Cary, NC 21 May 2017 – Chicago nearly doubled their goals-for tally, putting three in against the North Carolina Courage to beat the league leaders 3-1. Christen Press, Sofia Huerta, and Vanessa DiBernardo scored to lift the Red Stars to their third win of the season. Lynn Williams had the lone goal for the Courage.
The Red Stars had several great early chances, but it took Christen Press finally shaking her PK demons to open the scoring in the 30th minute. The Red Stars’ captain got in alone on the NC goal. NC goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo charged out to try for the breakaway save. Unfortunately, she missed the ball and tripped Press. There was minimal contact and D’Angelo was making a reasonable play for the ball, still, the referee pointed to the spot. Press buried the ensuing kick, putting the shot to her right as D’Angelo dove left.
Seven minutes later, Press chipped a lovely ball into Sofia Huerta. Huerta’s step-over got her defender moving to the outside as Huerta moved toward the center. Now with just enough space, she turned toward goal and bent the ball into the far upper corner.
The Red Stars’ got their third goal in the 44th minute. Alyssa Mautz got the ball on the right side of the penalty area and drove toward goal. D’Angelo rushed out and blocked Mautz’ shot, but Mautz got her own rebound and chipped the ball toward the penalty mark. The ball bounced off a Courage defender, Vanessa DiBernardo pounced on the loose ball, and fired her shot into the NC net.
North Carolina made two substitutions at the half and came out attacking. Lynn Williams pulled one back for the Courage in the 55th minute. Jaelene Hinkle played a perfect early cross from the left flank right onto William’s chest as she ran toward goal. Williams struck the ball on the half volley for the goal.
The Courage kept up the pressure and almost found a second goal in the 58th minute, but for Alyssa Naeher. Chicago’s defense blocked a shot from Williams, but the ball caromed to Debinha who immediately shot the ball. Naeher managed to see enough of the shot through traffic and made the diving save to tip the ball around her left post. The Red Stars couldn’t fully clear the ensuing corner kick. NC got another chance on goal and this time Naeher lead the counterattack after her save. Her punt went almost to the other penalty arc, forcing NC’s goalkeeper, D’Angelo, to rush out of her penalty area and challenge Christen Press for the 50-50 ball. D’Angelo barely beat Press, making contact with the sprinting forward as she, D’Angelo, cleared the ball.
D’Angelo kept her team in it by stopping all of Chicago’s counter-attacking chances with good, aggressive goalkeeping. North Carolina had a lot of good chances over the last thirty minutes of the match, but couldn’t break through again.
Next matches:
Chicago (3-2-1, 3rd, 10pts) meets North Carolina (4-2, 1st, 12 pts) for the return leg on 27 May at 3pm CDT at Toyota Park.
North Carolina (4-2, 1st, 12 pts) host Sky Blue FC (3-2-1, 2nd, 10pts) )in a mid-week contest before traveling to Chicago. The match against Sky Blue kicks off at 7:30pm EDT on 24 May at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Lineups
Chicago Red Stars
Naeher; Short, Johnson, Naughton, Gilliland; Ertz, Colaprico, Mautz, DiBernardo; Huerta, Press (C)
Substitutes:
69’ Comeau in for DiBernardo
80’ Green in for Mautz
90+3’ Proffitt in for Colaprico
North Carolina Courage
D’Angelo; Kawamura, Dahlkemper, McDonald; Hinkle, Zerboni, Mewis (C), Doniak; Williams, Rosana, Debinha
Substitutes:
46’ Hatch in for Doniak
46’ Smith in for Rosana
73’ Hamilton in for Debinha
Misconduct:
75’ Yellow – Short (CHI)
90+4’ Yellow – Ertz (CHI)
