Photo credit: Len Photography

CHICAGO – After a 9-0-1 record this season, the Chicago Red Stars Reserves will enter their fourth Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Regionals in Houston, Texas. The Round of 16 will begin Saturday, July 14, when the Reserves will take on South Texas Conference winners Tti: Bluebonnets at San Jacinto Community College in Houston, Texas.

The Reserves started the season off very strong, winning the first nine matches by two or more goals. Goalkeeper and recent high school graduate Mackenzie Wood managed to stay undefeated and was able to keep eight clean sheets, having the first goal conceded in the eighth match against Chicago City SC.

The Reserves saw their first draw in the final game of the regular season after a 2-2 scoreline with the Milwaukee Torrent. For the first time during the season, the Reserves had to make a comeback after conceding two goals in the first 23 minutes of the match. That didn’t stop Chicago, as Chandra Eigenberger scored a brace in 15 minutes to equalize the match before halftime.

Chicago will be without three players for the WPSL post-season after being picked up overseas. Alexa Ben (FSK St. Polten-Spratzern; Austria), Ashton Miller (AC Sparta Praha; Czech Republic), and Bri Visalli (West Ham United Ladies; England) have all opted for a playing career overseas. Ben and Visalli were picks during the 2018 NWSL College Draft, while Miller was a pick during the Dispersal Draft.

The winner of Saturday’s match will advance to the Elite Eight on Sunday, July 15 in Houston, playing the winner of FC Dallas and Fire and Ice Soccer Club.

The WPSL Semifinals will take place on Friday, July 20, with the Final being on Sunday, July 22, both being held in Oklahoma City.