CHICAGO – The Chicago Red Stars secured their first point in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup on Wednesday, July 1 with a 0-0 draw against the Portland Thorns. The Red Stars starting lineup saw six players earning their first NWSL start, with three more seeing their first NWSL appearances as substitutions. 

KEY MOMENTS

13’ – Emily Boyd just gets a hand up at point-blank range and blocks Morgan Weaver’s right-footed attempt at the center of the goal to prevent an early deficit.

47’ – Kayla Sharples looked to connect on a header from the center of the box for her first NWSL goal but missed to the left of the net.

84’ – Savannah McCaskill gets a set-piece opportunity after a Portland foul, but her attempt on goal bends just too past the goal.

89’ – Portland’s Emily Ogle’s shot from the center of the box was blocked by the left leg of Hannah Davison, who got into position at just the right time to prevent  the goal

GAME NOTES

• Savannah McCaskill put on a Woman of the Match performance playing all 90+ minutes in the game, recording 3 shots while adding in 2 tackles from the defensive side.
• Emily Boyd and Cassie Miller for the combined shutout on 16 total shots from Portland. For Boyd, her first appearance in 2020 adds another clean sheet performance after coming into the tournament with four in her NWSL career. Miller, who came on as a substitute as the second half began, had a memorable game as her first career NWSL appearance saw her first NWSL clean sheet performance.
• The central defending duo of Kayla Sharples and Hannah Davison anchored the defense, recording a combined 4 tackles, 13 clearances, 4 blocks, and 3 interceptions. Sharples and Davison, who both recorded their first NWSL starts Wednesday morning, have a long history standing side by side in defense together. The two not only played four years together at Northwestern University but also played together during their youth club level years as well.
• Wednesday morning saw a combined nine Red Stars with NWSL firsts. Kayla Sharples, Hannah Davison, Zoey Goralski, Julia Bingham, Ella Stevens, and Sarah Luebbert all earned their first NWSL starts. Cassie Miller, Cassie Rohan, and Zoe Redei would be subbed on during the second half, recording their first NWSL appearances.

Next Game

The Chicago Red Stars will play their third game in the NWSL Challenge Cup as the designated away team against the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, July 5th at 11:30 a.m. CT

Portland Thorns vs Chicago Red Stars
July 1, 2020
Zions Bank Stadium (Herriman, UT)

Goals by Half                        1 2 F

Portland Thorns                    0 0 0

Chicago Red Stars               0 0 0

Disciplinary Report

CHI: 49’ Makenzy Doniak (yellow card)
POR: 80’ Tyler Lussi (yellow card)

Lineups

CHI: GK Boyd (Miller 45’), D Bingham, D Davison, D Sharples, D Goralski, M McCaskill, M Colaprico (Rohan 45’), M Stevens, F Doniak (Hill 69’), F Luebbert (Vasconcelos 69’), F Johnson (Redei 77’)

POR: GK Bixby, D Klingenberg (Menges 45’), D Smithers, D Westphal, D Pogarch, M Horan (Rodriguez 68’), M Ogle, M Boureille, F Sinclair (Salem 81’), F Weaver (Lussi 56’), F Charley (Everett 81’)