WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Host Expansion Philadelphia on Saturday at Toyota Park

May 14, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars start a three-game homestand this Saturday when they welcome the expansion Philadelphia Independence for a 6 p.m. match at Toyota Park. This is the first meeting between the two Women's Professional Soccer clubs.

Saturday also is Red Stars Fan Photo Day. Between 3:45 and 4:20 p.m., Red Stars fans are encouraged to come to the park early to snap photos with their favorite players before the match.

Both the Red Stars and Independence are are coming off losses in last week's competition. Chicago fell to FC Gold Pride, 2-0, and Philadelphia was dealt its first loss of the season, a 2-1 decision against Saint Louis Athletica. The Red Stars are looking to capture their first home win of the 2010 season.

"Philadelphia is a very hard-working, physical team and if we're going to match them this weekend we're going to have to compete with them physically," Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes said. "They've gotten their results by really grinding out performances and I think they more than fully deserve the position they're in at this stage."

The Red Stars will be without Oswego, Ill., native and midfielder Julianne Sitch, who is out with a sprained ankle. Chicago also is without defender Ifeoma Dieke, who was issued a red card during last week's match against FC Gold Pride. But midfielder Kosovare Asllani, who previously had been out because of a fractured rib, is on the 18-player roster for the Philadelphia match.

SCOUTING THE INDEPENDENCE

In its inaugural season, Philadelphia has posted a 2-2-1 record through its first five matches. The Independence was the only undefeated team in the league through the first four weeks of the 2010 season before the team fell to Saint Louis, 2-1, last Saturday, May 8. The Independence earned the first win in the club's history in a 3-1 rout of the Washington Freedom on April 25. Philadelphia remains unbeaten at home but has yet to earn a victory on the road.

Independence midfielder Lori Lindsey has been a big factor for the team's early success, contributing four assists.

"I think in Katie Chapman and Formiga we have two world-class players that are more than competent at dealing with Lori Lindsey," Hayes said. "[Lindsey] is a wonderful player, and if we give her time and space then she will certainly hurt our team. So it's our job to make it difficult for her to be on the ball."

FAMILIAR FACES

Independence defender Nikki Krzysik and forward Danesha Adams make their first return to Toyota Park after playing last season with the Red Stars. The Independence selected Krzysik and Adams in the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft. In their 2010 campaigns with Philadelphia, Krzysik has started and played every minute of Philadelphia's first five WPS matches and Adams has seen action in three matches. As Red Stars in 2009, Krzysik made 14 appearances and 10 starts for Chicago, with Adams making 12 appearances and starting twice.

HOMEGROWN

Saturday's match marks a homecoming for Elk Grove Village, Ill., native and Independence midfielder Jen Buczkowski. After playing her college soccer at Notre Dame, Buczkowski played locally for the Chicago Gaels of the W-League from 2005-2008 before being selected by Sky Blue FC in the 2009 WPS Draft. In New Jersey, Buczkowski played last year alongside current Red Stars midfielder Julianne Sitch. Buczkowski was then selected by the Independence in the first round of the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft.

LAST TIME OUT

The Red Stars fell to FC Gold Pride, 2-0, last Saturday, May 8, at Castro Valley Athletic Stadium. For the first time this season, the Red Stars were out-shot by an opponent with the Pride defense holding the Red Stars attack to only four shots and two shots on goal, both season lows for the usually active Red Stars offense. The Red Stars were forced to play with 10 players for much of the game after Red Stars defender Ifeoma Dieke was ejected from the match in the 21st minute for committing a foul in the penalty box. Tiffeny Milbrett scored the game-winning goal in the 45th minute with Kelley O'Hara adding on a second tally in the 78th minute off an assist from Kimberly Yokers.

"You can't generate a great deal at this level for 70 minutes with just 10 players," Hayes said. "I don't think it's a question of offense. When you play 11-v-10 for 70 minutes it's a long time, and you can't really put that down to our inability to create because it's very hard."

EARNING THEIR STARS AND STRIPES

Four Red Stars received call-ups to the U.S. Women's National Team for a May 22 exhibition match against Germany (5 p.m. CT, ESPN2) at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Defender Kate Markgraf joins the team for the first time since December 2008, when she was three months pregnant. Other Red Stars include defender Marian Dalmy, goalkeeper Jillian Loyden and midfielder Megan Rapinoe. Three Independence players also are joining the U.S. WNT: midfielder Lori Lindsey, defender Heather Mitts and forward Amy Rodriguez. The players will arrive in Cleveland on Monday, May 17, for a week of training.

WHO'S NEXT

WPS action takes a break for the weekend of May 22 and 23 with all eight teams inactive. But the Red Stars will be participating in an exhibition match against the Chicago Red Eleven, the Chicago W-League affiliate, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 21, at the Schwaben Athletic Club in Buffalo Grove, Ill. The cost is $10 for general admission, and children ages 6 and under receive free admission. The Red Stars return to WPS action the following weekend as they welcome first-place FC Gold Pride to Toyota Park at 7 p.m. May 29.

TUNE IN ONLINE

All Red Stars home matches, including Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Independence, are broadcast in both English and Spanish on www.ChicagoRedStars.com. Rob Coons will have the English play-by-play, and Jorge Trujillo and Enrique "Tico" Fernandez will provide the Spanish webcast.

QUOTABLE

"It's important to make [Toyota Park] a fortress and a place where you're getting your best results. If they fight this week and they get their foot stuck in and they're physical in their play, then they'll get the reward."

-- Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes

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