NWSL club to take on UW-Madison Friday
CHICAGO, Ill. – After defeating hosts Marquette University 3-0 on Monday evening in their first match of 2015, the Chicago Red Stars enter this week’s training sessions with the same group of players who were on the initial preseason roster on March 9. With many of the contracted players in camp, ten open tryouts invitees and five recent college draft picks continue to battle for the remaining spots on what will be a final 20-player roster for the upcoming NWSL regular season.
While U.S. international Lori Chalupny has joined up with the squad, starting and scoring in Monday’s win at Marquette, seven other Red Stars involved in their respective countries’ FIFA Women’s World Cup preparations will arrive closer to the April 18 home opener against Seattle Reign FC. In addition to Americans Christen Press, Julie Johnston and Shannon Boxx, that group includes Canadians Karina LeBlanc, Melissa Tancredi and Adriana Leon as well as New Zealand captain Abby Erceg.
With the first preseason win in the bag, Heach Coach Rory Dames’ side takes on University of Wisconsin Madison this coming Friday, March 20, at 7 p.m. CT, University of Missouri and Iowa State University (45 minutes each) on April 4 at 11 a.m. CT and University of Notre Dame on April 8 at 6 p.m. CT. On March 29, the Red Stars will hold an intra-squad exhibition, which will feature the brand-new second and third kits for 2015 as well as a catered postgame meet-and-greet with the team.
Tickets to all of the March 29 events may be purchased by calling 773-698-6001 or by clicking here.
Most training sessions will continue to be held Monday-Friday mornings (times vary) on the Oak Brook Park District outdoor turf at 1450 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Media interested in attending and/or conducting interviews must contact Director of Communications Gunnar Berndt at 301-702-1075 or [email protected].
The 2015 Red Stars season kicks off on April 18 with the team’s big home opener against Hope Solo, Sydney Leroux, Megan Rapinoe and current Shield holders Seattle Reign FC. Single-game and season tickets ($145) may be purchased by calling 773-698-6001 or by clicking here.
Complete 2015 Chicago Red Stars Preseason Schedule and Results
| Date | Home | Away | Venue | Time/Score |
| March 16 | Marquette University | Chicago Red Stars | Valley Fields |
0-3 |
| March 20 | University of Wisconsin Madison | Chicago Red Stars | McClimon Track/Soccer Complex | 7 p.m. CT |
| March 29 | Chicago Red Stars | Chicago Red Stars | Benedictine University Sports Complex (Lisle) | 10 a.m. CT |
| April 4 | University of Missouri | Chicago Red Stars | Don Dallas Soccer Field | 11 a.m. CT |
| April 8 | University of Notre Dame | Chicago Red Stars | Alumni Stadium | 6 p.m. CT |
Complete 2015 Chicago Red Stars Preseason Roster
| Name | Position | Date of birth | Nationality | Hometown |
| Michele Dalton *** | Goalkeeper | November 5, 1988 | USA | Mount Prospect, IL |
| Monica Gonyo *** | Goalkeeper | October 9, 1992 | USA | New Berlin, WI |
| Karina LeBlanc * | Goalkeeper | March 30, 1980 | Canada | Maple Ridge, BC |
| Abby Erceg * | Defender | November 20, 1989 | New Zealand | Whangarei, New Zealand |
| Jackie Esterkamp *** | Defender | April 7, 1991 | USA | Cincinnati, OH |
| Arin Gilliland ** | Defender | December 25, 1992 | USA | Wilmore, KY |
| Valerie Gonyo *** | Defender | October 9, 1992 | USA | New Berlin, WI |
| Taryn Hemmings | Defender | April 25, 1986 | USA | Greeley, CO |
| Natalie Horner *** | Defender | January 2, 1990 | USA | Columbus, OH |
| Leigh Jakes *** | Defender | March 24, 1988 | USA | McDonough, GA |
| Samantha Johnson | Defender | June 10, 1991 | USA | Palmdale, CA |
| Julie Johnston * | Defender | April 6, 1992 | USA | Mesa, AZ |
| Michelle Lomnicki | Defender | May 3, 1987 | USA | Aurora, CO |
| Rachel Quon * | Defender | May 21, 1991 | Canada | Lake Forest, IL |
| Shannon Boxx * | Midfielder | June 29, 1977 | USA | Torrance, CA |
| Zakiya Bywaters | Midfielder | July 24, 1991 | USA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Lori Chalupny * | Midfielder | January 29, 1984 | USA | St. Louis, MO |
| Vanessa DiBernardo | Midfielder | May 15, 1992 | USA | Naperville, IL |
| Kelley McCloskey *** | Midfielder | April 1, 1991 | USA | San Marino, CA |
| Danielle Colaprico ** | Midfielder-Forward | May 6, 1993 | USA | Freemont, NJ |
| Giuleana Lopez *** | Midfielder-Forward | July 7, 1987 | USA | Waukegan, IL |
| Alyssa Mautz | Midfielder-Forward | July 29, 1989 | USA | St. Louis, MO |
| Lillie Toaspern *** | Midfielder-Forward | August 20, 1993 | USA | Denver, CO |
| Jayden Barrett *** | Forward | March 15, 1991 | USA | Corona, CA |
| Hayley Brock | Forward | August 3, 1992 | USA | Acton, MA |
| Jen Hoy | Forward | January 18, 1991 | USA | Sellersville, PA |
| Sofia Huerta ** | Forward | December 14, 1992 | USA | Boise, ID |
| Adriana Leon * | Forward | October 2, 1992 | Canada | King City, ON |
| Christen Press * | Forward | December 29, 1988 | USA | Palos Verdes, CA |
| Melissa Tancredi * | Forward | December 27, 1981 | Canada | Hamilton, ON |
| Rachel Tejada ** | Forward | July 8, 1993 | USA | Troy, IL |
| Cara Walls ** | Forward | June 16, 1993 | USA | Wauwatosa, WI |
* Player potentially involved in national team’s World Cup preparations ** Unsigned college draftee *** Unsigned invitee
"*" indicates required fields
