Mallory Swanson of the Red Stars opened the season with a goal in a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday, March 25. Photo by IMAGN
Pro Sports Report | Alex Morgan converts PK and Wave tops Red Stars in opener
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Two of the best scorers in the NWSL made great first impressions to begin the 2023 season.
The Chicago Red Stars’ Mallory Swanson, coming off a scoring explosion in the SheBelieves Cup earlier in the year, scored a tying goal on a penalty kick in extra time in the first half of the season-opening road game against San Diego.
Unfortunately for the Stars, the league’s leading scorer in 2022 plays for the Wave and had some last-minute heroics up her sleeve. Alex Morgan scored in the 89th minute with a penalty kick of her own and San Diego came up with a 3-2 triumph over the Stars in front of 30,854 fans at Snapdragon Stadium on March 25.
Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli had mixed emotions after the opener.
“It’s a hard thing,” he said. “I’m proud of them and they played their butts off in a tough environment against a good team. But in the end, we walk home with no points. That’s disappointing.
“I’m happy with how we played, I’m just not real happy with the result.”
Last year, the Wave beat the Stars, 2-1 in San Diego, 1-0 at Soldier Field and 2-1 in the NWSL quarterfinals.
Yuki Nagasato scored Chicago’s first goal of the season at the 17-minute mark. Swanson scored to close out the first half but the Stars were blanked over the final 45 minutes.
Casey Krueger (maternity leave) and Tierna Davidson (injury) were back after missing the 2022 season, but Krueger had to leave the game in the 13th minute with a head injury. Davidson had leg issues and didn’t train all week, but was given clearance to play and was on the field for 84 minutes.
“We saw some good things with the team, and we saw some things we need to work on,” Davidson said. “That’s generally what you get from a first game.”
Davidson said she had a few nerves heading into the game. She also said she felt bad for Krueger’s early exit.
“It was definitely tough, we definitely wanted to see her play a lot of minutes because she’s a great player and she hasn’t played in a while,” Davidson said. “We were excited for her to return. But losing any player on the field you have to make the adjustments and move players where they fit in.”
Jaedyn Shaw, 18, scored her fourth career goal — two of which have come against the Stars. Amirah Ali added a goal for San Deigo.
Also starting for the Wave was Danielle Colaprico, who spent eight seasons with the Stars.
The Stars had a 15-9 shot advantage in the setback.
Up next
The Red Stars will host Houston at 1 p.m. on April 1.
Houston opened the season with a 0-0 draw with Louisville on March 26.
Last year, the Red Stars were thumped 4-1 by the Dash in Houston on July 16 and dropped a 1-0 decision to Houston on Sept. 17 in Bridgeview. Ebony Salmon scored in both games for the Dash.
Seawolves swamp Hounds
Seattle played like it wants to make a return trip to Bridgeview on July 8.
That’s when SeatGeek Stadium hosts the Major League Rugby Championship game.
The Seawolves (5-0-0) looked championship-worthy when they took a 27-5 halftime lead against the Hounds (1-4-0) and that lead stood as lighting and rain forced the cancellation of the rest of the game.
Chicago’s Matt O’Keefe became the 40th player in MLR history to achieve 50 caps a.k.a. appearances.
The Hounds will host their fourth straight game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, when they face Houston (4-1-0).
The SaberCats beat Rugby Atlanta, 40-28, on March 25.
Fire II
The Chicago Fire II ended its inaugural campaign in 2022 with a 1-0 victory over Miami CF II to end a rough MLS NEXT Pro season on a high note.
The Fire was hoping to keep the good feelings going on Sunday March 26 in its season opener at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and it did just that with a 3-1 victory.
Matteo Kidd, Billy Hency and Alex Monis scored for the Fire.
The Fire makes its SeatGeek Stadium season debut on Friday, March 31 in a 6 p.m. matchup against Toronto.
1 Comment
Local News
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
Spread the love. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor…
Chicago sports stadium drama heats up
Spread the love. By Rich Miller . More sports team stadium drama could be on the horizon as the Chicago White Sox are said, as of this writing, to be preparing to announce a significant private investment in a new South Loop ballpark. The ballclub has already demanded a share of the Illinois Sports Facilities…
Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited…
Countryside puts dog park on hold, will require leashes in two parks
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch The city of Countryside has put on hold building a dog park, but canines and their owners are still in store for a treat. The city council has unanimously approved a plan to permit dogs in City Park and Countryside Park this year. Previously, they were not allowed in the…
Bridgeview approves auto repair shop
Spread the loveMoves up time for May 1 village board meeting By Steve Metsch Bridgeview is getting a new automotive repair shop. The village board at its April 17 matinee meeting approved a special use permit that will allow a repair shop at 9010 S. Beloit Ave. There was no discussion among trustees. The board…
Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the…
Hodgkins toasts village businesses
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap and the Board of Trustees celebrated the village’s businesses at its annual Business Appreciation Breakfast on April 10. Over 100 people gathered at the Hodgkins Administration Center for a hearty breakfast hosted by the village. Representatives from many businesses that are located in or that work…
Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis…
First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale
Spread the loveFrom staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at…
Obituaries April 25, 2024
Spread the loveJOSEPH C. BURDA Joseph C. Burda, age 81, passed away March 28. Loving father of Amy Burda and Joseph Burda; dearest grandfather of Ryan Wenk and Lillianah Burda; cherished son of the late Mary (nee Breyer) and the late Joseph M. Burda; dear brother of Joan (Dan) Gale and Anna Hovey. Also survived…
Neighbors
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…
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. …
[…] Source link […]