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WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Take on Philly to Open 3-Game Road Trip

July 27, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars (4-7-5) look to rebound from a tough loss as they open a three-game road trip with a 6 p.m. match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Independence (7-5-3) in Women's Professional Soccer action in West Chester, Pa.

The Red Stars are hoping to erase a current two-game losing streak, most recently falling to the Boston Breakers, 3-1, on Sunday.

"We've talked about [the loss], and we're still in a strong position to be one of the four playoff teams," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "We're remaining positive and moving forward."

Philadelphia is coming off a commanding 4-1 victory against the defending champion Sky Blue FC on Saturday in New Jersey. It marked the Independence's second 4-1 victory over Sky Blue this season as the team holds second place in the WPS standings.

Philadelphia and Chicago meet for the second time this season. The Independence defeated the Red Stars, 1-0, on May 15 at Toyota Park.

If the Red Stars win Wednesday, they can jump from fifth to third place in the league standings. A Chicago victory also would match last season's wins total (5) and points total (20).

REISER ON BOARD The Red Stars this week announced the addition of midfielder Sophie Reiser to the team's developmental roster. Reiser was selected by the Red Stars in the fifth round (42nd overall) of the 2010 WPS Draft out of Columbia University. Reiser was not included on the squad's first-team or developmental roster because of a stress fracture in her shin, but she maintained her presence with the club as a trialist after the team's 2010 season kicked off. The Red Stars released midfielder and Geneva, Ill., native Jackie Santacaterina to free up space for Reiser. "Sophie brings scrappiness and toughness to this team," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "She is also a good utility player who can play on the right or left midfield, attacking midfield. She's pretty versatile."

BY THE NUMBERS Philadelphia's Amy Rodriguez is second in the league with nine goals and Chicago's Ella Masar is tied for seventh with four goals. ... Philadelphia has three players in the top-10 in assists - Lori Lindsey (third, 5 assists), Caroline Seger (tied for fourth, 4 assists) and Rodriguez (tied for seventh, 3 assists). ... Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden is tied for second in the league with four shutouts. ... The Red Stars have been involved in 12 shutout matches this season, leading the league in that category, posting a 3-7-2 record. ... The Red Stars are 4-0-0 when scoring the first goal this season and 0-7-3 when their opponent scores first. Two Red Stars matches have resulted in scoreless draws.

PLAYOFF PICTURE If the season ended today, the Red Stars would just miss the postseason cutoff. The top four teams in WPS advance to the playoffs, and Chicago currently is tied for fifth place with the Washington Freedom with 17 points. But the Red Stars also are just one point away from that dividing line. FC Gold Pride is running away with first place with 37 points. Philadelphia is second (24 points), followed by the Boston Breakers (19 points) and Sky Blue FC (18 points).

LOCAL TIES Independence defender Nikki Krzysik and forward Danesha Adams played for the Red Stars during their opening season. The Independence selected Krzysik and Adams in the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft. In their 2010 campaigns with Philadelphia, Krzysik has started in 13 of her 14 matches, and Adams has a goal and two assists in seven matches. ... Independence midfielder Jen Buczkowski is an Elk Grove Village, Ill., native and played collegiately 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.

LAST TIME OUT The Red Stars are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Boston Breakers on Sunday at Toyota Park. Entering the match, Chicago had not allowed three goals in a game, and the Red Stars had allowed two goals on only two occasions this season. Chicago gave up three first-half goals in a span of about 5 minutes, with the Breakers' Kelly Smith netting two goals and former Red Stars defender Ifeoma Dieke tallying Boston's third goal. Kosovare Asllani had the Red Stars' lone tally. "She's going to get more and more playing time, and she will start [Wednesday]," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said of Asllani. "I've been very happy with what she's done, and we're going to keep making her role bigger."

ON THE HORIZON Following Wednesday's match against Philadelphia, the Red Stars continue their road swing with a 6 p.m. match on Sunday against Sky Blue FC. The Red Stars posted the franchise's first victory against Sky Blue on July 10 at Toyota Park, a 2-0 decision. That win ended a six-game winless streak against Sky Blue. Chicago previously was 0-5-1 against New Jersey.

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 "It was sort of a shocker. All year we have been so disciplined, so alert all the time with our back line and the players in front of them. And for 12 minutes we were kind of sleep walking. When you do that against a player like Kelly Smith, she will you make you pay for not being alert." - Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi, On Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Boston Breakers

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