CHICAGO – The Red Stars defeated the North Carolina Courage 3-2, continuing their four-game undefeated streak, staying undefeated at Toyota Park.

Chicago started the match with a scoring opportunity in the fifth minute. Julie Ertz dribbled up the field, passing up ahead to split two defenders to lead Christen Press into the box. The Red Stars captain tried to catch North Carolina goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo off guard with a chipped ball, but it sailed just on top of the net.

Midway into the first half, Alyssa Mautz attempted a clearance in the Red Stars final third, but the ball fell to Courage’s leading goal scorer Lynn Williams. Taking a touch, Williams rocketed a ball toward the goal, winding wide of the net.

Moments later, Williams charged down the right side straight into the 18-yard box, but her shot was directed right to Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for an easy save.

The Red Stars took the lead in the 27th minute as Danielle Colaprico received a bouncing ball in the six-yard box. Taking a touch around the last defender, Colaprico sent a shot past a diving D’Angelo to find the back of the net for her first goal of the 2017 season, making the score 1-0.

Seconds before the halftime whistle, North Carolina leveled the match after Samantha Mewis sent a perfectly weighted corner kick into the box, where captain Abby Erceg headed it past Naeher, ending the half 1-1.

After back and forth possession between the teams, Chicago found themselves on top again after two goals in five minutes. In the 54th minute, Press found herself at the top of the box with the ball, chipping it over the defenders to Mautz, who headed the ball past D’Angelo to put the Red Stars back on top, 2-1.

Just moments later, Ertz took a chance at the top of the box, but the shot was deflected off a Courage defender. The deflection fell to the feet of Vanessa DiBernardo, who cut a Courage defender and took a left footed shot flew into the upper 90 for a 3-1 lead.

North Carolina just about narrowed the scoreline as a ball was headed toward the goal, but Colaprico was able to make the save, heading the ball off the goal line. Moments later, the Courage earned a free kick just outside the box. Debinha stepped up to take the shot, curling it into the back of the net past a diving Naeher, narrowing the score, 3-2.

Chicago returns home to Toyota Park on June 4 to take on the visiting Seattle Reign FC at 2 p.m. CT. Tickets are available here.

– CHICAGO RED STARS MATCH REPORT –

MATCH: Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage
DATE: May 27, 2017
VENUE: Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Illinois
KICKOFF: 3 p.m. CT
ATTENDANCE: 2,618
WEATHER: 70 degrees, cloudy

Scoring Summary:      1          2          F
CHI                               1          2          3
NC                               1          1          2

CHI – Danielle Colaprico                                             27’
NC – Abby Erceg (Sam Mewis)                                  45+4’
CHI – Alyssa Mautz (Christen Press)                         54’
CHI – Vanessa DiBernardo                                        59’
NC – Debinha                                                            74′

Chicago Red Stars Lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 3-Arin Gilliland (7-Taylor Comeau, 46), 5-Katie Naughton, 16-Samantha Johnson, 6-Casey Short; 8-Julie Ertz, 24-Danielle Colaprico, 4-Alyssa Mautz (2-Jen Hoy, 77), 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (13-Morgan Proffitt, 87); 11-Sofia Huerta, 23-Christen Press (capt.)
Substitutes: 9-Stephanie McCaffrey, 18-Michele Dalton, 19-Summer Green, 30-Lauren Kaskie
Head Coach: Rory Dames

North Carolina Courage Lineup: 1-Sabrina D’Angelo; 7-AbbyErceg (capt.), 20-Yuri Kawammura (10-Debinha, 32), 13-Abby Dahlkemper, 15-Jalene Hinkle; 11-Taylor Smith, 26-Sam Witteman (14-Jessica McDonald, 46), 5-Samantha Mewis; 9-Lynn Williams, 3-Makenzy Doniak (23-Kristen Hamilton, 72), 7-McCall Zerboni
Substitutes: 8-Rosana, 12-Ashley Hatch, 99-Katelyn Rowland
Head Coach: Paul Riley

Stats Summary: CHI / NC
Shots: 8/9
Shots on Goal: 4/5
Saves: 3/1
Corner Kicks: 4/9
Fouls: 8/7
Offside: 6/0

Misconduct Summary
CHI – Danielle Colaprico (caution)                                          39’

Officials:
Referee: Becky Pagan
Asst. Referees: Deleana Quon, Joshua Haimes
4th Official: Rachel Smith