Mallory Swanson of the Red Stars opened the season with a goal in a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday, March 25. Photo by IMAGN

Mallory Swanson of the Red Stars opened the season with a goal in a 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday, March 25. Photo by IMAGN

Pro Sports Report | Alex Morgan converts PK and Wave tops Red Stars in opener

Spread the love

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

Two of the best scorers in the NWSL made great first impressions to begin the 2023 season.

The Chicago Red Stars’ Mallory Swanson, coming off a scoring explosion in the SheBelieves Cup earlier in the year, scored a tying goal on a penalty kick in extra time in the first half of the season-opening road game against San Diego.

Unfortunately for the Stars, the league’s leading scorer in 2022 plays for the Wave and had some last-minute heroics up her sleeve. Alex Morgan scored in the 89th minute with a penalty kick of her own and  San Diego came up with a 3-2 triumph over the Stars in front of 30,854 fans at Snapdragon Stadium on March 25.

Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli had mixed emotions after the opener.

“It’s a hard thing,” he said. “I’m proud of them and they played their butts off in a tough environment against a good team. But in the end, we walk home with no points. That’s disappointing.

“I’m happy with how we played, I’m just not real happy with the result.”

Last year, the Wave beat the Stars, 2-1 in San Diego, 1-0 at Soldier Field and 2-1 in the NWSL quarterfinals.

Yuki Nagasato scored Chicago’s first goal of the season at the 17-minute mark. Swanson scored to close out the first half but the Stars were blanked over the final 45 minutes.

Casey Krueger (maternity leave) and Tierna Davidson (injury) were back after missing the 2022 season, but Krueger had to leave the game in the 13th minute with a head injury. Davidson had leg issues and didn’t train all week, but was given clearance to play and was on the field for 84 minutes.

“We saw some good things with the team, and we saw some things we need to work on,” Davidson said. “That’s generally what you get from a first game.”

Davidson said she had a few nerves heading into the game. She also said she felt bad for Krueger’s early exit.

“It was definitely tough, we definitely wanted to see her play a lot of minutes because she’s a great player and she hasn’t played in a while,” Davidson said. “We were excited for her to return. But losing any player on the field you have to make the adjustments and move players where they fit in.”

Jaedyn Shaw, 18, scored her fourth career goal — two of which have come against the Stars. Amirah Ali added a goal for San Deigo.

Also starting for the Wave was Danielle Colaprico, who spent eight seasons with the Stars.

The Stars had a 15-9 shot advantage in the setback.

TATUMN scaled

Orland Park’s Tatumn Milazzo moves the ball up the field for the Chicago Red Stars against San Diego on Saturday, March 25. This is her third year with Chicago. Photo by IMAGN

 

Up next
The Red Stars will host Houston at 1 p.m. on April 1.

Houston opened the season with a 0-0 draw with Louisville on March 26.

Last year, the Red Stars were thumped 4-1 by the Dash in Houston on July 16 and dropped a 1-0 decision to Houston on Sept. 17 in Bridgeview.  Ebony Salmon scored in both games for the Dash.

 

Seawolves swamp Hounds
Seattle played like it wants to make a return trip to Bridgeview on July 8.

That’s when SeatGeek Stadium hosts the Major League Rugby Championship game.

The Seawolves (5-0-0) looked championship-worthy when they took a 27-5 halftime lead against the Hounds (1-4-0) and that lead stood as lighting and rain forced the cancellation of the rest of the game.

Chicago’s Matt O’Keefe became the 40th player in MLR history to achieve 50 caps a.k.a. appearances.

The Hounds will host their fourth straight game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, when they face Houston (4-1-0).

The SaberCats beat Rugby Atlanta, 40-28, on March 25.

 

Fire II
The Chicago Fire II ended its inaugural campaign in 2022 with a 1-0 victory over Miami CF II to end a rough MLS NEXT Pro season on a high note.

The Fire was hoping to keep the good feelings going on Sunday March 26 in its season opener at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and it did just that with a 3-1 victory.

Matteo Kidd, Billy Hency and Alex Monis scored for the Fire.

The Fire makes its SeatGeek Stadium season debut on Friday, March 31 in a 6 p.m. matchup against Toronto.

Local News

Abraham Kiswani was sentenced to two years for income tax evasion.

