Chicago Red Stars 1-2 Sky Blue FC
BRIDGEVIEW, IL—There is a first time for everything. Unfortunately for the Chicago Red Stars, that first was Sky Blue FC defeating them for the first time at the 16th time of asking in NWSL play. It also ends a 16-match road winless streak for Sky Blue. Conversely, it is the third straight home loss for the Red Stars and fourth loss in their last five.
Paige Monaghan sent a long ball to Raquel Rodriguez who got in behind the defense and beat Emily Boyd far post to give Sky Blue the lead. The Red Stars pressed for an equalizer, but it was ex-Red Star Jen Hoy who got in behind the defense nine minutes from time stemming from a goal kick to double the visitors’ advantage after scoring on her own rebound after the initial shot was saved.
Danielle Colaprico responded two minutes later off a set piece becoming the first Red Stars player not named Sam Kerr to score for the club in 583 minutes of play. However, they would get no closer despite a frantic finish and Sky Blue got just their second win in their last 34 matches.
“It’s a new start for us,” forward Raquel Rodriguez said. “I know it sounds weird because we’re halfway through the season, but for us, we’ve been through a lot and the odds have not been in our favor in the past, too. It’s not like we don’t perform either. I just think that the luck hasn’t been there for us, but today we didn’t accept anything less than a win. We came out with that attitude and we proved to ourselves that it’s a new beginning.”
Hugo Macedo was listed as caretaker manager for Sky Blue FC after the removal of Denise Reddy back on June 28th.
“It hasn’t been an easy run for [Sky Blue],” said Red Stars coach Rory Dames said. “I thought the first half they were at a pace that we couldn’t find. There was always going to be a response. Last time they changed coaches, they were down 3-0 and came back and won 4-3 so I think those players were always going to have a response tonight.
“In the first half, we weren’t able to match the energy that they put into the game. In the second half, we found our way into the game a little bit. Probably a little bit unfortunate not to take some of the chances we missed, but we put ourselves in this spot.”
We shall see if the Red Stars’ quartet of US National Team players (Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davidson, Julie Ertz, and Morgan Brian) will be able to help turn things around. Dames said that he will give them the time they need to recover from the Women’s World Cup. The first post-World Cup match is next Saturday at Houston for a 7:30pm CT kickoff.
SCORING SUMMARY:
NJ-Raquel Rodriguez (Monaghan) 23
NJ-Jen Hoy (unassisted) 81
CHI-Danielle Colaprico (unassisted) 83
BOOKING SUMMARY:
NJ-Julie James Doyle (caution, tactical foul) 90+4
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #21-Emily Boyd; #3-Arin Wright, #14-Sarah Gorden, #5-Katie Naughton, #6-Casey Short; #2-Nikki Stanton (#33-Katie Johnson 46), #24-Danielle Colaprico, #10-Vanessa DiBernardo; #9-Savannah McCaskill (#7-Michele Vasconcelos 46; #15-Maria Sanchez 72), #12-Yuki Nagasato, #20-Sam Kerr
Subs not used: #35-Megan Hinz, #28-Kayla Sharples, #23-Brooke Elby, #32-Zoey Goralski
SKY BLUE FC (4-3-3): #1-Kailen Sheridan; #18-Sabrina Flores, #8-Erica Skroski, #12-Gina Lewandowski, #3-Caprice Dydasco; #19-Elizabeth Eddy (#29-Amandine Pierre-Louis 84), #16-Sarah Killion, #5-Julie Doyle; #4-Paige Monaghan (#7-Jen Hoy 56), #11-Raquel Rodriguez, #28-Imani Dorsey (#9-Nahomi Kawasumi 79)
Subs not used: #13-Didi Haracic, #15-Kaylan Marckese, #14-Kenie Wright, #73-Madison Tiernan
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 23-12 NJ
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 8-3 NJ
FOULS: CHI 7-16 NJ
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-1 NJ
CORNER KICKS: CHI 6-5 NJ
SAVES: CHI 7-1 NJ
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Deleana Quan
Fourth Official: Zachary Bond
Weather: Sunny and 75º
Attendance: 2,374
Woman of the Match: Kailen Sheridan (NJ)
