CHICAGO — The National Women’s Soccer League Announced their Team of the Month for July, with Chicago’s Sam Kerr, Casey Short, Vanessa DiBernardo and Sarah Groden named to the squad. 

DiBernardo had an outstanding July, being directly involved in a goal in three consecutive games. Her assist against Houston propelled her to third all-time in NWSL assists and set up the game-winning goal for Chicago. The following week DiBernardo scored one of the most memorable goals in Red Stars history, scoring the equalizer against North Carolina. Her offensive hot streak carried on the next week against Reign FC, where she would strike a beautiful one-time shot to the far post in Chicago’s 4-0 win. 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kexxx6XLcEI[/embedyt]

Gorden started every game for Chicago in July as part of a Chicago defense that earned two clean sheets and allowed a mere three goals in four games. Against Houston, she made 11 defensive recoveries, won 100% of her duels and helped the Chicago defense hold the Dash scoreless in a player of the match performance. 

Short makes her fourth-consecutive Team of the Month appearance. Short also helped the Red Stars defense keep two clean sheets and concede an average of less than a goal per game alongside Gorden and the backline. She averaged a passing accuracy of 80% or better in two games this month and led the Red Stars in possessions gained or interceptions in three of the four games played in July. Short is the only player in the NWSL this season to make an appearance in every Team of the Month so far. 

Kerr continued to cement herself as the NWSL Golden Boot leader in July, scoring two goals and getting one assist in four games. She scored the game-winning goal against North Carolina following a double-nutmeg to get by a defender and the goalkeeper. The following week she would be involved in half the goals Chicago scored in their 4-0 win over Reign FC. Her no-look pass provided the assist to Vanessa DiBerardo’s goal before she would score a goal late in the game to seal the victory. This season Kerr averages a goal per game, with 11 goals in as many games played.

Sam Kerr with the lovely nutmeg and easy finish to the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/fAhZDTcoH5

— ESPN (@espn) July 21, 2019

DiBernardo, Short, Kerr, and Gorden will be in action this weekend when Chicago takes on the Utah Royals on Saturday, August 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 PM C.T.