Burbank businessman sentenced for income tax evasion

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Burbank businessman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for willfully evading more than $3.7 million in federal and state income taxes. Abraham Kiswani, 54, pleaded guilty last year to a federal tax evasion charge.  In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah…

oak lawn logo

Oak Lawn ups fines for blowing off illegal fireworks

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Oak Lawn residents who blow off illegal fireworks this summer will find that doing so will be more expensive. An ordinance was passed by a 5-0 vote by the Oak Lawn Village Board on March 12 that will increase the fine from $50 to $100 for residents who are lighting…

Trinity Christian College of Nursing received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. (Supplied photo)

Trinity, MVCC nursing schools schools receive state grants

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state, including two in the south suburbs, totaling $1.4 million. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills received a grant of $38,316 to focus on improved math proficiency and preparedness of…

biz runnings logo NEW

Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past. Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago. Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest.…

State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid celebrates winning the Democratic primary in the 21st House District with Safaa Zarzour (left) and wife Fidaa, who holds their 1-month-old son Mohammad Zain, at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Chicago Ridge. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Rashid rolls in 21st House, but Vasquez plans rematch

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid may have rolled to victory over challenger Vidal Vasquez in the 21st House District Democratic primary, but he took nothing for granted. “I am humbled and honored that the voters chose to send me back and I look forward to continuing the work ahead of us,”…

Flock Safety camera on pole

Hickory Hills to install 6 license-plate cameras

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Hickory Hills aldermen approved the installation of six Flock license plate cameras at their March 14 city council meeting. City officials said the Flock cameras will help police pick up the license plate and description of a wanted vehicle. Nearby communities including Oak Lawn and Palos Hills have also utilized…

Brookfield Zoo Chicago's Anniversary Ferris Wheel features 24 gondolas that each seat up to six people. The attraction will be at the Zoo through Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jim Schulz/Brookfield Zoo Chicago)

Brookfield Zoo Anniversary Ferris Wheel now open

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Brookfield Zoo has been attracting visitors for 90 years. To celebrate the anniversary, the zoo has opened a new attraction that has nothing to do with animals. Last Friday, the zoo opened its Anniversary Ferris Wheel. The towering 110-foot Ferris wheel offers guests unique bird’s-eye views of the park’s gardens, animal…

Mia Reyes, 18, of Oak Lawn, browses for prom dresses at Cinderella's Closet at Oak Lawn Community High School. (Photos by Kelly White)

Cinderella’s Closet makes prom shopping easier, cheaper

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White Prom dress shopping can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Thanks to Oak Lawn Community High School’s annual dress re-sale, cleverly called, Cinderella’s Closet, on February 10, students were able to browse beautiful ball gowns all in one place at right the high school, 9400 Southwest Hwy. “Prom…

Funeral2

Obituaries March 21, 2024

Spread the love

Spread the loveJOAN CATHERINE BERTUCCI Joan Catherine Bertucci (nee Leech), age 85, passed away February 22. She was a loving mother to the late Madelin Fickett, Margaret (Paul) Dowda, Edward Fickett, David Fickett, and Angelina Bertucci; adoring grandmother to Melissa (Greg) Pytlak, to the late Michael (Kristi) Meloy, to Monique (Scott) Tyrrell, Maghann (Erik) McDaniel,…

Mary Gill

Gill takes Democratic nod in 35th District

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Mary Gill easily won the Democratic nomination in the 35th House District over fellow Mount Greenwood resident David Dewar. Gill, a lifelong district resident, was appointed last March to succeed Fran Hurley, who resigned to take a position with the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Gill, a former special-education teacher, was…

Neighbors

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

Capitol Briefs: Advocates push for guaranteed income, child care assistance

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the case of actor Jussie Smollett, who was convicted for staging a hate crime against him in 2019 in a case that drew criticism for Cook County’s top prosecutor. Smollett made what turned out to be…

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

Illinois teacher shortage persists, survey finds

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact.  That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools,…

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

Bills in state Senate would further regulate battery storage and disposal

COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Two bills that would regulate battery disposal and storage are awaiting action from the full Illinois Senate after unanimous committee approval.   Senate Bill 3481, sponsored by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would require facilities that store electric vehicle batteries to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency…

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

Prisoner Review Board chair, member resign in wake of boy’s fatal stabbing by released inmate

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The longtime chair and a relatively new member of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board have resigned, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office announced Monday. The governor’s office announced the pair’s resignations within hours of each other nearly two weeks after Crosetti Brand was released from Stateville Correctional Center. Brand is…

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

Highest-ranking woman in state police history reflects on experience as force looks to diversify

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  The night before Rebecca Hooks started at the Illinois State Police Academy in 2002, she spoke on the phone with her father and her brother – both of whom worked in law enforcement.  Her father encouraged her, telling her she was strong and could get through the…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans

 By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State regulators are once again considering massive electric utility spending plans that would affect the state’s climate goals – and 5.4 million electric customers’ monthly bills – after rejecting previous versions late last year. The Illinois Commerce Commission forced the state’s two major electric utilities, Commonwealth…

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

Capitol Briefs: Insurance reforms advance as Pritzker announces California trip

By PETER HANCOCK, JENNIFER FULLER & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposal for sweeping reforms in the state’s health insurance industry passed out of a committee Thursday and will soon make its way to the full House for consideration. Pritzker first outlined the proposal in his State of the…