WPS Chicago Stars FC

Red Stars Announce Preseason Schedule

Published on February 25, 2009 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


Bridgeview, IL (February 25, 2009) The Chicago Red Stars will begin preparations for the inaugural 2009 WPS season on March 1st when the players convene for the first time on the training field with Head Coach Emma Hayes and her staff. The Red Stars preseason will be brief, with only five weeks before the team kicks off the inaugural campaign in St. Louis April 4th. During that time, the Red Stars will play six exhibition matches and pare the roster number down from 28 to 18, plus four developmental players.

"We've finally arrived at the moment we've been waiting for," said Emma Hayes. "All the months of preparation and player selection have led us here. The coaching staff cannot wait to get onto the pitch and start working with our players."

The Red Stars' preseason schedule will include a three-team round robin competition involving the Red Stars, Northwestern University and Purdue University on March 7th, as well as a 10-day mini-camp in Sunrise, Florida, where the team will have a chance to square off against a WPS opponent for the first time. The Red Stars and the Boston Breakers will play an exhibition match on March 18th at the Sunrise Holiday Inn soccer field.

Upon their return, the Red Stars will attend the Illinois Youth Soccer Association Soccer Expo on March 21st in Schaumberg. There will be two autograph sessions, a town hall meeting, and a full team training session that will be open to the public.

In the final week leading up the season opener, the Red Stars will play two tune-up scrimmages against the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois.

"We're very fortunate to have excellent, quality programs, like Northwestern, Purdue, Notre Dame and Illinois in such close proximity to us," said Hayes. "These high-level scrimmages will help to prepare us to step onto the field for our first-ever WPS game as a cohesive unit."

The Red Stars open the season on the road against Saint Louis Athletica on Saturday, April 4th at Ralph Korte Stadium at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Following a second road game at the Washington Freedom on April 11th, the Red Stars play their historic home opener on April 19th against Sky Blue FC at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, Illinois. Season tickets, starting at only $120 for 10 regular season games plus two bonus games, are on sale now. Call (866) WPS-2009 or log on to www.chicagoredstars.com to reserve your seats.

CHICAGO RED STARS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

March 1 - First day of preseason training- maximum roster size 28 players

March 7 - Pick Your Seat Day at Toyota Park

March 7 - 3-team exhibition games with Northwestern and Purdue - Site/Time TBD

March 9 - Individual game tickets go on sale

March 10 - Red Stars travel to Florida for Preseason Camp

March 12 -Practice game vs. Miami University, Site/Time TBD

March 13 - USWNT players return from Algarve Cup; WPS rosters cut to 24 players

March 15 - Training game; Opponent/Site/Time TBD

March 18 - Practice game vs. Boston Breakers, at the Sunrise Holiday Inn soccer field, Time TBD

March 20 - Red Stars return from Florida

March 21 - 2009 Illinois Youth Soccer Expo Schaumburg Sports Center, 1141 W. Irving Park Rd.

9-10 am - Autograph signing

12 noon - 1 pm - Chicago Red Stars Town Hall Meeting

1-2 pm - Autograph signing

2-3:30 pm - Team training session

March 24 - Final roster announced

March 28th - Red Stars vs. University of Notre Dame - Site/Time TBD

March 29 - WPS Inaugural Match - Washington Freedom @ Los Angeles Sol on Fox Soccer Channel 4:30 PM CT

March 31th - Red Stars vs. University of Illinois in Champaign, IL -Time TBD

April 4th - Chicago Red Stars begin WPS season @ Saint Louis Athletica

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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from February 25, 2009


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