Stars and Bay play to stalemate

Chicago Stars FC 1-1 Bay FC

BRIDGEVIEW, IL—On one hand, the Stars are getting points. On the other, they are winless in their last twelve this season and last eleven at home dating back to last September. Sunday was the fourth draw in the last five after drawing with Bay FC, 1-1, at SeatGeek Stadium.

It was another hot and humid afternoon in Bridgeview, but the tempo at times was just as hot. It just didn’t result in shots on target all the time as the Stars had just two shots on target out of ten total, while Bay had just three shots on target from 13. 

While the Stars have improved defensively in recent games, there was still the odd bad bounce or lapse. In the 29th minute, a Bay corner was headed in the air by Natalie Kuikka and went straight to the feet of Taylor Huff who managed to shoot it past Maitane and Alyssa Naeher to give Bay the lead. 

The Stars would manage to equalize in the 42nd minute. Off a flick on from Ally Schlegel, Groom beat out Caroline Conti and the put the ball past Caprice Dydasco and Jordan Silkowitz for the equalizer. 

There was a bit of controversy late as two potential attacks for the Stars were ended by foul calls. One of those led to Stars interim coach Ella Masar tossing her cap in disgust and earning her a booking. She did not hold back in the post match press conference.

“This is where I’m gonna get in trouble,” said Masar. “I’m tired of the refs. I’m gonna pay a fine for this, but every game. This is eight times now.

“They’ve gotten it wrong. And we can do our job, and you can say we’re not trying to make an excuse, but it has to be better. Whoever’s watching, it has to be better. This is the last straw. We get it.

“We get a call wrong. They tell us that it’s wrong, and then nobody holds them accountable. Nobody. It’s not a slap on the wrist. This changes the game over and over and over again.

“And I have eight times that has changed the trajectory of how we come out on this end. And I’m tired of it…The refs need to be held accountable.”

The officiating aside, there has been a different vibe to the Stars over the past couple weeks where they have been more aggressive and relentless. 

“We’ve always been a transition team, at least since we’ve both been here, but we haven’t really put it all together where we’re pressing and going at teams and like being a relentless team the whole game,” said Stars defender Sam Staab. “And I feel like we’re starting to do that or she’s basically forcing us to and it’s helping. I think this team has needed direction and it’s not really that big of a shift, but at least the direction is like go forward, play forward, run forward, run, period.”

The Stars now travel to Seattle to play the Reign a week from Monday at 9pm CT on CBSSN. Bay FC host San Diego Wave on Saturday at 7pm PT on Ion.

Photos by Leslie Smith

SCORING SUMMARY:
BAY-Taylor Huff (unassisted) 29
CHI-Shea Groom (Schlegel) 42

BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Ella Masar (caution, dissent) 86

CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3):  #1-Alyssa Naeher; #32-Taylor Malham, #3-Sam Staab, #6-Kathrin Hendrich, #12-Natalie Kuikka; #77-Maitane, #10-Shea Groom, #24-Jenna Bike (#26-Nadia Gomes 67); #21-Julia Grosso (#23-Micayla Johnson 90+4), #14-Ludmilla (#16-Manaka Hayashi 46), #34-Ally Schlegel (#20-Bea Franklin 68)

Subs not used:  #19-Mackenzie Wood, #2-Samantha Cary, #7-Ava Cook, #13-Leilanni Nesbeth, #30-Camryn Biegalski  

BAY FC (4-2-3-1):  #29-Jordan Silkowitz; #20-Alyssa Malonson (#18-Joelle Anderson 88), #11-Kelli Hubly, #3-Caprice Dydasco, #7-Taylor Huff; #41-Hannah Bebar (#23-Kiki Pickett 66), #15-Caroline Conti (#14-Jamie Shepard 66); #55-Penelope Hocking (#17-Catherine Paulson 79), #12-Tess Boade, #21-Rachel Hill (#5-Karlie Lema 46); #9-Rachael Kundananji

Subs not used:  #32-Emmie Allen, #99-Leah Freeman, #24-Maddie Moreau

TOTAL SHOTS:  CHI 10-13 BAY
SHOTS ON GOAL:  CHI 2-3 BAY
FOULS:  CHI 15-9 BAY
OFFSIDES:  CHI 0-0 BAY
CORNER KICKS:  CHI 6-8 BAY
SAVES:  CHI 2-1 BAY

Referee:  JC Griggs
Assistant Referees:  Seth Martin, Ethan Buege
Fourth Official:  Carlos Rodriguez
VAR:  Jaclyn Metz
AVAR:  Rhett Hammil
Attendance:  3,624
Weather:  Mostly Sunny and 88º
Woman of the Match:  Shea Groom (CHI)

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