Lisle, IL – After a three-hour game delay due to lightning and storms in the local area, the Chicago Red stars earned their second victory of the season with a 1-0 win over the Houston Dash. A 33rd minute goal by forward Jen Hoy, off a Vanessa DiBernardo cross, would be the sole goal on the evening. Karina LeBlanc kept the clean sheet in net for the Red Stars, her second on the year.

“We’re definitely getting to know each other a lot better,” said goal-scorer Hoy. “We’re interchanging a lot more, making better runs and playing off of each other.”

The Red Stars had several first-half looks on target, but Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger, filling in for usual mainstay Erin McLeod, had a big night for Houston, making it difficult for the Red Stars to get on the board. One of the best early looks came off an 8th minute cross from rookie midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo, who sent a free kick into the 18-yard box and found fellow rookie defender Julie Johnston who headed the ball just right of the goal.

The Red Stars kept up with high pressure getting several looks on goal but would finally connect in the 33rd minute when DiBernardo had another cross that bobbled in the 6-yard box and Hoy was there to chip it over the Houston goalkeeper to put the Red Stars up 1-0.

Veteran Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi made her National Women’s Soccer League debut, coming into the match in the 60th minute. She provided an immediate added spark on attack for the Red Stars when she won a header that flicked onto Hoy. Hoy took on Henninger 1v1 but the Dash goalkeeper made a spectacular save to keep her team in the match.

The Dash had one of their best looks of the match in late game stoppage time when Tiffany McCarty got free and blasted a shot that went just over the crossbar. It would be the last opportunity for Houston as time ticked out and the Red Stars earned the home win.

The Red Stars will now head out for four straight games on the road, playing two games in a row in Boston and a game each in Houston and New Jersey. The next home game for the Red Stars will be on Wednesday, June 4th for a rematch versus the Washington Spirit. For tickets, visit chicagoredstars.com/tickets/ or call 773-697-8699.

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