CHICAGO – The Red Stars upped their undefeated streak to five games after shutting out the Seattle Reign, 1-0, thanks to a Christen Press goal in the 49th minute. Chicago continued their home undefeated record to 4-0-1.

Chicago took control early in the match as Press drove down the field with some space up the middle. She rocketed a ball toward goal, but the ball went wide for the first true shot of the match in the fifth minute.

Minutes later, the Reign came back with Katlyn Johnson chipping the ball toward another Seattle player in the box, but Alyssa Naeher was there to snag the lobbed ball. A counter attack found Sofia Huerta open just outside the top of the 18-yard box, but her shot was easily handled by Seattle goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.

Seattle found their first chance as Megan Rapinoe sent a corner kick toward the near post. Jessica Fishlock flicked it behind her, trying to catch the Chicago defense off guard and sneak it just past the post, but Naeher was able to make the easy catch.

Chicago would once again create a promising opportunity came halfway through the first half as Huerta made room for herself up the middle of the box, sending a rocket toward goal. The ball grazed off the fingertips of Kopmeyer, deflecting it off the far post to eventually get cleared.

Just before halftime, Danielle Colaprico split defenders with a ball to Press up the field. The Red Stars captain used her right foot to turn her defender for a shot. Blocked by Kopmeyer, the ball fell to Alyssa Mautz, who attempted a bicycle kick, but the ball bounced just wide to send the scoreless match into the second half.

Just into the second half, Rumi Utsugi gave Seattle a strike from the corner of the box, but Naeher made a diving save. Red Stars kept control on the counter, where Colaprico received the ball near the top of the box. Shooting on frame, Kopmeyer jumped and tipped the ball, bouncing off the crossbar. The ball landed on the goal line, where Press stood to put it away, but was deemed offside.

The Red Stars took the lead in the 49th minute as Huerta was able to drive down the left flank toward the end line. Cutting back, she found Press running in the box and crossed the ball for the captain to easily slot it past the goalkeeper, giving Chicago the 1-0 lead.

It was the dynamic duo of Press and Huerta who continued to set up opportunities for each other. In one instance, Press broke away and found room up the field to take on a sole Seattle defender. Making moves, Press got open for the shot, but Kopmeyer was there to make a diving save, sending it wide. Huerta jumped on the deflected ball, striking it off the near post, narrowly upping the Red Stars score. Moments later, Press found Huerta up the field, who beat all defenders, but her strike slid just wide of the net.

Chicago Red Stars return to action on June 17th to take on the Washington Spirit for the Pride Game as Lifetime’s Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CT at Toyota Park. Tickets are available here.

– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT –
MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. Seattle Reign FC
DATE: June 4, 2017
VENUE: Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois
KICKOFF: 2 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: 3,147
WEATHER: 88 degrees, mostly cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
CHI                               0          1          1
SEA                              0          0          0

CHI – Christen Press (Sofia Huerta)                                        49’

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 7-Taylor Comeau, 5-Katie Naughton, 16-Samantha Johnson, 6-Casey Short; 8-Julie Ertz, 24-Danielle Colaprico, 4-Alyssa Mautz (2-Jen Hoy, 84), 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (9-Stephanie McCaffrey, 89); 23-Christen Press (capt.), 11-Sofia Huerta

Substitutes: 13-Morgan Proffitt, 14-Sarah Gorden, 18-Michele Dalton, 19-Summer Green, 30-Lauren Kaskie
Head Coach: Rory Dames

Seattle Reign FC Lineup: 28-Haley Kopmeyer; 13-Rebekah Stott, 3-Lauren Barnes, 4-Rachel Corsie, 16-Carson Picket; 2-Christine Nairn (5-Kiersten Dallstream, 84), 10-Jessica Fishlock (capt.), 20-Rumi Utsugi; 15-Megan Rapinoe, 36-Nahomi Kawasumi (19-Kristen McNabb, 66), 33-Katlyn Johnson (9-Merritt Mathias, 84)

Substitutes: 6-Lindsay Elston, 7-Elli Reed, 22-Michaela Hahn, 24-Madalyn Schiffel
Head Coach: Laura Harvey

 Stats Summary: CHI / SEA
Shots: 19 / 10
Shots on Goal: 8 / 4
Saves: 4 / 7
Corner Kicks: 5 / 9
Fouls: 5/ 6
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
SEA – Megan Rapinoe (caution)                                             89’

Officials:
Referee: Malik Badawi
Asst. Referees: Cory Richardson, Walter Heatherly
4th Official: Lukasz Szpala