By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium.
The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four matches.
Against the Spirit, they trailed 3-0 late in the game until Ally Schlegel scored in the 79th minute. Stars rookie Leilanni Nesbeth scored her first career goal in stoppage time.
Maxi Rall of the Red Stars moves the ball in a 4-2 home loss to Washington on May 1 in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva
Schlegel, who came into the game to start the second half, leads the team with three goals.
Trinity Rodman, the daughter of former NBA rebounding master and Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman, scored a goal and added an assist for Washington (5-2-0). Croix Bethune had three assist and Brittany Ratcliffe added two goals.
First-year Red Stars coach Lorne Donaldson was unhappy with the team’s defense, calling it a team breakdown that was “totally out of it.”
“But it’s football,” he said. “Sometimes it happens to the best of them. We’re not one of the best, but sometimes it happens to the best of them.”