The Red Stars suffered their second straight loss at the hands of the Western New York Flash. The Flash’s new addition, Lianne Sanderson made her debut and promptly scored her first goal for the club. Lynn Williams added an additional tally in the second half. With the goal, her sixth of the season, Williams tops the league in scoring. The 2-0 win moves Western New York into sole possession of second place.
Chicago came out hot, creating several chances in the first couple minutes. Unfortunately, the Red Stars could not capitalize. They earned their first chance by pressuring the Flash’s kick off. Chicago gained possession and several nice passes lead to a cross that scooted past everyone about a yard from Western New York’s goal line. After some possession in the fourth minute, Alyssa Mautz fired a shot from about 20 yards out that was nicely saved by Flash goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland. In the fifth minute, Chicago midfielder Amanda Da Costa rocketed a shot off the left post from about 30 yards out. Mautz had a golden chance to put the Red Stars ahead in the 20th minute, but redirected Casey Short’s cross wide.
After fending off Chicago’s early chances, Western New York gradually took control. The Flash’s breakthrough came in the 37th minute. Makenzy Doniak got the ball on the right flank. She played a high, flighted ball to Jessica McDonald at the far post. McDonald’s looping header went back across the face of goal, hit the right post, and bounced out. Chicago desperately tried to clear, but the ball went directly to the Flash’s Lianne Sanderson. The wide-open Sanderson easily struck the ball home for her first goal for Western New York.
Western New York picked up right where they left off after half time, easily penetrating Chicago’s final third. In the 64th minute, the Flash almost scored their second off a corner kick. The Flash’s Abby Erceg headed the driven ball toward goal. It took a deflection and would have entered the net but for the diving header of Chicago’s Amanda Da Costa. Chicago struggled to clear Da Costa’s valiant save and the Flash got another shot off. This time, the post was the hero for the Red Stars.
Ten minutes later, The Flash found their second goal. Jessica McDonald was left free on the right flank and sent a lovely cross into Chicago’s penalty area. Lynn Williams easily beat her defender to the ball and redirected the ball toward goal. Chicago goalkeeper Michelle Dalton got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough. The Flash went up 2-0 and McDonald recorded her second assist of the evening.
McDonald almost added a goal to go with her two assists in the 86th minute. Lynn Williams took the ball to Chicago’s goal line and crossed back to McDonald at the top of the goal area. McDonald made a nifty turn to separate herself from her defender and fired a shot off the right post.
Chicago did a good job for the first half hour, absorbing pressure, forcing turnovers, keeping possession, and creating good chances. Goalkeeper Michelle Dalton made several key saves throughout the match. The Red Stars looked tired and discombobulated for the remaining 60 minutes. They had trouble staying with their marks and finding each other with their passes; they were simply not on the same page.
Next Match:
The Red Stars (5-3-3, 18 pts) are on the road for the third week in a row, visiting the Washington Spirit (6-2-2, 20 pts) on Saturday, 9 July. Kick off is at 7pm EDT.
Western New York (7-4-0, 21 pts) host Seattle Reign (4-3-4, 16 pts) on Saturday, 9 July. Kick off is at 7pm EDT.
Lineups:
Chicago Red Stars 4-4-2 (Flat back with diamond midfield)
Dalton; Gilliland, Naughton, Johnson, Short; Mautz, Colaprico, DiBernardo, Da Costa; Hoy, Huerta
Substitutes:
46’ Walls for Hoy
66’ Comeau for Da Costa
78’ Gorden for Colaprico
Western New York Flash 4-4-2
Rowland; Speck, Kennedy, Dahlkemper, Eddy; Zerboni, Sanderson, Erceg(C), Doniak; Williams, McDonald
Substitutes:
61’ Smith for Doniak
87’ Hahn for Sanderson
90+1’ Hamilton for Williams
Goals:
37’ WNY Sanderson (McDonald)
74’ WNY Williams (McDonald)
Misconduct:
78’ – WNY Zerboni
