Chicago Red Stars defender and Team USA mainstay Tierna Davidson, shown in a game in 2021, suffered and injury and will be out for the 2022 campaign. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pro Soccer Report: Red Stars lose star defender Davidson for season
By Jeff Vorva
Staff writer
The Chicago Red Stars biggest loss of the exhibition season didn’t come during a game.
It came during training.
Defender Tierna Davidson will miss the season after tearing an ACL while practicing for the team’s second Challenge Cup game.
Davidson is also a U.S. Women’s National Team member and will not be available during qualifying for the 2023 World Cup.
New Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli started using a formation with three defenders rather than four with Davidson’s talent being a huge part of the decision. But he is not abandoning the formation yet.
“Our defense was built around Tierna and her ability to essentially play off the left, and her ability to playmake and pass the ball coming out of the back,” Petrucelli said.
“It [the injury] makes us different, but we still have some talented players and I still think we’re able to play with three in the back; and the good news is that if we want to play with four in the back most of them have done it all their lives. That’s the easy part. I can go to that anytime we want. I feel good about what those guys are doing.”
Draw and Win
The Red Stars played to a 0-0 draw with Louisville on March 30 at rainy SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, and followed that with a 2-0 victory over Houston on Saturday in Challenge Cup play.
The Red Stars are 2-1-1 in Cup competition, with two more games to play in the Group C pool. Kansas City is also 2-1-1, while Louisville is 1-1-2 and Houston is 1-3.
In the game April 2, Mallory Pugh scored both goals and has four goals in four games to lead all Challenge Cup players. All four goals came against Houston.
After playing three games in seven days, the Red Stars take time off from the Challenge Cup to play at Louisville on April 16 and at Kansas City on April 24.
Mallory Pugh had two goals for the Red Stars against Houston on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Strange scheduling
The Challenge Cup — which is essentially an exhibition season — and the NWSL regular season overlap.
In the Red Stars’ case, they are slated to open the 2022 regular season April 30 against Louisville at SeatGeek Stadium, then host defending NWSL champ Washington on May 7.
But…
The Challenge Cup semifinals are slated for May 4 and the finals are on May 7.
That means there will be some shuffling of some regular season games to accommodate exhibition games, which has some people scratching their heads.
If the Red Stars, Washington or Louisville do not make it to the final four of the Challenge Cup, everything should stay as scheduled for Chicago.
Fire II Debuts
The inaugural season for the Chicago Fire II is underway. The team made its home debut at SeatGeek Stadium on April 3, dropping a 1-0 decision to Columbus 2.
The Fire II have 11 more games in Bridgeview, including a 2:30 p.m. matchup April 10 against Rochester, where it will look for its first victory and first goal. Admission and parking to home matches are free. Gate F will be open one hour prior to announced kickoff times.
This is the team’s first season in the MLS Next Pro league, a third-tier league in the United States soccer league hierarchy.
The Fire II opened the season with a 2-0 loss at Orlando on March 26. The Fire gave up two second-half goals. It had a 17-15 shot advantage and 9-5 shots-on-goal edge but could not put the ball into the net. Six shots were blocked. Josh Penn had five shots.
Chicago Red Stars veteran Vanessa DiBernardo (left) and Houston’s Allysha Chapman jostle for the ball on Saturday night at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Local News
Boy Scouts collecting tattered flags for disposal
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Goodbye April, hello May. Our American Flag, the symbol of our country, should always be treated with respect. But after bearing Chicago’s brutal winters and hot blazing summers along with being in the…
Solarbration: Chicago Ridge celebrates fun in the sun
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The sun is shining and after a long winter, Chicago Ridge residents ready for it. In honor of National Solar Appreciation Day, the Chicago Ridge Park District offered residents the opportunity to come out and celebrate with a Solarbration, the free event was held outside of Freedom Activity Center, 6252…
Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to eliminate the state’s grocery tax will be costly for the village. Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th), accompanied by Mayor Terry Vorderer, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Springfield where they learned more about the governor’s proposal to eliminate…
Palos Heights recognizes volunteers
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights handed out awards last week recognizing the services provided by volunteers through the years. The proclamations, which were read aloud during the city council meeting April 16, were a testament to the city’s volunteers and were handed out as part of Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers were cited for…
Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match…
SD218 puts on annual Arts Extravaganza
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The arts have become a major portion of the curriculum Community High School District 218. Showcasing those many talents, the Friends of CHSD 218’s Education Foundation proudly hosted its 15th annual Arts Extravaganza on April 5 at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. “The Arts Extravaganza is a great event…
Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park. The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of…
Palos Park passes $16 million budget
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Village Council approved the 2024-25 budget, which totals a little more than $16.3 million at the April 22 village council meeting. According to village documents, it represented an increase of a shade over $603,000 from last year. The village is expecting $13.4 million in revenue and $1.86…
Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a fire Monday evening at the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr. At first, restaurant owners suspected the fire alarm was triggered by a malfunction, but as firefighters inspected the restaurant to reset the fire alarm, they detected a burning smell. “What…
Neighbors
Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans
By PETER HANCOCK and JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…
As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois. The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…
Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge
By DILPREET RAJU & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Chicago Bears laid out a $3.2 billion plan for a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront on Wednesday afternoon, painting pictures of future Super Bowls and other major public events while pinning their hopes on yet-to-be-had conversations with the governor and lawmakers. The Bears…
Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Natural gas is fueling a fight between consumer advocates, a powerful utility company and the state. Amid competing advertising campaigns, accusations of mismanagement and state decarbonization efforts, the Illinois Commerce Commission is starting a process that will shape how the state regulates the increasingly controversial industry. …
Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…
Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers. Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations. That…
Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…
Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office. This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office and its services. Notaries…