Sports stats

NWSL Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Begins 2018 NWSL Season in Houston

March 24, 2018 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


CHICAGO - For the third year in a row, the Chicago Red Stars will travel to Houston to face the Dash in both team's 2018 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season opener. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 25, at BBVA Compass Stadium. The match will be streamed live on NWSLsoccer.com, NWSL app and the go90 app.

After the Red Stars preseason, which included winning the Thorns Spring Invitational after defeating Portland and Houston in 1-0 battles, head coach Rory Dames has whittled his vast roster to just 21 players.

With 16 players returning to the Red Stars from 2017, Chicago will have a good jump on the season with a strong group of core veterans. However, due to injuries, the Red Stars will be without Vanessa DiBernardo, Julie Ertz, Casey Short and Yuki Nagasato for the start of the season. Sam Kerr will also be missing due to international duty with the Australian National Team preparing for 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying.

With the loss of some key members, Dames will look to his youth. Brigham Young midfielder Michele Vasconcelos returns to the Red Stars after being drafted 11^th overall in the 2017 NWSL College Draft, but was unable to play the season due to the pregnancy of her first child. Vasconelos has bounced back and will look for minutes to help control the midfield alongside NWSL veterans, Danielle Colaprico and Nikki Stanton. The 2017 rookies in Summer Green and Lauren Kaskie also return in their roles and will look to compete for extended minutes this season.

The Red Stars will also look to come out of Sunday's match on top, despite falling short of Houston in the prior two season openers.

After last year's efforts, Houston finished in eighth place with 23 total points and 7-2-15 record. The Dash had the lowest shot conversion rate of the league (8.3%) with only 22 goals. But with a revamped roster, Houston looks to earn their first post-season appearance.

The Dash will look drastically different without former captain and U.S. WNT midfielder Carli Lloyd, who was involved in a three-team trade, ultimately sending her and Janine Beckie to Sky Blue FC.

Houston returns just eight players from the 2017 roster, including U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Jane Campbell, England international Rachel Daly, star striker Kaelia Ohai and Canadian forward Nichelle Prince. In the offseason, the Dash also added forwards Kyah Simon (Australia) and Savannah Jordan (Portland), goalkeepers Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Boston) and Bianca Henninger (Mexico).

The Red Stars are back in action at Toyota Park on Saturday, March 31, for the home opener against the Portland Thorns. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT. The game is part of a doubleheader event with the MLS-side Chicago Fire taking on Portland Timbers prior to the Red Stars match. Tickets are available here .

2017 Series History: April 15 - Loss @ Houston; 2-0 (Ohai, 15'/Daly, 80') May 6 - Win @ Home; 2-0 (Own Goal, 44'/Ertz, 61') Sept. 23 - Win @ Houston; 3-2 (Hoy, 12'/Short, 20'/Brooks, 24'/Press, 45+2'/Daly, 85')

International Call-ups: United States Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and defender and Sofia Huerta were called up to the U.S. WNT for the upcoming friendlies against Mexico on April 5 (7 p.m ET.; Jacksonville, Florida) and April 8 (12:30 p.m. CT; Houston, Texas).

Australia Forward Sam Kerr was called up to the Australian National Team ahead of a friendly against Thailand on March 26, and the AFC Women's Asian Cup in preparation for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

National Team Player Replacement

Due to Kerr being called into Australia National Team duty, former University of Louisville midfielder Erin Yenney has been given a National Team Player Replacement contract for the upcoming game in Houston.

Check out the Chicago Stars FC Statistics



National Women's Soccer League Stories from March 24, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Chicago Stars FC Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central