CHICAGO – In an effort to stay in playoff contention, the Red Stars needed to secure three points on the road and did just that in a shutout against the Washington Spirit on Saturday.

“The win is 100% on the players and their willingness to compete together and fight together tonight,” said head coach Rory Dames.

Delayed by five hours due to inclement weather, Chicago had to use their blue-collar grit to take the win.

“Our players had to roll up their sleeves and dig in a bit and they did,” said Dames.

Two players earned their first starts of their Chicago career when Rosie White and Emily Boyd were called in to step up for the team.

White finished 2017 with her New Zealand national team following her stint with the Boston Breakers. At the beginning of 2018, White underwent double foot surgery, and recently made strides to clock in her first full 90 minutes during Chicago’s match against Washington Spirit, playing in just her second match this season.

“She is one the hardest workers on the team and she has been working really hard to get back,” Dames said about White. “We’ve been building her and building her fitness wise and we were going back and forth. It was the right game to give her a run and see what she can do.”

During her two matches, White has tallied 117 minutes on the field, making her a force to reckon with as two of her three shots were put on frame.

“Great for us to see what she can do for us. Rosie is a really good player. The game was not about having really good players, instead it was about competing and doing a lot of dirty work. I thought she did great for us tonight. Really happy with her.”

Boyd made four saves to earn her first clean sheet, but the biggest play came in the 91st minute when Ashley Hatch found herself one on one with Boyd.

“I think it was made in the 90^th minute where they finally broke our line and got in and she timed it right, came out on a really good player and made a really big save,” mentioned Dames. “If they score there, 2-1, the last three minutes become hectic and crazy, so I think that is a sign of a good goalkeeper. When you don’t have to do a lot and you get called in late and she was able to come up big for us.”

With the next man up mentality all season, it was a strong performance from a team needing to secure three points on the road. Chicago looks to keep the momentum going against the visiting Portland Thorns on June 16 at 7 p.m. CT.