Stars ‘rock bottom’ after loss to Wave

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—It’s hard to know if this is rock bottom for the Stars, or if it could actually get worse. It could not get much worse than it is now for the Stars who are back to being rock bottom of the league after a 3-0 loss to San Diego Wave. It is the sixth straight home loss for the Stars dating back to last season and the 10th loss in the last 12 including last season’s playoff loss to Orlando.

The Stars were on the attack most of the first half and outshot San Diego, 6-2, in the first half, but just two of the shots were on target saved by Kailen Sheridan. The one shot on goal the Wave got in the first half went in.

Off a corner in the 31st minute, Ally Schlegel headed the ball up in the air inside the area, but wasn’t cleared out and it wound up at the feet Hanna Lundkvist who struck it past Alyssa Naeher for the opening score.

Nothing appeared would go right for the Stars. The best chances in the second half were to Schlegel and Catherine Barry who would be both denied by Sheridan.

In the 82nd minute, Maria Sanchez sent a cross to the box to Adriana Leon. Leon’s shot would accidentally be knocked in by Sam Staab for an own goal to make it 2-0. Kimmi Ascanio sealed the three point with a goal three minutes into stoppage time. It was Ascanio’s first professional goal.

For the Stars, it’s just been three goals in first six matches. There is no update on when Mallory Swanson might return. Questions abound about the team’s mentality at this point as well.

“People always say, you need goal scorers,” said Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson. “They’re hard to find. I don’t think we have that killer instinct right now. Those people just score it, you know, who just wants to put it away.

“Because we have players out there, but we’re getting chances. But goal scoring is a different instinct, you know, and some people are made with it. Some people love to be the one who assists, but when I and some people just love to score goals. So, obviously, you know, we’re not scoring goasl. And then a lot of time right now with us right now, I think it’s just a major confidence thing.

“I just think everything comes down to how strong are we. Everybody’s great when they’re winning, but how good is our mentality when we’re losing? Do we have the mentality to to come back? You know? I mean, it’s you have seen a team come back. To me, if there’s a rock bottom, we just hit rock bottom. So we have to crawl out of that right now.”

The Stars will look to regroup next Sunday when they take on Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Kickoff is at noon CT on CBS.

For more of Leslie Smith’s photos, please click on the link to her gallery.

SCORING SUMMARY:
SD-Hanna Lundkvist (unassisted) 31
SD-Sam Staab (own goal) 81
SD-Kimmi Ascanio (Leon) 90+3

BOOKING SUMMARY:
None

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-4-2): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #32-Talyor Malham, #3-Sam Staab, #4-Cari Roccaro, #30-Camryn Biegalski (#26-Nadia Gomes 84); #21-Julia Grosso (#13-Leilani Nesbeth 84), #20-Bea Franklin, #77-Maitane, #8-Jameese Joseph (#23-Micayla Johnson 69); #34-Ally Schlegel (#25-Catherine Barry 69), #14-Ludmilla

Subs not used: #19-Mackenzie Wood, #7-Ava Cook, #10-Shea Groom, #18-Justina Gaynor, #41-Hannah Anderson

SAN DIEGO WAVE FC (4-2-3-1): #1-Kailen Sheridan; #75-Perle Morroni (#14-Kristen McNabb 90+4), #3-Trinity Armstrong, #12-Kennedy Wesley, #6-Hanna Lundkvist; #10-Kenza Dali, #21-Savannah McCaskill, #25-Melanie Barcenas (#7-Maria Sanchez 63), #11-Gia Corley, #20-Delphine Cascarino (#15-Makenzy Robb 90+4); #17-Kimmie Ascanio (#24-Favour Emmanuel 90+4)

Subs Not Used: #31-DiDi Haracic, #9-Adriana Leon, #23-Nya Harrison, #28-Jordan Fusco, #30-Daniela Arias

TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 12-9 SD
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 4-5 SD
FOULS: CHI 10-5 SD
OFFSIDES: CHI 0-1 SD
CORNER KICKS: CHI 3-3 SD
SAVES: CHI 2-4 SD

Referee: Danielle Chesky
Referee’s Assistants: Tiffini Turpin, Jessica Carnevale
Fourth Official: Ryan Shanklin
VAR: Jamie Padilla
AVAR: Rhett Hammil
Weather: Sunny and 53º
Attendance:
Woman of the Match: Hanna Lundkvist (SD)