Former Red Stars assistant coach Scott Parkinson (left) is now the head coach at Gotham. Photo by the Chicago Red Stars
Pro Soccer Report: Red Stars, Gotham draw for second time in three matches
Former Red Stars assistant coach Scott Parkinson (left) is now the head coach at Gotham. Photo by the Chicago Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
It was quite an eight-day stretch for Scott Parkinson.
On Aug. 29, he was an assistant coach for the Chicago Red Stars as they beat Kansas City, 3-0, at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
For the next couple of days after that, the Stars’ focus was on the next game against New Jersey/New York Gotham.
On Sept. 1, he was announced as the new head coach for Gotham, seemingly setting up a super storyline of Parkinson coaching his debut on Saturday against the team he was just coaching the previous Saturday.
But …
He had a longtime family commitment that even being named coach of Gotham couldn’t force him to miss. He will make his head coaching debut on Sept. 25 when Gotham hosts North Carolina.
With or without Parkinson on the Gotham sidelines, the Red Stars were looking for a second straight victory and ended up with a 0-0 draw at Red Bull stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The two teams have played three times this season and two of those games resulted in 0-0 deadlocks.
Cassie Miller picked up the shutout for the Red Stars (7-7-4). Gotham is 5-5-7.
Gotham’s previous coach, Freya Coombe, accepted a job for the new Angel City FC franchise; and while it was believed she was going to stay in Gotham the rest of the 2021 season, management had other plans and started the interviewing process a few weeks ago. Parkinson won the job.
“I’m incredibly grateful to ownership for this opportunity,” Parkinson said in a news release. “The evolution of the club has been truly remarkable to watch and I’m excited to be a part of the next chapter.”
Red Stars defender Tatumn Milazzo hopes the best for the coach, who had been with the Red Stars since 2020.
“It’s sad to lose Scott, but we’re excited for him,” she said. “I know he’s going to do a good job and he’s a great coach, so we’re excited for his new opportunity and next chapter in his life. We’re happy for him.”
Vanessa back
Not long after she logged her 10,000th career minute of play in NWSL competition on July 18, Red Stars veteran Vanessa DiBernardo sustained a concussion. She returned to the pitch Saturday.
She was eased into the lineup in the 70th minute. Anyone who thought she was going to play timid was wrong, as she was given a yellow card in the 86th minute for what was ruled a bad foul.
Up next
The Red Stars visit Houston at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10.
Chicago lost 2-1 on the road to Houston on May 29, with Mallory Pugh scoring in the fourth minute. Chicago returned the favor with a 2-1 victory in Bridgeview as the Red Stars scored a pair of own-goals.
Housekeeping
The Chicago House recorded the first draw in team history with a 0-0 final against the Michigan Stars on Saturday in a National Independent Soccer Association played at Romeo High School Stadium.
The House, 1-3-1, was aggressive early. Wojceich Wojcik got off a quick shot on goal in the first minute, but they would get just three more shots on goal after that, and none resulted in a score.
Goalie Michael Novotny racked up the shutout for the House.
Chicago visits California United on Sept. 12 at Championship Stadium at Great Park in Irvine, California.
