By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
The world’s best kept secret is still a mystery.
The Chicago Red Stars are not releasing information to the public about the severity of a thigh injury or the status of world-class goalie Alyssa Naeher.
What is known is that she did not play in a 2-1 loss to NWSL defending champion Gotham on May 19 in Harrison, N.J.
Naeher injured the thigh during a 3-1 win over Utah May 12 in Bridgeview. It’s difficult to figure if her absence is because she is too hurt to play or if the team is being cautious because she is a few months away from playing for the United States in the Olympics.
Mackenzie Wood took over in the net for Naeher and had some big saves in the first half against Gotham, but gave up goals to Lynn Williams in the 57th minute and former Red Star Ella Stevens in the 90th minute.
“I hate losing and after this, I’m eager to get back on the pitch,” Wood said.
Red Stars coach Lorne Donaldson said there were two mistakes by defenders that led to the two scores.
Penelope Hocking scored her third goal in as many matches and became the first Red Star to do that since Yuki Nagasato in 2019.
“She coming along nicely and she is only going to get better,” Donaldson said of Hocking. “She is a player to be looked at in the future.”
The Red Stars fell to 5-4-1 and lost their first game on the road. Gotham improved to 4-2-3.
Up next
Chicago faces tie-happy Racing Louisville (1-2-6) at 6:30 p.m. on May 25 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
Louisville is 0-1-4 on the road. Its only win was a 5-1 triumph over Utah on April 20. It is coming off a 3-3 tie with Kansas City, which is second in the league.
Fire to play two in Bridgeview
Due to schedule conflicts at Soldier Field because of Chicago Bears games, the Chicago Fire will move two games from the lakefront to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
The Fire will host D.C. United on Sept. 7 and Toronto on Sept. 28 at the Fire’s
Per the lease agreement with Soldier Field, the Fire are unable to host matches within five days of a Bears’ home game. The Bears are scheduled to play regular season games at Soldier Field on Sept. 8 and Sept. 29.
All ticket sales for the two SeatGeek battles go on sale on June 21. Current ticket holders will have these matches temporarily frozen on their accounts as the team works to relocate these seats to SeatGeek Stadium. All fans who purchased their tickets directly from the Chicago Fire will be guaranteed comparable seating locations at SeatGeek Stadium.
Petrucelli named GM in Dallas
Former Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli has been named the general manager of the Dallas Trinity, one of the eight teams in the new United States Soccer Super League, which debuts in August.
He coached the Red Stars in 2022 as the team finished sixth and made it to the NWSL playoffs. But last year, the team finished in last place and the new ownership showed him the door.
On the college level, the was a two-time National Coach of the Year and 1995 NCAA Championship with Texas.
He was also the head coach for the Southern Methodist University women’s soccer team for 10 years before joining the Red Stars.