
Vanessa DiBernardo of the Red Stars slips on the wet SeatGeek Sradium grass in Saturday’s 3-0 loss against Racing Louisville. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Red Stars slip and slide in loss to Louisville
By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
Last October, the Chicago Red Stars traded Savannah McCaskill and Yuko Nagasato to Racing Louisville FC for the right to protect the rest of its roster in the expansion draft.
On June 26, the two ex-Red Stars came up huge in expansion team Louisville’s 3-0 victory at rain-soaked SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Ebony Salmon scored in the 38th minute for Louisville (3-1-3), and after Chicago’s Danielle Colaprico was given a red card in the 55th minute, the Red Stars faced an 11-on-10 situation the rest of the game.
Nagasato scored in the 56th minute and McCaskill found the net just six minutes later.
“It was bittersweet seeing them, obviously,” the Stars’ Vanessa DiBernardo said. “They have a lot of [history] here. It was nice to see them but a little hard to have them score on us.”
The last time the Stars lost a regular-season NWSL game in Bridgeview was a 2-1 setback to Orlando on Aug. 21, 2019.
They were 4-0-2 and had outscored opponents 10-3 since then.
Stars coach Rory Dames’ team fell to 2-4-2 and entering this week was in eighth place in the 10-team league. The top six team make the playoffs.
He called the ex-Stars’ goals “poetic justice,” and he was not happy his team lost to an expansion team in their first meeting.
“For sure, it’s my most disappointing loss with the club,” he said. “Where do we go from here? I don’t think it’s a secret that we don’t have an out-and-out goal scorer.
“We’ll continue to search for one. In the meantime, we have to work with the players we have and try to build our confidence around the goal.”
The Stars have five goals in eight matches, and no player has scored more than once.

Red Stars goalie Alyssa Naeher makes a stop during a downpour on Saturday in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Weather woes
Because of thunderstorms and tornado warnings, the game started nearly 2½ hours late. During the game there were on-and-off downpours and footing was not easy to come by.
“There were monsoons at times,” Stars defender Casey Krueger said. “But there are no excuses. Both teams had to play in it.”
The announced crowd was 2,626
Westward woes
The Stars fell to OL Reign, 2-0, on June 22 in Seattle, marking their second loss in as many trips out west.
The Stars opened the season with a 5-0 loss at Portland on May 16. In that match they allowed a goal in the fourth minute.
The Reign scored in the first minute on Shirley Cruz’s outside shot, then added another in the 18th minute on Bethany Balcer’s header.
Nikki Stanton returned to the Stars after playing overseas in 2020 and played the entire game. She had 45 touches.
The Stars have just one more trip out west, an Oct. 10 matchup in Seattle against the Reign.
Olympians
Stars Tierna Davidson, Julie Ertz and Alyssa Naeher were named to the United States Women’s National Team for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Krueger was named an alternate.
In 71 career appearances, Naeher has 42 clean sheets with the United States. She was in net against France and Sweden during the squad’s victories over both teams in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Davidson, 22, has 32 international appearances in which she has recorded one goal and five assists.
Ertz, who has been nursing a knee injury, has 110 appearances with 20 goals and four assists. She was honored as 2019 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
.
Krueger has 34 appearances and three assists with the United States squad.
“I had a lot of emotions when I found out,” she said. “I was in a bit of a shock. Having this opportunity is absolutely incredible and I cannot wait.”
What a list
Players who played for the Stars and have excelled in international competition — including the Olympics — include Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Kate Markgraf (Sobrero), Lindsay Tarpley, Lori Chalupny, Christen Press and Shannon Boxx.
Chicago has also been home to national team players from Australia (Sam Kerr), Canada (Karina LeBlanc), Germany (Inka Grings), Japan (Nagasato) and Brazil (Christiane Rozeira and Formiga) at different points in the team’s history.
Up next
The Stars have their first rematch of the year when they visit Washington (3-1-3) July 2.
The teams battled to a 1-1 standoff in Bridgeview on June 19, with both goals coming in the late stages of the game. Washington’s Trinity Rodman score in the 86th minute and Chicago’s Morgan Gautraut countered in extra time.

Morgan Gautraut of the Red Stars tries to advance the ball past former Red Star Yuki Nagasato on Saturday. Nagasato scored a goal in Racing Louisville’s 3-0 victory in Bridgeview.
Local News

Why gas prices could skyrocket again
By Wayne Winegarden We’re all looking for relief from record high gas prices these days. Gas prices are the highest in United States history at a nationwide average of $4.59 as of May 19, according to AAA. Many states surpass this average with California at $6.050, Nevada at $5.224, Washington at $5.148, and New York…

‘Easy layup’ on abortion looking complicated
By Rich Miller As I’ve been telling my newsletter subscribers for several weeks now, talks began in mid-May about a possible special state legislative session to address the abortion issue. Gov. JB Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch had some brief chats about bringing legislators back to town back then. Illinois…

Mayoral race comes to Archer
Neighbors cheer as Lopez slams Lightfoot on crime By Tim Hadac Southwest Side civic and business leaders last Saturday got an early glimpse of the 2023 mayoral race, as 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez made a campaign stop on Archer Avenue. Lopez was the guest of honor at a “meet and greet” held at the…

