Chicago Fire mascot Sparky is fired up during the final pro soccer game at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview on Oct. 9. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Pro Soccer Report: Fire closes SeatGeek season with draw; Red Stars look to break Wave
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
The final pro soccer game of 2022 at SeatGeek Stadium was fairly uneventful until things heated up toward the end.
New England’s Dylan Borreo broke up the scoreless tie in the 88th minute and the Chicago Fire responded four minutes later in stoppage time with a goal from 19-year-old homegrown player Alex Monis, helping the Fire forged a 1-1 tie in front of an announced crowd of 14,357.
The game also featured a solid performance from 18-year-old goalie Chris Brady, who stepped in for injured starter Gaga Slonina.
The Fire finished the 2022 MLS season 10-15-9 with 39 points and in 12th place in the 14-team Eastern Conference. First-year coach Ezra Hendrickson saw progress this year.
“Well, I think it’s a team that’s been in a building stage,” he said. “You know, this year was a learning process for everyone, but what I do like about this team is that we’ve shown progress. We had a few injuries, a few key injuries, that we never complained about during the season, but it was evident that it hurt our play at times, not having that depth available for some key guys.
“But you know, it’s a team that I think is growing. They’ve learned a lot from each other. Many of these guys are just playing together for the first time this year; it was almost a scrapping and made up going into the year.”
The team had its ups and downs during the season. The Fire appeared it was going to make a run at a playoff bid, but faded toward the end of the season.
“In the middle of the season we hit a good stride, and when we had most people healthy we showed it in five, six games that we can compete with the teams in this league,” Hendrickson said. “But then, like I said, once we took some key injuries it was really difficult for us to sustain games.
“Sometimes we’re in games into the 60th, 65th minute, but we just didn’t have enough to sometimes finish a lead or sometimes chase after a game. So, these are things that we’ll address and make sure that we’re better at next year.”
Catch a Wave
The International break came right between the NWSL’s regular season and the first round of the playoffs, which means there is a two-week gap between the Chicago Red Stars’ Oct. 1 victory over Angel City and Sunday’s playoff game at San Diego.
“Given some of our bumps and bruises and that sort of thing, it’s probably a good thing,” Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli said of the break. “I was excited for the guys that are going with the national teams and excited that they get the opportunity, but it is certainly not ideal timing as far as getting ready for playoffs.”
The sixth-seeded Red Stars visit the third-seeded Wave at 9 p.m. Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium. The Red Stars lost 2-1 to the Wave on the road on May 15 and 1-0 on July 30 at Soldier Field.
The Red Stars are coming off two straight runner-up finishes in the NWSL Tournament and have a group of tournament-tested veterans mixed in with young players.
“There’s a number of us who have been here for a lot of years now and I think this is a special team for us, and I think that camaraderie or that sense of team that we’ve been able to create over the years with each other,” veteran goalie Alyssa Naeher said. “It kind of makes you want it a little bit more because you don’t only want it for yourself, you want it for the person next to you too.”
Petrucelli said the team needs to find a way to break through the Wave’s defense.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way to score,” he said. “They have national team players who [didn’t go on] the trip, so probably advantage to them. But I think that we will be ready to play. You saw [the final game of the regular season] that when the chips are down it really matters, it’s a group that’s ready to play and it’s led by players that are big time character people that can carry a team.”
