GAME NOTES

CHICAGO – The Red Stars will look to keep their undefeated home stretch as they take on the Washington Spirit for the first time in 2017 at Toyota Park. As this week’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Game of the Week on Lifetime, kickoff will be set for Saturday, June 17, at 2:50 p.m. CT, adhering to the new NWSL hydration break guidelines.

The Spirit have gained several new faces, proving to be a completely new team since Washington beat Chicago in the 2016 NWSL Semifinals.

“Playing the Spirit this weekend will be a good game for us,” said midfielder Alyssa Mautz. “It’s our first game back from the break so it will be a test for us to see if we can get back into the flow and focus we had in our last game against Seattle. I think we are excited to see an entire new Spirit team and what challenges they will give us.”

The Spirit hold a 2-5-1 record with seven points, as they near the bottom of the standings in ninth place, still looking to find their first win on the road. Washington found their second win of the season in their last match against Houston, where they sealed their first shut out, 2-0.

Washington has put away 11 goals this season, as Havana Solaun has tallied three and Francisca Ordega and Kristie Mewis has added two each. On the other end of the field, goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe is leading the league with 38 saves, while only having one shutout.

Just as Washington stands, Chicago also has tallied 11 goals in 2017, as six different players have found the back of the net, including captain Christen Press (3), Julie Ertz (2) and Vanessa DiBernardo (2). Press currently is fourth in the league in goals, while Huerta sits in third place with assists.

But when it comes to Chicago’s attack, the Red Stars aren’t shy to take on tough defensive lines. Press is leading the league in shots (31) and shots on goal (18), while she also has managed two assists.

As for the Chicago defense, the Red Stars continue to be one of the best in the NWSL. For the second month in a row, Red Stars have earned spots in the NWSL’s Team of the Month, as Samantha Johnson and Casey Short both earned spots in May on the defensive side, while Press and Danielle Colaprico found their way in the forward and midfield positions, respectively.

Mautz and the rest of the Red Stars will look to extend their undefeated streak going into two back-to-back home matches.

“It’s always fun when you have a winning streak at home which gives us the confidence that we play well in front of our fans,” said Mautz. “Now it’s adding a little pressure to keep that streak going. It’s always important to get points at home!”

Watch Chicago in action on Saturday, June 17, when they take on the Washington Spirit in Lifetime’s Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 2:50 p.m. CT. Tickets are available here.