Local News
Restaurant wall comes alive with art
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Soar up high with the beauty and grace of a butterfly–Unknown author. My favorite watering hole in years past, Andy’s, at 57th Place and Pulaski, has been a restaurant now for a few years. I recently noticed…
Something to be truly thankful for
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Thank you, one and all, for the texts and calls. I wasn’t feeling well last week and couldn’t write my column. I didn’t have COVID-19. I had that before there were vaccines for it. For me, COVID-19 was no big deal. On my worst day…
Congratulations, Jeanette Arteaga
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Congratulations to Jeanette Arteaga, who has been chosen as a contributing author in a new book debuting this month. The title is Business Divas and focuses on Latinas in different stages of their business: some just starting out,…
2 Dead, 4 hurt In LaGrange Road crash
By Bob Bong Two people were killed and four more injured in a traffic crash Sunday afternoon on LaGrange Road in unincorporated Palos Park. Cook County Sheriff’s Police said a 56-year-old man died at the scene and a 54-year-old woman died of her injuries at an area hospital. Police said they responded shortly after 4…
Political sands shifting
Lopez mayoral exit leaves question marks By Tim Hadac The political sands of mayoral politics shifted last week, leaving many in Clearing and Garfield Ridge asking “What next?” questions. Garfield Ridge native Lopez worked the neighborhoods hard since he announced his mayoral candidacy back in April. His law-and-order stance and sharp criticism of Mayor Lori…
Boys Basketball: Marist, Brother Rice stay unbeaten through two weeks
By Steve Millar Correspondent Marist came into the season with some question marks after losing a pair of key players to transfers and elevating several newcomers, including three freshmen, to the varsity roster. The young RedHawks are, however, off to a blazing 6-0 start. They held on for a 57-55 win on the road Nov.…
Local Hoops Wrap: Transfers shining for Saint Xavier in early going
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The transfer portal is turning college athletics upside down, and Saint Xavier men’s basketball coach Robert Ford is enjoying it. And taking advantage of it. Jaeden King came to SXU in 2021 after transferring from NCAA Division II Tiffin University. Prior to that he played at Western Illinois. He is…
Area Sports Roundup: College of DuPage repeats as national football champ
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The College of DuPage, the only junior college in Illinois with a football program, won its second straight National Junior College Athletic Association national championship with a 14-12 victory over North Dakota State College of Science in Glen Ellyn. Former Richards’ standout Marquel Porter caught a 25-yard pass for the…
Dems, GOP need to have more respect
By Rich Miller The state legislative debate last week over amending the Pre-Trial Fairness Act provisions within the controversial SAFE-T Act featured many of the same obfuscations and outright misinformation that characterized the fall campaign by Republicans and many of the same insufficient answers by Democrats. One of the problems that the super-majority Democrats have…
Godspeed, Officers Verta and Harrison
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] It’s always good to know that even in these challenging times, there are men and women are willing to step forward to brave those challenges. And leave it to Garfield Ridge and Clearing to lead the way. I say that as I…
Neighbors
State elections board certifies 2022 results
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Elections certified its election results Monday, putting the final stamp on another Democratic sweep of statewide offices. The board reported that 4,142,642 out of 8,115,751 registered voters cast ballots in the election, a turnout of roughly 51 percent. That’s down from…
Holiday displays – including the Satanic Temple’s – return to Illinois Capitol
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Satanic Temple of Illinois debuted a new display in the Illinois Capitol rotunda Tuesday, taking its place next to the annual Christmas and Hanukkah displays. For Christmas, that means the Springfield Nativity Committee has once again placed a manger scene featuring Mary, Joseph and Jesus.…
State elections board certifies 2022 results
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Elections certified its election results Monday, putting the final stamp on another Democratic sweep of statewide offices. The board reported that 4,142,642 out of 8,115,751 registered voters cast ballots in the election, a turnout of roughly 51 percent. That’s down from…
Tax credits, prison reform pass in veto session
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers last week passed significant legislation dealing with electric vehicle manufacturing incentives and the availability of hygiene products for prisoners in the state’s correctional system. But some weightier issues, including a possible assault weapons ban, will wait until a lame duck session scheduled for early…
CAPITOL RECAP: SAFE-T Act changes head to Pritzker; unemployment debt deal advances
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers on Thursday passed a long-awaited amendment to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform’s provisions that will eliminate cash bail when the calendar hits 2023. The measure expands the list of crimes for which a judge can order pretrial detention, adds to what a judge can consider when determining…
Lawmakers advance $1.8 billion unemployment fund bailout
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – On the final day of their fall veto session, Illinois lawmakers on Thursday advanced a pair of bills that would infuse $1.8 billion into the state’s unemployment trust fund, which was depleted during the economic shutdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan agreement came…
Pretrial detention changes to SAFE-T Act will head to governor
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers on Thursday passed a long-awaited amendment to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform’s provisions that will eliminate cash bail when the calendar hits 2023. The measure expands the list of crimes for which a judge can order pretrial detention, adds to what a judge can…
Contempt citations against DCFS director reversed by appellate court
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] An appellate court on Wednesday reversed several contempt of court citations that were filed in recent months against Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith for failing to comply with court orders to place state wards in appropriate settings. The court found that Smith did not…
State lawmakers pass measure limiting state investment in Russian assets
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Wednesday to a bill aimed at prohibiting state investment in assets tied to Russia and Belarus in retaliation for their participation in the war in Ukraine. House Bill 1293, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, urges the state’s five retirement systems…
Changes to cash bail statute surface before Thursday’s planned adjournment
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Two days before lawmakers were scheduled to adjourn for the year, one of the lead negotiators of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform filed a long-awaited amendment detailing several changes to the landmark cash bail overhaul. Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, filed a 308-page amendment to House…
