Sports stats



WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Face Boston Breakers on Friday

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


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars look to rebound from a loss last weekend when they travel to Allston, Mass., to take on the Boston Breakers on Friday, June 25, in Women's Professional Soccer play.

The Red Stars (2-5-3) had their three-game unbeaten streak snapped on June 19 when they fell to the Atlanta Beat, 1-0. Chicago faces Boston (1-4-4) for the second time this season.

"This becomes a very important game for both teams," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "Boston is right below us and we'd like to put some distance between us and them."

The Red Stars topped the Breakers, 2-0, on May 1 in Allston. Boston is coming off a 1-0 loss against first-place FC Gold Pride. The Breakers had an undefeated 1-0-2 start to the 2010 season until the Red Stars handed Boston its first loss.

In the all-time head-to-head series, the Red Stars and Breakers are tied with a 2-2-0 record.

WELCOME RETURN

The Red Stars were shorthanded last week against Atlanta, but they welcome the return of England midfielders Karen Carney and Katie Chapman and Sweden forward Kosovare Asllani. All three were with their national teams for 2011 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Asllani is rejoining the team in Boston following Sweden's dominating 17-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Wednesday. Asllani was a second-half substitution and netted a goal in the 55th minute. ... Also returning is Red Stars defender Natalie Spilger, who served her red card suspension after a late booking in Chicago's June 12 match against the Washington Freedom. Spilger missed the Red Stars' June 19 match against the Beat.

LAST TIME OUT

The Red Stars fell to the host Atlanta Beat, 1-0, on June 19 at KSU Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. Atlanta earned its first WPS victory in franchise history, while Chicago dropped its first match under Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi. Atlanta became only the second team to out-shoot Chicago in a match this season, holding a 17-4 shots edge and a 3-1 shots on goal advantage. The Beat's Tina Ellertson provided the match's lone goal in the 41st minute.

LOCAL TIES

The Breakers include a pair of former Red Stars in forward Lindsay Tarpley and midfielder Chioma Igwe. 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 five 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.

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 Friday's match against Boston, the Red Stars cap off their four-game road trip when they travel to Boyds, Md., to take on the Washington Freedom at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 4. Chicago tied the Freedom, 2-2, on June 12 to open the Red Stars' road swing, with Cristiane posting two unanswered goals as Chicago overcame a 2-0 deficit.

WPS ALL-STAR GAME NEXT WEEK

Four Red Stars players were named reserves for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Forward Cristiane, midfielder Karen Carney, goalkeeper Jillian Loyden and defender Kate Markgraf will participate in the festivities, which take place at 7 p.m. CT on June 30 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.

TUNE IN 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, July 7, against Atlanta. Rob Coons handles the English play-by-play, and Jorge Trujillo and Enrique "Tico" Fernandez provide the Spanish webcast.

QUOTABLE

"That's an area we just have to improve. The goals we've given up when I've coached the team - three goals have all been on set pieces. That's something we've spoken about and worked on in practice, and hopefully we're better at defending against them."

Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi

Check out the Chicago Stars FC Statistics



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from June 24, 2010


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.

OurSports Central