The Chicago Fire’s return to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview didn’t go the way they would have liked.
They dropped a 4-3 MLS decision to Columbus in front of 19,419 fans. It was the final game of the regular season for all MLS teams.
But the Fire, which makes Solider Field its home unless it conflicts with the Bears, are looking to come back to the stadium with a more important game on the line.
The Fire (16-11-7) secured fourth place in the Eastern Conference and will take on fifth-seeded Charlotte in a best-of-3 format. The first game is at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in Bridgeview and the series heads to Charlotte at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 28 at Bank of America Stadium.
If a third game is necessary, it will be played Dec. 2 at a time to be determined at SeatGeek Stadium.
Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said home-field advantage “is important, very important.
“So, the regular season is over,” he said. “One of our goals was to get home-field advantage in the first round. We did that. And now it’s about trying to win the MLS Cup. We have a talented squad. We have a deep squad and I think if we can get some things right, we’ll be OK.”
The Fire had an up-and-down night against Columbus (13-13-7). Winger Maren Haile-Selassie scored in his sixth straight home game and Robert Lewandowski recorded his second brace since joining the Fire in the middle of the season.
But the defense faltered after a 3-2 lead, surrendering goals in the 62nd and in extra time for the heartbreaking loss.
The Fire beat Charlotte (15-10-9) twice during the regular season: 2-1 on Aug. 1 at Soldier Field as Lewandowski had his first brace with the Fire and 1-0 on Sept. 26 on the road with Johan Gomez scoring the lone goal.
Swimming to state
Lyons freshman Collins Brock, junior Abby Thompson, sophomore Tatum Fridrych and senior Claire Crimmins won the 200-yard medley relay at their own sectional with a 1:43.50, on Nov. 7. That was the best sectional time in the state.
They received the top seed at the IHSA state meet on Nov. 13-14 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.
Argo freshman Jazlyn Jimenez won the 200, 50 and 100 freestyle events for athletes with disabilities.
Sandburg won its own sectional title with 338 points, well ahead of Stagg’s 252.
Junior Vivian Gumienny of Sandburg won two individual events, capturing the 100 butterfly in 57.47 seconds and the 100 backstroke with a 58.35. Sophomore Vicky Makswiej also won a pair — the 50 free in :24.31 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.82.
SXU rocked in Indy
St. Xavier’s playoff chances took a major hit when the Cougars dropped a 70-14 Mid-States Football Association Midwest League decision to Marian on Nov. 7 in Indianapolis.
Marian, ranked sixth in the nation by the NAIA, took a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and rolled from there. Mount Carmel grad Blainey Dowling was 30 of 57 for 217 yards and two touchdowns for the Cougars (5-5, 3-1).
The Cougars host Olivet Nazarene at noon Nov. 14 in Chicago.