL-San Diego Wave FC in its inaugural season continues to be among the best clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League.

On the road, the Wave found another way to pick up a victory from 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw and its keeper Kailen Sheridan stopped a penalty kick, while the team played with 10 for most of the second half.

San Diego held off host Chicago Red Stars, 1-0, at Soldier Field on Saturday night that was part of a doubleheader with the MLS Chicago Fire and Atlanta United.

In her professional debut, Shaw scored her first career goal for the Wave in the 27th minute of play after Katie Johnson broke down the Red Stars defense and assisted for the 1-0 lead thanks to taking advantage of a poor defensive touch by Zoe Morse.

“It’s definitely and honor (for the first goal),” Shaw said. “I’ve manifested and prayed for this time for so long. I have incredible opportunities to play at this stage. It was just being confident with your ability. it was a great ball and I had one job to put the ball into the net.”

Chicago’s Mallory Pugh had several chances of scoring for the Red Stars but couldn’t find the back of the net because of the efforts of Wave keeper Kailen Sheridan.

The Red Stars’ best chance to even the match happened late in the second half when Chicago was given a penalty kick in the 81st minute after Ella Stevens was taken down in the penalty area by the Wave’s Naomi Girma. Pugh attempted to make the match level with her penalty kick, but San Diego’s keeper Sheridan made a diving save to her left and pushed it away.

“It’s a great feeling for sure to keep your team in the game” Sheridan said. “But it came down to a lot of research from the coaching staff and a lot of players on the field to make sure to give me the confidence to make that save. A lot of things went into it and I’m really proud of it and everybody was a part of it.”

San Diego with the road victory improved to (7-3-4. 25 points) and put the Wave on top of the NWSL standings ahead of Portland.

“I don’t know how we won, but we won,” San Diego head coach Casey Stoney said. “Just the resilience they showed to stay in the game. Sheridan makes another world class save. Just to come (to Chicago) to show the fight and spirit getting the win is a massive three points for us.”

For Chicago, it was a second disappointing defeat after losing in Houston last weekend. The Red Stars (5-3-5, 20 points) are still in third place.

“Some of the mistakes we’ve made in the back,” Chicago Red Stars head coach Chris Petrucelli said. “We’ve tried to implement a style of play and passing the ball. Sometimes it’s not the right type of passes. We might be over playing a little bit and that’s a part of it. The next piece of this is identifying when we need to play than what we have been doing.”

Alyssa Mautz made her final appearance for Chicago after 143 games in the second half and played the last 20 minutes. She has been on the Red Stars for the last 10 years. She scored 16 goals and 10 assists. She ends her career as one of six players who have been rostered with the same NWSL team for all 10 seasons and one of the few to play 100 regular season matches with the same club. In 2013, Mautz scored a goal in 40 seconds against the Western New Your Flash as one of the fastest goals in league history.

“It was the right time to think about it,” said Mautz of retiring. “I knew I wanted to keep working hard and keep fighting. We have a lot of youth and young players stepping up. We’re in the top five and this club has been up there. But after 10 years, it’s the team, the atmosphere and the girls are awesome to be around.

Red Stars return to SeatGeek Stadium with a match-up hosting New Jersey/New York Gotham FC on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT. While San Diego will host the Kansas City Current at 2 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium.