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WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Aim for Sweep of Boston This Sunday

July 24, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars (4-6-5) host the Boston Breakers (4-6-4) in Women's Professional action at 3 p.m. Sunday at Toyota Park.

Chicago is looking to sweep the season series against the Breakers, having won the two previous matchups between the two clubs. The Red Stars lead the head-to-head series with a 3-2-0 record and have posted a 2-0 road win on May 1 and a 2-1 decision over Boston on June 25.

Both teams saw their hot streaks come to a halt Wednesday. The Red Stars' four-game unbeaten run ended when they fell to the Atlanta Beat, 1-0, and Boston's three-game winning streak ended when the Breakers lost to first-place FC Gold Pride, 2-1.

Needless to say, both teams are looking to regain their momentum.

"I look at it more as a home game, and we need to get the results that we want," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "Anything short of a victory would be a huge disappointment."

With Gold Pride running away with a double-digit regular-season points lead, the remaining six teams are in the midst of a tight run for the playoffs. Before Saturday's slate of league matches, the Red Stars were tied for fourth place with the Washington Freedom with 17 points, and the Breakers in sixth with 16 points. Second and seventh place were separated by eight points heading into the weekend.

LOCAL TIES

The Breakers roster includes a trio of former Red Stars in defender Ifeoma Dieke, forward Lindsay Tarpley and midfielder Chioma Igwe. Dieke played for the Red Stars earlier this season, and this is her first trip back to Chicago since she signed with Boston. Dieke has started in three of four matches with the Breakers. Tarpley, who netted the first goal in Red Stars history, started the 2010 season with Saint Louis Athletica until the team's dissolution. The Breakers signed Tarpley as a free agent on June 3. Igwe signed with Boston as a free agent and has six starts this season. ... Boston defender Amy LePeilbet, the 2009 WPS Defender of the Year, is a Crystal Lake, Ill., native who attended Prairie Ridge High School in the far northwest suburb.

ZERO TOLERANCE

The Red Stars lead the league in most games played involving a shutout. In 11 of the team's 15 games, Chicago has posted three shutout victories, two scoreless draws and six shutout losses. Heading into the weekend, the Atlanta Beat and Sky Blue FC had nine matches involving a shutout in their schedule this year.

LAST TIME OUT

The Red Stars saw their four-match unbeaten run come to a close when they fell to the Atlanta Beat, 1-0, on Wednesday at KSU Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. Atlanta's Eniola Aluko scored the game's lone goal as the Beat won the head-to-head season series with a 2-0-2 record. Atlanta goalkeeper Hope Solo had four saves for the clean sheet, and Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden saved four of five shots.

BACK IN THE DAY ...

Red Stars defender and captain Kate Markgraf was a founding player in the Women's United Soccer Association version of the Boston Breakers from 2001 to 2003. Several accomplishments included playing every minute of 20 matches in 2001, a reserve selection to the WUSA North All-Star Team in 2002, and All-WUSA Second Team honors in 2003 as she helped the Breakers to the playoffs for the first time.

ON THE HORIZON

Following Sunday's match against Boston, the Red Stars begin a three-game road trip, starting with a 6 p.m. match on Wednesday, July 28, against the Philadelphia Independence in Westchester, Pa. Chicago's road swing also includes an Aug. 1 match against defending champion Sky Blue FC and an Aug. 7 match against first-place FC Gold Pride. The Red Stars have posted a 2-4-2 road record this season.

HOME GAMES ONLINE

Red Stars home matches are broadcast in both English and Spanish on www.ChicagoRedStars.com. The next Red Stars home match is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, against the Philadelphia Independence. Rob Coons handles the English play-by-play, and Jorge Trujillo and Enrique "Tico" Fernandez provide the Spanish webcast.

QUOTABLE

"Looking back on our matches against them, you hope that they can do the same thing to the other teams that we're competing against. I always felt we were the better team against them, but we didn't execute in front of the net."

- Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi

On the team's performance against the Atlanta Beat this season

Check out the Chicago Stars FC Statistics



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 24, 2010


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