The Chicago Red Stars close out UKG Challenge Cup play in historic fashion with three goals all assisted by defender, Casey Krueger, and blank the Houston Dash, 3-0. Rookie Penelope Hocking recorded her second brace of 2023 after scoring two goals in the first half.  

KEY MOMENTS: 

9’ Chicago wins a corner kick that’s delivered by Julia Bianchi to a wide-open Casey Krueger, but Krueger’s header goes just wide of the post 

13’ Yuki Nagasato fights off a Houston defender to win the ball in the attacking third, but her shot lands safely in hands of Houston’s goalkeeper 

25’ Julia Bianchi finds the ball at midfield, carries it 20 yards before sending a through ball to Penelope Hocking who receives the ball, cuts back and takes a shot that’s deflected by Houston’s keeper 

33’ Houston’s Ebony Salmon makes a run down the right side of Chicago’s defensive third, but center back, Tierna Davidson, comes out to meet the attacker and rips the ball off her feet to end the danger 

38’ Chicago’s Casey Krueger finds Penelope Hocking on the top-left side of the 18-yard box, Hocking takes a touch to adjust and fires a shot into the back of the net, 1-0 Chicago 

43’ Krueger, again on the left side of Houston’s 18-yard box, dribbles past a defender and sends a cross past the outstretched hands of Houston’s keeper to the foot of Hocking who scores the second goal for Chicago, 2-0 Chicago 

50’ Krueger, once again in the attacking third, crosses a ball into Houston’s box and finds Yuki Nagasato to extend Chicago’s lead, 3-0 Chicago 

54’ Krueger sends another cross that bounces out to Ava Cook, who sends a powerful shot at Houston’s keeper who stops the shot and clears the danger 

90’ Jenna Bike Speeds past her defender and into the Houston 18-yard box, gets fouled and draws a penalty. Arin Wright steps up to take the penalty, but her attempt gets blocked, 3-0 Chicago 

90+2 Chicago’s Jill Aguilera receives a pass from Ally Schlegel, goes on a run into Houston’s box, and fires a left-footed shot that gets past the keeper, but hits the woodwork 

GAME NOTES: 

• Casey Krueger’s three assists tonight are the first three-assist game in UKG Challenge Cup history and the first three-assist game for a Chicago Red Star in any competition 
• Hocking’s first goal tonight was her first in the Challenge Cup and the brace was the rookie’s second in 2023. Hocking now has three goals against the Houston Dash this year, two tonight and one July 1 during their regular-season matchup 
• Days after being named the NWSL’s Best XI for the month of July, Emily Boyd earned her fourth clean sheet 2023 (two in regular-season play, two in the Challenge Cup) with three saves on the night 

Next Game 

Orlando Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars August 20, 2023, 6:00 p.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium 

Goals by Half  

           1 2 F 

CHI   2 1 3 

HOU 0 0 0 

Scoring Summary: 

CHI: 38’ Penelope Hocking (Krueger), 43’ Hocking (Krueger), 50’ Yuki Nagasato (Krueger) 

HOU:  

Disciplinary Report 

CHI:  

HOU: 71’ Courtney Petersen (Yellow Card) 

Lineups 

CHI: Emily Boyd, Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson, Arin Wright, Taylor Malham, Cari Roccaro (Sophie Jones), Julia Bianchi, Sarah Griffith (Jenna Bike), Yuki Nagasato (Sam Fisher), Ava Cook (Ally Schlegel), Penelope Hocking (Jill Aguilera) 

HOU: Jane Campbell, Lindsi Jennings (Petersen), Natalie Jacobs, Ally Prisock, Caprice Dydasco, Sarah Puntigam, Marisa Viggiano (Harris), María Sánchez, Ebony Salmon (Desiano), Ryan Gareis (Anderson), Diana Ordóñez (Tucker)