Tri-Cities Soccer Players Help Chicago Red Stars Take Over 1st Place in Division

The Chicago Red Stars moved into first place in the Women's Premier Soccer League's Midwest-North Division with a 5-0 victory over the Iowa Rush on Saturday at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.

Four players netted goals for the Red Stars, with Amanda Cinalli (Cleveland, OH) leading the way with two tallies. Julie Ewing (Batavia) and Jackie Santacaterina (Geneva) also registered goals, and Michele Weissenhofer (Naperville) had two assists as the Red Stars won their fifth straight and improved to 5-1-0 (15 points).

Chicago moves ahead of FC Milwaukee Nationals (4-2-1, 13 points) in the Midwest-North standings. Iowa falls to 2-5-1 (7 points). 

The Red Stars' next public home match takes place at 6 p.m. July 10, when they host Minnesota Kings FC in Benedictine University. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating. For tickets and more information about the Red Stars, visit www.ChicagoRedStars.com.

On Saturday, Cinalli gave the Red Stars an early 1-0 lead in the 9th minute. Weissenhofer provided the assist with a feed from the left side. Cinalli shot to the near right post, and the ball trickled in after Rush goalkeeper Andrea Swanson could not firmly grasp the shot.

Ewing got into the scoring act in the 28th minute when her shot from the left side found the far right side of the net to take a 2-0 lead. Red Stars goalkeeper Jamie Forbes (St. Charles), who did not have to register a save, helped out on the offensive side with the assist for Ewing. Ewing nearly had a second goal in the 31st minute when her 25-yard strike hit the crossbar.

Chicago's offense continued to push in the second half. Santacaterina gave the Red Stars a 3-0 lead when she headed in a Weissenhofer flip throw-in in the 52nd minute. Then in the 72nd minute, Nasenbenny netted her first Red Stars goal when she tapped in the ball off of a Ewing assist from the left side.

Cinalli wrapped up Chicago's scoring barrage with her second goal of the match in the 81st minute. Though Vanessa DiBernardo(Naperville, Ill.) was not credited with an assist because Swanson knocked away DiBernardo's strong cross, the University of Illinois sophomore was instrumental in Cinalli's goal coming to fruition. The Rush was unable to clear the ball, and Cinalli stepped up for the score.

Swanson kept Iowa in the match with some key saves late in the first half. In the 41st minute, Swanson jumped up to bat away a DiBernardo shot over the crossbar. A few minutes later Swanson stretched to her left to turn away a Leigh Jakes (McDonough, Ga.) shot that looked like it was heading to the inside of the far right post.

DiBernardo also was unlucky on a couple of occasions in the second half, hitting the right post in the 51st and 79th minutes.

The Red Stars dominated in possession, posting a 31-1 shots advantage and a 14-0 shots on goal advantage. It was not until the 86th minute when the Rush pushed a shot wide left of the goal.

Iowa Rush (2-5-1, 7 points) at Chicago Red Stars (5-1-0, 15 points)
Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, Lisle, Ill.

 CHICAGO RED STARS 5, IOWA RUSH 0
Iowa     0    0    -    0
Chicago 2    3    -    5
 

SCORING SUMMARY
1. CHI, Amanda Cinalli (Michele Weissenhofer), 9th min.; 2. CHI, Julie Ewing (Jamie Forbes), 28th min.; 3. CHI, Jackie Santacaterina (Michele Weissenhofer) 52nd min.; 4. CHI, Katie Nasenbenny (Julie Ewing), 72nd min.; 5. CHI, Amanda Cinalli (unassisted), 81st min.

Iowa starters: Andrea Swanson (GK), Brittany Schuling, MacKenzie Misel, Megan Fuller, Julia Adler, Megan Long, Megan Fisher, Amanda Woelfel, Sam Copley, Lindsey Bardole, Allie Brees.

Chicago starters: Jamie Forbes (GK), Carly Samp, Kara Kabellis, Amanda Cinalli, Julie Ewing, Elise Weber, Sammy Scofield, Michele Weissenhofer, Kecia Morway, Jackie Santacaterina, Vanessa DiBernardo.

STATISTICS:
Shots: Chicago 31, Iowa 1
Shots on goal: Chicago 14, Iowa 0
Saves: Chicago (Jamie Forbes) 0, Iowa (Andrea Swanson) 9
Corner kicks: Chicago 7, Iowa 0
Cautions and ejections:
None

About the Chicago Red Stars:

The Chicago Red Stars are playing in their first season in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) after spending the 2009 and 2010 seasons in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). The Red Stars play their public home games at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex in west suburban Lisle, Ill. Tickets are $10 for general admission seating. For tickets and more information about the Red Stars, visit www.ChicagoRedStars.com.