The Chicago Stars played their first game at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and put on an offensive show Sunday in a 5-2 win over the Orlando Pride. Ludmila and Julia Grosso each had a goal and assist in the victory for Chicago (2-9-8, 14 points). It was time both players achieved the feat in […]
Sports
NWSL roundup: Stars christen new home with 5-2 win over Pride
Audio By Carbonatix
The Chicago Stars played their first game at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and put on an offensive show Sunday in a 5-2 win over the Orlando Pride.
Ludmila and Julia Grosso each had a goal and assist in the victory for Chicago (2-9-8, 14 points). It was time both players achieved the feat in their two seasons in the NWSL. Ludmila’s goal is her 10th of the season, putting her in third place in the NWSL Golden Boot race.
After a goalless first half, Sam Staab scored on a free kick four yards outside of the 18-yard box into the top left corner in the 50th minute. Even though Carson Pickett tied the match in the 53rd minute, Chicago scored three straight goals from Jameese Joseph, Bea Franklin and Grosso to pull away before Haley McCutcheon clawed on back for the Pride.
Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle made her NWSL debut with Orlando (8-7-4, 28 points) after becoming a world-record signing out of Tigres and the Mexico women’s national team. Ovalle came in at halftime and played the final 45 minutes, although the forward went down late with leg cramping and continued through the final whistle.
Spirit 2, Reign 0
A brace from Trinity Rodman and a complete performance across the field led host Washington to a shutout victory over Seattle.
The first goal for the Spirit (10-4-5, 35 points) came in the 33rd minute when Leicy Santos sent in a booming cross to Rodman, who made a back-door run behind two defenders to bury a shot across the face of the goal. In the 81st minute, Rodman added a second when the forward received a pass from Croix Bethune at the center of the 18-yard box and shot into the left side of the goal.
Seattle (7-6-6, 27 points) played defensive-minded soccer throughout the match, absorbing possession and hoping to make an impact on the break, which never fully materialized. The Reign were outshot 16-6 and were out-possessed 63-37 percent in the defeat.
Gotham FC 3, Angel City FC 1
Rose Lavelle scored her first goal of the season, and it was the match winner for Gotham in Harrison, N.J.
A World Cup winner for the U.S. national team, Lavelle gave Gotham (7-6-6, 27 points) their second win in a row. The midfielder cleaned up a loose ball in front of the net in the 51st minute. Jaelyn Howell added an insurance goal in the 68th minute from outside of the box and off the bottom of the crossbar.
Within two minutes of entering the match, USA international Midge Purce made a difference for Gotham when the forward ran down the right wing and found Gabi Portilho in the 47th minute. Portilho buried the ball under defensive pressure in front of goal, but the reaction shot tied the match soon after halftime.
In the second minute, Angel City FC (6-8-5, 23 points) got off to an early lead when Kennedy Fuller scored her third goal of the season. Gotham cleared a cross from Riley Tiernan in front of goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger but Fuller hit the loose ball on the volley and the ball ricocheted in off the right post.
Dash 3, Wave 0
Houston traveled to San Diego on a night the Wave honored soccer icon Alex Morgan and spoiled her jersey retirement with a shutout victory as Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell made five saves to extend the Dash’s unbeaten streak to six matches (3-0-3).
Clarissa Larisey, in her first NWSL start, led the Dash (6-8-5, 23 points) with a goal and an assist. In the 45th minute, Larisey had possession and headed to the opposing goal line with pressure from the Wave (8-5-6, 30 points) defense. Larisey held onto the ball, kept it in play and found Yazmeen Ryan, who put her foot through the ball to give Houston a two-goal lead.
In the 17th minute, Larisey was on the scoring side of the ball when three passes made it through the Wave defense and at the forward’s feet. Larisey cleaned up the loose ball and scored her first goal of the season.
Messiah Bright added a third for Houston in the 77th minute when the forward tapped in a cross in front of the box for her second goal of the season. The Wave had more shots (19-9) but each had five on target.
–Field Level Media