Red Star Yuki Nagasato (right) tries to clear a path for Vanessa DiBernardo on March 25 against Kansas City. DiBernardo scored Chicago's only goal in a 3-1 loss at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)
Red Stars Report: Red Stars upset but Mahomes was happy with KC win over Chicago
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Leading up to the Challenge Cup home opener against the Kansas City Current, the Chicago Red Stars were feeling pretty good.
New coach Chris Petrucelli said every day was enjoyable.
“They come out and have fun,” he said on March 24. “Everyone is smiling. I can’t think of anything that would have made it any better.”
Those good feelings, however, were erased the following night after a 2-1 loss to Kansas City in front of an announced crowd of 2,604 at chilly SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Coupled with a 3-1 win at Houston to open Challenge Cup play, the Red Stars were 1-1 with four more matches to go in pool play.
It was the first time the Kansas City franchise beat the Red Stars, and that did not sit well with Chicago’s players.
“We need to take advantage of our chances when they come,” said defender Arin Wright. “We can’t, honestly, piss them away. We’re a young team, but we have some old people as well who need to step up in these moments, and that’s on us.”
Chicago’s Mallory Pugh (right) jostles with K.C.’s Desiree Scott in a Challenge Cup game in Bridgeview.
Chicago opened the scoring when Vanessa DiBernardo found the back of the net in the 22nd minute.
But Hailie Janae Mace scored in the 58th minute to knot things up and Kristen Hamilton put what turned out to be the game-winner in the 86th minute for K.C.
Petrucelli was not pleased with the blown lead or that the Stars failed to score more.
“I felt we should have been up 4-0 or 5-0,” he said. “We had the game in total control in the first half and even the beginning of the second half. Then we crumbled. I felt like we had three points in our hand and threw them away.
“They should be disappointed and upset. I feel like we need to become a team where if we get up 1-nil going into the second half, the game is over. You’re not touching the ball, you’re not getting the ball from us. You’re not creating chances and, if you do, we’ll do everything to stop you. We certainly weren’t that tonight.”
Davidson injured
One of the Red Stars’ top defenders, Tierna Davidson, is nursing a knee injury and missed the game.
Petrucelli wouldn’t give specifics but said she will be “out for a little while.”
Mahomes likes goal
Superstar Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was impressed with Mace’s goal and retweeted the highlight on Twitter.
He added the comment “let’s go! @hailiemace” with three rocket emojis.
The Current tweeted that the long-distance goal from beyond the box is a “very early Goal of the Year candidate.”
Coming up
The Red Stars run of three games in nine days continued with a scheduled home game against Louisville on March 30 and a home game against Houston on Saturday.
Houston beat Louisville 3-2 on March 25. After being down 2-0, Houston scored three goals in a 10-minute stretch.
After Friday, K.C. is leading in Challenge Cup pool play with a 1-0-1 mark. Houston and the Red Stars were 1-1 and Louisville 0-1-1.
Orland Park native Tatumn Milazzo moves the ball forward for the Chicago Red Stars in a 2-1 loss to Kansas City on March 25.
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