Pro soccer report: Pugh tallies twice return in Red Stars’ win over Orlando

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

Mallory Pugh gave a sample of what could be a big 2022 season when she scored four goals in the exhibition Challenge Cup series.

But the Red Stars scoring threat missed the first two games of the NWSL season with an injury, and the team split decisions against Louisville and San Diego.

Pugh returned May 22 and is back in goal-scoring mode. She scored a pair in a 4-2 road victory over Orlando.

She came into the game in the second half and within eight minutes had an assist, and later added the two goals.

Pugh’s first goal came at the 63-minute mark on an assist from rookie Ava Cook. At the 85-minute mark, Pugh scored on a rebound from her missed penalty kick.

“Once we knew she was going to play, we knew it would be for 45 minutes either in the first or second half,” Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli said. “We went with the second half. We’re a different team when Mal is on the field. For everyone in the stadium, the game is more exciting when Mal is on the field.

“When she gets the ball, you don’t know what’s going to happen and there is this anticipation when she gets the ball. We become a more dangerous team. She had an impact on the game but she was a little rusty.”

At the 10-minute mark, Sarah Griffith opened the scoring when she notched her first NWSL goal with an assist from Vanessa DiBernardo. Both are Naperville natives.

Milestone

Midfielder Danny Colaprico notched her 10,000^th minute as a Red Star.

The only other players to hit that number with Chicago are DeBernardo and Arin Wright.

Next up

The Red Stars are back home at 7 p.m. Saturday with a battle against Portland (1-1-2). The Thorns lost to Houston 2-0 on May 21.

Fire II lose

The Chicago Fire II dropped a 3-0 road game to the New York City Football Club II I an MLSNEXT Pro game on Saturday. There were six yellow cards issued in the first 42 minutes of the game.

Chicago (1-4-3, 7 points) visits Toronto (3-5-0, 9 points) Friday.