For the first time this season, the Chicago Red Stars scored more than goal in a game. Thanks to two goals from Jen Hoy, the Red Stars grabbed a victory over the Seattle Reign on the road.
Defensive first half
Given both team's solid defenses at the back, it was no surprise that the first few minutes as stagnant in terms of game flow. Both teams were still trying to figure each other out and it was Chicago who got the first chance. Casey Short, who scored the game-winning goal against Western New York last month, forced a good save from goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer. Kopmeyer was filling in for Hope Solo tonight and did a solid job in the back. There was a scary moment in the game when Julie Johnston, the star defender for Chicago, went down after being elbowed in the head. But thankfully for Chicago, Johnston was able to return.
As the first half wore on, the two teams settle into their regular tendencies. Seattle was controlling the ball while Chicago was organized on defense and was looking to keep their 4th straight clean sheet. Even without the possession, Chicago had two great chances to end the half. Vanessa DiBernado forced Kopmeyer off her line and made her punch away a shot from the edge of the box in the 42nd minute. Right after that Christen Press had a solid chance when her little flick off an Arin Gilliand cross when just over the crossbar. The half ended 0-0.
Hoy breaks the deadlock
Chicago kept up the offensive momentum to begin the second half and they were rewarded in the 55th minute. Press, who is Chicago's leading scorer this season and their biggest threat, found herself one on one with Kopmeyer. Her effort was stopped but the rebound fell right to Jen Hoy who's shot hit the back of the net. It was Hoy's first goal of the year and it couldn't have come at a better time for Chicago. But Hoy wasn't done just yet. 12 minutes later, she got on top of a long ball from DiBernado and calmly slotted it past Kopmeyer to make it 2-0 Chicago. It was a great pass from DiBernado as she delivered a perfect pass with her off-foot.
Chicago almost made it 3-0 in the 78th minute when Press took the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed a rocket. Her shot pinged off the underside of the crossbar and somehow stayed out of the goal. The third goal would have surely eased the nerves as Seattle grabbed a goal back in the 89th minute. Thanks to a foul, which saw midfielder Beverley Yanez brought down, Kim Little had a chance to grab another goal this season. She sent Alyssa Naeher the wrong way and made it 2-1 and snapped Chicago's four-game shutout record.
The goal set everything up for a frantic finish but sadly for the Reign, they couldn't muster any more chances. In the end, it was Chicago's 4th win of the season and extended their point streak to 5 games.