Chicago, 27 May 2017 – Three Chicago goal scorers lead the Red Stars to their second win over the North Carolina Courage in as many games. Danielle Colaprico, Alyssa Mautz, and Vanessa DiBernardo tallied for Chicago. The Courage fought back, though, with goals from Abby Erceg and Debinha. North Carolina couldn’t find a late equalizer and the Red Stars held on for the 3-2 win and three big points. Chicago is now just two points behind the first place Courage in the league standings.
Danielle Colaprico started the scoring for Chicago with a goal in the the 27th minute. Arin Gilliland chipped a neat short cross to Vanessa DiBernardo at the penalty mark. DiBernardo one-touched the ball past a North Carolina defender to Colaprico, who deftly trapped the bouncing ball around another defender and fired the ball into far lower corner.
North Carolina drew even with Chicago in the 4th minute of first half stoppage time. The Courage earned a corner kick. Sam Mewis delivered a hard, driven ball directly to Abby Erceg’s head. Erceg made no mistake and nodded the ball home for the goal on the final touch of the half.
The Red Stars regained the lead in the 54th minute. Christen Press took advantage of a bad corner kick clearance and lobbed the ball back into the goal area. Alyssa Mautz beat the Courage goalkeeper to the ball and headed it in.
Five minutes later, Julie Ertz got an opportunity from another bad Courage clearance, striking a shot that was blocked. The rebound fell to DiBernardo who touched the ball to her left foot and rifled a shot into the left side of the North Carolina net. It was her second consecutive goal against the Courage and put Chicago up 3-1.
North Carolina wouldn’t go easily and earned a corner kick for their efforts. The delivery was another lovely, driven cross headed directly on goal. This time, Colaprico made the goal line save , jumping to head the ball out in 74th minute.
The Courage finally pulled within one again in the 81st minute. Chicago’s Sofia Huerta was called for handling at the top of the penalty arc. Sam Mewis and Debinha lined up over the ball for the resulting free kick. Mewis faked a run up and Debinha then curled the ball over Chicago’s wall and into the right upper corner.
Next matches:
Chicago (4-2-1, 2nd, 13pts) continues their homestand, meeting the Seattle Reign (3-1-3, 4th, 12pts)at 2pm CDT on Sunday, 4 Jun 2017.
North Carolina (5-3, 1st, 15 pts) hosts FC Kansas City (3-2-2, 6th, 11pts) in Lifetime’s game of the week on Saturday 3 June 2017. Coverage starts at 3:30pm EDT. Kickoff is at 4pm EDT.
Lineups
Chicago Red Stars
Naeher; Short, Johnson, Naughton, Gilliland; Colaprico, Mautz, DiBernardo, Ertz, Huerta; Press (C)
Substitutes:
46’ Comeau in for Gilliland
77’ Hoy in for Mautz
86’ Proffitt in for DiBernardo
North Carolina Courage
D’Angelo; Kawamura, Erceg (C), Dahlkemper; Hinkle, Zerboni, Mewis (C), Witteman; Doniak, WIlliams, Smith
Substitutes:
32’ Debinha in for Kawamura
46’ McDonald in for Witteman
77’ Hamilton in for Doniak
Misconduct:
39’ Yellow – Colaprico (CHI)