Local News
A long time coming: Oak Lawn wins first conference title in 39 years
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent After a 39-year wait and some near-misses in recent seasons, Oak Lawn is finally bringing home a conference championship. The Spartans sealed their first South Suburban Red title, and first conference championship of any kind since winning the SICA West in 1982-83, by pulling out a dramatic 48-45 road…
Trying to see the sunny side of life
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. I hope you’re doing well. Coming up is one of my favorite months, and it’s not for the reason you think. Yes, Valentine’s Day is special, but I like the fact that I see more sun, more daylight…
Newman backs Starbucks unionization
Spread the love U.S. Rep Marie Newman (D-3rd) recently stood with those who support unionization of Starbucks workers, outside its shop in nearby La Grange. She called unionization “the moral, correct and right thing to do.” Workers are attempting to organize under the banner of Chicago and Midwest Joint Board, Workers United, an affiliate of the…
A new look for an old friend
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., is finally open. I visited on their re-opening day. The library has a more open and airy feel. It is fresh and clean. The walls have been painted and there is new carpeting. The…
So long, and see you around
Spread the loveBy Karen Sala Your correspondent in Gage Park (773) 471-1429 • karen.sala@hotmail.com Baby, it’s cold outside. It’s almost the end of January. I am so ready. I can’t wait for spring to get here. The only good thing about winter is when it’s over. However, I do like cooking and baking in the winter.…
It truly is a small world
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 I have been attending St Rita Church for many years now. In that time, I have come to know many people who are now or have been a part of the parish. Some I knew because…
Jobs opportunities abound
Spread the loveBy Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 “Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, it’s off to work we go…it ain’t no trick to get rich quick,” as the dwarfs sang in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. If you are looking for employment, there seems to…
Clearing carjacker/kidnapper still at large
Spread the loveSenior citizen forced into her own car, loses $1,200 By Tim Hadac More than three weeks after an elderly woman was carjacked and kidnapped in Clearing, police have not made an arrest in the case. The crime occurred at about 4 p.m. on New Year’s Day. A 75-year-old Clearing woman was clearing snow…
Lyons man is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch While you’re reading this story, Lyons resident Stephan Alheim will be busy climbing the tallest mountain in Africa. Alheim is one of 10 adventurers who this week are climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 19,341 feet tall. They started climbing Jan. 23 and are expected to reach…
Willow Springs expected to hire Lyons official as village administrator
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch Ryan Grace, public works director in Lyons for the past four years, is expected to be hired as the Willow Springs village administrator tonight. The village board is expected to approve his hiring during its 7 p.m. meeting. Grace, 38, said he was offered the job by Willow Springs Mayor…
Neighbors
Mount Carmel, Marist and Oak Lawn among 84 teams at Riverside-Brookfield shootout
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent High school boys basketball does not stop in March and pick back up in late autumn. For many players, playing hoops is a year-round commitment. AAU ball is a big reason for, that there are summer camps, shootouts or other events at most schools during the summer. The…
Dog lovers to celebrate ‘Fur of July’
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . I’m starting out with some fun news. The West Lawn Dog Park Advisory Council will be hosting a Fur of July Pet Parade on Saturday, June 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at West Lawn…
Fourth of July not happy for everyone
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Happy Fourth of July. Cannot believe I am already saying that, time sure goes. Hope it is safe and quiet for everyone and especially all of our house pets. For us its shutting…
St. Rita’s transformation is worth a look
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . St. Rita of Cascia Church, 63rd and Fairfield, continues to undergo its transformation from the sunflowery/harvest golds and browns of the 1960s and 1970s to the calming pastels of the 2000s. Since the basilica-style church…
Loss to Courage brings Red Stars’ winless streak to five games
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars historic start to the season is all but forgotten. In the last five matches, the Red Stars have failed to win, with the latest setback being a 3-1 loss on the road to North Carolina on June 23 in an NWSL battle. The Red Stars…
Summer League Basketball | Illinois powers compete at Riverside-Brookfield Shootout
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent School’s out for the summer, but high school athletes across Illinois are remaining active during the summer sports season. This includes basketball players, who can be found at camps, open gyms, camps and even weekend tournaments. Among the more high profile hoops action in the area was the Riverside-Brookfield…
Dana Rettke and Ryan Murphy heading to Paris Summer Games
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area fans of the Summer Olympics will have extra reasons to cheer athletes from the United States in the upcoming Paris Games. Dana Rettke of Riverside is a member of the U.S. women’s volleyball team and Palos Heights native Ryan Murphy will represent the country in swimming. Rettke, a…
Hope Church feeds the hungry at Marquette Park
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . Last week on the way to our CAPS meeting at the Marquette Park Fieldhouse, I stopped in at the Tuesday Community Dinner hosted by Hope Church every week in the auditorium. Pastors Ben and Jordyn…
Palos Heights tax preparer convicted of Covid-relief fraud
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Palos Heights tax preparer who operates a business in Bridgeview has been convicted on federal charges for fraudulently assisting customers in obtaining loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago on June 10 convicted Hadi Isbaih, 42, on all…
Renovations begin on Shepard High School theater
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Shepard High School, which prides itself in the fine arts, will soon have a beautifully reconstructed theater right on its Palos Heights campus. The Community High School District 218 Board of Education recently unanimously approved funding for the renovation of the Fine Arts Center at the high school at 13049…