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WPS Chicago Stars FC

Red Stars Close Out Home Schedule With 3-1 Win Over Sol

August 2, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Chicago Stars FC News Release


BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Chicago's big guns came out to play Sunday.

Cristiane, Carli Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley each scored as the Chicago Red Stars closed out their inaugural home season with a bang, ripping WPS regular season champion Los Angeles, 3-1, in front of a franchise-record 7,959 fans at TOYOTA PARK.

Chicago opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Tarpley found her U.S. Women's National teammate Lloyd on the right side of the box. Lloyd put her shot past Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc for her second goal of the season.

The Red Stars scored again quickly after halftime. In the 47th minute, Megan Rapinoe played a long cross into the box where Brittany Klein headed it to Tarpley, who floated a header over the outstretched arms of LeBlanc. The goal was the fourth of the season for the Red Stars' captain.

After Los Angeles got on the board with a Han Duan goal in the 90th, Chicago answered in stoppage time. Ella Masar picked up the assist on a pass to Cristiane, who took a long run down the left side of the field and into the box. When LeBlanc stepped out to challenge, the Brazilian striker fired a shot into the right side of the net for her team-best seventh tally of the year.

Three goals is the most allowed by the Sol in a game this year and lifted Chicago to victory for the first time in four games. The Red Stars have been eliminated from the WPS playoff hunt. Los Angeles has already clinched the league regular season championship but has now gone winless in its last three matches.

Sunday's attendance of 7,959 established a new franchise record, topping the 5,824 fans that witnessed the first home game in Red Stars history April 19th. It is the third-largest crowd in WPS history - all three of which have involved the Sol.

Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson added to her league-leading save total by stopping six shots in the match. Both teams put seven shots on goal, with Los Angeles outshooting the Red Stars 23-22.

With the win Chicago remains in sixth place in the league standings. The Red Stars will wrap up their inaugural campaign on Wednesday at Saint Louis. Athletica has clinched the second seed for the 2009 WPS Playoffs. More information on the game is available at www.chicagoredstars.com.

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