WPS Chicago Stars FC

Chicago Red Stars Travel to Atlanta on Wednesday

July 20, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars (4-5-5) travel to Kennesaw, Ga., to take on the Atlanta Beat (2-7-4) in Women's Professional Soccer action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at KSU Stadium.

Chicago still is looking for its first win against the 2010 WPS addition. Atlanta currently holds a 1-0-2 series lead against the Red Stars.

The Red Stars have fueled their push for the playoffs with a four-game undefeated run. Chicago is in a fourth-place tie with the Washington Freedom.

If the Red Stars pull off a victory against Atlanta, they already will match their 2009 wins and points totals (five victories, 20 points).

The Red Stars have had a week-and-a-half break, coming off a 2-0 victory over defending champion Sky Blue FC on July 10. Atlanta also is coming off a victory over Sky Blue, a 1-0 win on New Jersey's home turf, prompting Sky Blue to relieve Pauliina Miettinen of her coaching duties on Monday.

"Things have gone our way [in the standings], but we need to hold up our end of the bargain by getting the results when we play," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "These results in our favor won't mean anything if we don't get a win in Atlanta."

Chicago has maintained a high work rate over this week-and-a-half stretch without a match.

"It gave us a chance to work hard and improve on our fitness level so we peak at the right time down the stretch into the playoffs," Namazi said. "We've worked on some other things, being able to possess the ball for longer periods of time, being patient with it. We have been anxious to play and get back out there."

STANDINGS TIGHTEN UP

The WPS standings have coincided with the parity of talent throughout the league. FC Gold Pride leads WPS by a considerable margin with a 10-3-1 record and 31 points, but everyone behind is in a push for the all-important second- through fourth-place spots to secure a postseason position. Only five points separate second place from sixth place: Philadelphia Independence (6-5-3, 21 points), Sky Blue FC (5-6-3, 18 points), Red Stars (4-5-5, 17 points), Washington Freedom (4-5-5, 17 points) and Boston Breakers (4-5-4, 16 points). Atlanta (2-7-4, 10 points) cannot be counted out with its midseason acquisitions. The Beat have nine players who previously competed for the now-defunct Saint Louis Athletica.

MASAR LEADING THE WAY

Red Stars forward Ella Masar was named WPS Player of the Week for Week 13 for netting a goal during Chicago's 1-1 draw against Atlanta on July 7, then followed up with a goal during the Red Stars' 2-0 win over Sky Blue FC on July 10. Masar leads the Red Stars with four goals - all of them tallied in Chicago's past four games.

200 FOR MARKGRAF

Red Stars defender Kate Markgraf reached a memorable milestone when she earned her 200th international cap when the U.S. Women's National Team played Sweden to a 1-1 draw on July 13 in Omaha, Neb. Markgraf wore the captain's armband. "It feels great," Markgraf said. "I ended 2008 with 198 games and I was two shy of 200, and I always wanted to get to 200. But I got pregnant with twins and I thought I was done. Then I got a call from [U.S. head coach] Pia [Sundhage] and it's just a really big honor and a great opportunity. It was awesome."

LAST TIME OUT

The Red Stars notched a historic victory when they defeated Sky Blue FC, 2-0, on July 10 at Toyota Park. Ella Masar netted her fourth goal in as many games, and the Red Stars were aided by a Sky Blue own goal. The match marked Chicago's first victory against the New Jersey club. Heading into the match, Sky Blue had posted a 5-0-1 record against the Red Stars. Allison Whitworth made her debut in the goal while Chicago missed regular starting goalkeeper Jillian Loyden, midfielder Megan Rapinoe and defender Kate Markgraf, who were away on U.S. Women's National Team duty. Whitworth had a quiet night in the net, needing to only make two saves, as the Red Stars dominated the match from start to finish.

LOCAL TIES

Red Stars goalkeeper Allison Whitworth made three starts for the Beat earlier this season. On June 18, the Red Stars announced that they traded their 2012 first- and fourth-round draft picks to Atlanta for Whitworth and Atlanta's 2011 first- and fourth-round selections. Whitworth, who posted the team's fifth shutout of the 2010 season, became the third goalkeeper to make a start for the Red Stars. Caroline Jonsson started in every game during the 2009 season, and regular starting goalkeeper Jillian Loyden had started in every match in 2010 before she was called up to the U.S. Women's National Team last week for the Americans' two matches against Sweden.

ANOTHER ATLANTA VICTORY

The Beat posted their first WPS victory against the Red Stars on June 19 in Kennesaw, Ga. But Chicago is not the lone victim anymore in Atlanta's young history. The Beat went on the road and topped defending champion Sky Blue FC, 1-0, on Sunday. Eniola Aluko scored the lone goal of the match, while Hope Solo made four saves for her fourth shutout of the season.

ON THE HORIZON

Following Wednesday's match against Atlanta, the Red Stars return home to host the Boston Breakers at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at Toyota Park. Chicago has had a successful run against Boston this year, posting road victories on May 1 and June 25. On May 1, Casey Nogueira and Cristiane each posted a goal for a 2-0 victory. And on June 25, Ella Masar netted two goals to lead Chicago to a 2-1 win.

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 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25, against the Boston Breakers. Rob Coons handles the English play-by-play, and Jorge Trujillo and Enrique "Tico" Fernandez provide the Spanish webcast.

QUOTABLE

"I thought people came in and did a good job. Anita Asante was excellent at center back, Kosa [Kosovare Asllani] did a great job up front - we pushed New Jersey's back line, and that was a big help. We didn't allow them any room and space to play. The ball was played far from our goal."

- Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi,

On the team's most recent 2-0 victory against Sky Blue FC

Check out the Chicago Stars FC Statistics



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 20, 2010


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