Two incumbents square off in new 6th District
Newman, Casten battle for Dem nod By Steve Metsch It doesn’t happen often, but voters in the new 6th Congressional District have an unusual choice in the June 28 Democratic primary. Because of redistricting, two sitting members of Congress–Marie Newman and Sean Casten– are going toe-to-toe for the nomination in the June 28 primary. The…

Fundraiser is Sunday for Pathlights
Tinley Park nonprofit One Less to Help One More is hosting a special community fundraiser for Pathlights in honor of June’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Month from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, at Oberweis at 7202 W. 159th Street in Orland Park. For shoppers, 20% of your purchases will be donated…

Obituaries June 23, 2022
WIESŁAW TADEUSZ ‘Ted’ CHODOROWSKI Wiesław Tadeusz ‘Ted’ Chodorowski, age 93. Mr. Chodorowski served in the Polish Home Army during WWII. Mr. Chodorowski joined the Polish Home Army Veterans Association in the United States, eventually becoming President. Beloved husband of Anna (nee Sobecka); loving father of Beata (Keith) Niebrugge, Izabella (Johann) Stefnis, Joanna Chodorowska and Jolanta…

Mail truck loses load on Harlem Avenue
By Bob Bong A U.S. Postal Service truck leaving a local post office spilled its load at Harlem Avenue and 103rd Street Tuesday morning. Palos Hills Police Deputy Chief Tony Carroccio said the truck was driving with its rear door open at 3 a.m. when it dropped packages all over Harlem Avenue near 103rd Street.…

Worth considering limits on tobacco stores
By Joe Boyle The Worth Village Board is considering establishing an ordinance that would put limits on where tobacco stores can operate in the village. Worth is not a home rule municipality and therefore cannot vote to put a limit on the amount of tobacco stores in the village. Greg Jones, the village attorney, is…

Incumbent Zalewski faces challenger for Dem nod in 21st District
By Steve Metsch Taking a break from the campaign trail – talking on a cell phone as he walked door to door – state Rep. Michael Zalewski (21st) said the choice facing Democratic voters on June 28 is simple. “I’ve said consistently that it’s the choice for voters between a record and a promise,” Zalewski…

Orland Park smoke and vape shop looking for a lesser punishment
By Jeff Vorva Truly Blown Smoke and Vape appealed to the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees to lighten up a 30-day suspension for selling products to underage customers. The business was also fined and had its tobacco license suspended for 30 days during a June 1 hearing. The appeal was held on Monday,…
Neighbors

CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker to call special session after Roe v. Wade overturned
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will call a special session of the General Assembly in the coming weeks to focus on legislation to strengthen women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services in Illinois. Pritzker made that announcement Friday, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court released an opinion overturning…

6 Republicans vie to unseat Pritzker
By PETER HANCOCK & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Republican voters in Illinois will choose from six candidates to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the upcoming June 28 primary. The field includes a conservative farmer and state lawmakers who is the recent polling frontrunner, the mayor of Illinois’ second largest…

Candidate interview: Alexi Giannoulias looking to reclaim statewide office
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Illinois voters might know Alexi Giannoulias as the state’s treasurer from 2007 to 2011, or they might know him as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate who lost to Republican Mark Kirk in 2010. He’s now looking to get back into public life as he runs for secretary…

Pritzker to call special session on reproductive rights
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker will call a special session of the General Assembly in the coming weeks to focus on legislation to strengthen women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services in Illinois. Pritzker made that announcement Friday, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court released…

Candidate interview: Anna Valencia running for secretary of state
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] This story is part of Capitol News Illinois’ coverage of the race for secretary of state ahead of the Tuesday, June 28 primary. We’re reaching out to the candidates this week to discuss their policy positions and plans for the office should they be elected. Chicago City Clerk…

Republicans see opening in secretary of state race
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – For the first time in nearly a quarter century, there is an open race for the office of Illinois secretary of state as incumbent Democrat Jesse White prepares to retire, and Republicans hope that will give them an opportunity to pick up a statewide elected office.…

Candidate interview: Secretary of state hopeful David Moore
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] This story is part of Capitol News Illinois’ coverage of the race for secretary of state ahead of the Tuesday, June 28 primary. We’re reaching out to all of the candidates this week to discuss their policy positions and plans for the office should they be elected. Chicago…

Tom Cullerton sentenced to 1 year in prison for embezzlement
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in Chicago handed down a one-year prison sentence Tuesday for a former state senator who once chaired the Senate Labor Committee. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of embezzlement for receiving salary and benefits from…

CAPITOL RECAP: State Supreme Court again declines to rule on FOID Act
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a question of whether Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Act is unconstitutional. It was the second time the case of the People v. Vivian Brown came before the court and…

State audit finds billions in unemployment fraud
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A state audit released Thursday found nearly $2 billion in federal money intended to help unemployed Illinoisans during the pandemic was lost to fraudulent claims in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security blamed “insufficient and flawed federal guidance” and a lack of controls on a…