The Chicago Red Stars’ defense stood like a breakwater, resisting the force of the Boston Breakers’ attack to protect a fragile lead and hold out for their third-straight 1-0 win. Three goal line clearances and a saved penalty kick preserved Alyssa Naeher’s third consecutive shut out. Christen Press’ 60th minute goal is her third in four games and second game-winner.
The Red Stars’ defense was tested early. In the 15th minute, the Breakers lobbed a corner kick to the far side of the Chicago goal. Three quick Boston headers steered the ball toward the net. However, Vanessa DiBernardo thwarted their efforts by heading the ball away. Her clearance wasn’t strong enough. Boston won two more headers to send a second shot past Naeher as she scrambled to keep up with the ball ping-ponging through the air. With one foot in the goal, Danielle Colaprico cleared the ball off the goal line to Jen Hoy. Mercifully, Hoy played the ball out of danger for Chicago. The six consecutive headers and eight touches of the ball by seven different players without the ball touching the ground occurred in a mere nine seconds..
Sofia Huerta nearly got her first goal of the season for the Red Stars in the 18th minute. Her shot hit the post and almost ricocheted into the net off the back of Boston goalkeeper, Abby Smith. She found the ball in time to make the save. Smith’s luck ran out in the 32nd minute, as she went down with a non-contact injury to her right leg. It appeared that the Boston training staff were evaluating her right knee. Encouragingly, Smith walked off under her own power as Libby Stout replaced her.
In the 39th minute, Boston was awarded a penalty kick. Kristie Mewis went down in the box after drawing contact from Chicago’s Julie Johnston. Mewis stepped up to take the kick. She fired the ball to the lower right corner. Alyssa Naeher read the shot all the way and dove to her left, deflecting the ball safely away with her left shoulder.
For the third time in four matches, Christen Press broke the deadlock for the Red Stars. In the 60th minute, Chicago played a low corner kick into the goal penalty area. The Breaker’s clearance went directly to the on-rushing Press. She met the ball in full-stride at the top of the 18. Her first-time volley rocketed into the upper left corner of Boston’s goal.
The Red Stars are still having trouble comfortably closing out matches. Two goal-mouth scrambles in the last fifteen minutes likely gave Red Stars fans heart palpitations. Naeher came out to punch a Breakers free kick in the 74th minute. She didn’t quite get all of the ball and it fell to Boston’s Louise Schillgard near the edge of the penalty area. Schillgard’s pass found Katie Schoepfer for a shot. This time, it was Julie Johnston with the goal line clearance for Chicago. She calmly trapped the shot with her thigh and cleared it out over the touchline. Another Breakers’ chance in stoppage time created another wild stop from the Chicago defense. Naeher came off her goal line into a crowd trying to win a 50-50 ball with her feet. Her tackle sent her own defender, Samantha Johnson, flying as the ball squeaked through. Luckily, Johnson landed on her side with the ball at her feet stopping its forward progress as Naeher sprang upon it.
It was encouraging to see Chicago finally score off a set-piece. They have left many such chances wanting in their previous matches. Christen Press’ goal was a stunner and her other goals this season were equally fantastic. However, the Red Stars’ other attacking players must step up and start finding the net as well. Huerta and Hoy have come close on a number of occasions. Hopefully, they will soon find the killer instinct in the final third and finish their shots.
Next Match:
Chicago continues their road trip with a visit to FC Kansas City. The Red Stars will take on the defending champs on Friday, 13 May at 7:30pm CDT in the first installment of the regional rivalry series. The teams last met in one of last season’s semi-finals.
The Breakers travel to meet Sky Blue FC at 7pm EDT on Friday, 13 May.
Lineups:
Chicago Red Stars 4-4-2 (Flat back with diamond midfield)
Naeher; Gilliland, Johnston, Johnson, Short; Mautz, Colaprico, DiBernardo, Huerta; Press (C), Hoy
Substitutes:
55’ Da Costa for Hoy
90+’ Naughton for DiBernardo
Boston Breakers
Smith; King, Engen (C) , Kallman, Pathman; Zerboni, Salem, Schillgard, Mewis, McCaffery, Simon
Substitutes:
32’ Stout for Smith
67’ Schoepfer for Simon
Goals:
60’ Chicago – Press
Misconduct:
7’ Yellow Hoy (CHI)
