The Chicago Red Stars have taken their 2012 Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League win-streak to four games, with a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Fury Friday night.
Alyssa Mautz’s lunging goal in the 26th minute, off the head of Lauren Fowlkes, gave Chicago a 1-0 lead heading into the half. They would build on that with an unassisted Michele Weissenhofer goal in 69th minute. NY Fury found their way back into the match in the 83rd minute when a Red Stars’ defensive error allowed Claire Zimmeck an open look on goal, which she easily capitalized on, but the Red Stars would hold on to secure a victory.
In spite of the 80 degree heat, the first 10 minutes of the match showed an athletic, fast-paced, end-to-end style of soccer with neither team holding back offensively. The Red Stars found the first opportunities of the game with several low end-line crosses that Fury goalkeeper Michelle Betos was able to scoop up. The Fury were right back on the other end earning a foul along the top of the 18 box, which was shot expertly over the Red Stars’ wall, but into the outstretched hands of Chicago goalkeeper Jamie Forbes.
But it would be the Red Stars with the first strike of the match in the 26th minute off the hard work of forward Weissenhofer streaking her way to the end-line and releasing a cross into the box. She found the head of her strike-partner Fowlkes who managed to put the ball into the path of lunging midfielder Mautz, who earned her first goal of the season.
“Michele got away wide on the right side and sent us a great ball across the goal,” said Mautz. “I was just lucky enough to slide and get a foot on it.”
During first-half stoppage time, the Red Stars put themselves in a position to gain a 2-goal lead with several crosses into the Fury box. Red Stars’ midfielder Lori Chalupny found the end of one of them, but placed it just over the bar. Another shot by Fowlkes was tipped along the ground by Betos, and rolled near the goal-line just as Fury defender (and former WPS Red Stars player) Nikki Krzysik cleared it out of harm’s way.
The sun receded as the 2nd half began, but each team continued to push offensively with the pace back and forth, as in the first half. The Red Stars may have had more looks at goal, but the Fury remained in the game with several chances of their own. It was the Red Stars, however, that took advantage of an errant goal kick by the Fury ‘keeper that was placed into the path of Weissenhofer, who took advantage and gave the Red Stars a 2-0 lead.
The favor was reciprocated by the Red Stars in 83rd minute when Red Stars’ defender Elise Addis retreated a pass towards Forbes that looked to be within easy reach to clear out of danger. But a rushing Fury forward was able to pressure the pass and Forbes’ attempt to step out of her path sent the ball right into the lane of Fury forward Zimmeck, who received an open look at the net and put New York back in the game.
Chicago was able to hold out for the tense final minutes and secure their fourth victory in as many games to begin their season, and move into 2nd place in the league standings, although they still have 2 games in-hand on leading Boston Breakers. The Red Stars have now scored seven times this season while only allowing one opponent goal. The Fury’s record drops to 3-2-1, good for 3rd place in the league standings.
Red Stars’ Head Coach Rory Dames is optimistic about how the team is playing, but remains cautious when assessing the overall picture.
“The first half we created a lot of chances, but our commitment in the box still isn’t good enough,” he stated. “We’ve gotten better at everything we’ve been training on, but our game fitness is still only around 60 minutes so there are still improvements we have to make. We didn’t have Jackie (Santacaterina, defender), we didn’t have Lu (midfielder Julianne Sitch), but MT (defender Mary Therese McDonnell) gets her first start today and Zoey (Goralski, midfielder) comes in at 16 years-old and gets 35 minutes, so we’ve been able to continue expanding our training pool.”
“We’ll always try to go and get that third goal, but we have to manage our shape and balance better. These players are all good enough that I know we’ll improve.”
The Red Stars are home on Sunday, June 10, against ASA Chesapeake Charge at 3:00 p.m. CT at North Central College, Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, Naperville, IL.
