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Rivalry week in the NWSL, Bay FC come into town to face the Chicago Stars on a hot, muggy airless, early Sunday afternoon. Now, are Bay and Stars rivals? That can be debated, but they did play in that unique Wrigley game last season and former Stars star Penelope Hocking now plays for Bay, so there is some rivalrity if you’re looking for something. Onto the game!
Julia Grosso controls the ball in the box and blasts one on target, only to have Bay FC keeper Jordan Silkowitz stretching herself to tip it away. Fantastic save. The Stars are creating chances and showing aggression early on.
The early pressure by the Stars is pushing back Bay and preventing them from setting up their attack. Hocking gets the first chance for Bay and rips a shot from the right side, but Alyssa Naeher is there with a sliding save! Great reaction save from Naeher.
Jenna Bike is really active and around the ball in this first half. Bike, who was a mainstay in the starting lineup last season, has been mainly coming off the bench this season, but has reemerged in the starting lineup since Ella Masar took over.
Considering the hot and muggy early afternoon weather, the game has been fairly fast paced. It would be easy to have a sluggish start for both teams, but that hasn’t been the case.
Bay strikes first. A corner attempt in the 30th that gets gets slightly tipped by and ends up right in front of Taylor Huff who taps it in for a 1-0 Bay lead. Right, place at the right time. Naeher didn’t have enough time to react to it, especially with the corner scrum right in front of her.
The Stars did respond. Enter Shea Groom, who found herself on a 2 on 1 fastbreak, decided to take it herself go one-on-one with the defender deep into the box and then jukes the defender and plants a goal in the pocket. Wow. Bold. Groom taking Bay to school. Superb goal and a much needed one for the Chicago, right before the half.
In extra time, Bay almost netted a lead. Rain started to come down and a Chicago defender slipped at the top of the box leaving Hocking open for a shot on target. Naeher stops but the ball richoches and Sam Staab to the rescue knocking it away right before Bay got to the ball. Close call for the Stars.
Stars deserved the goal, after creating multiple goal scoring opportunities in the first half. They should be in-line for another one if they keep up this pace in the second half.
Second half starts out with a back and forth. Fast paced, but both team trying to build-up and control the ball. Local Chicagoland native, Hannah Bebar almost gave Bay a lead when she fired a shot from the right side that just went past the far end goal post.
The reliable Naeher made an unusual and silly rookie mistake coming out of goal way out of the box, not getting to the ball in time, therefore, Ianding right at the feet of Racheal Kundananji getting a free open shot at goal. Fortunately for the Stars she was wide on the shot. Could have turned into a disastrous moment.
It’s anyone’s game in the final 20 minutes. Stars would be wise to keep going for it and getting three points. The teams got their second and much needed hydration break in the 76th minute. These conditions are rough, the air is heavy and the sun keeps peeking out, not to mention it’s a midday game in August in Chicago.
Both teams were still going for it through the remainder of the game. Defending hard and pushing the pace. Ultimately it a goal didn’t come from either side and they settled in a draw. Strong effort from both sides. Some rough no-calls will be mentioned, especially the Stars should have a gripe for some puzzling decisions that were and weren’t made.
Coach Ella Masar ended up drawing a yellow card from her frustrations with the lack of calls and consistency from the refs. Hard to argue against her, it was bad. Stars could have won the game, but take a deservingly earned point.
MATCH NOTES:
- Defender, Kathrin Hendrich, made her first start in the National Women’s Soccer league tonight
- Ally Schlegel recorded her first assist this season, second-ever NWSL assist
- The Stars have scored in their last five home matches
- Alyssa Naeher made her 154th appearance for Chicago Stars FC, placing her one appearance away from tying Vanessa DiBernardo’s club record 155
NEXT MATCH:
Chicago Stars take on Seattle Reign FC in a Monday night football showdown in Seattle August 18, at 9 p.m. CT at Lumen Field
