**Bridgeview, Illinois** – The Chicago Red Stars relied on an early second half winner from forward Mallory Pugh to defeat OL Reign in the first of four Saturday contests across the league. The win is Chicago’s third on the season and second in the last four games.
In the 23 ^rd minute, OL Reign’s Lauren Barnes produced an unlikely effort from distance that forced Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher into action. Playing a one-two with forward Bethany Balcer, Barnes collected the return pass and lined up a left-footed shot near 20 yards out from goal, but Naeher was able to leap backward and get a solid set of hands on the effort to repel it and preserve the team’s clean sheet.
Then, in the 30 ^th minute, it was Chicago’s turn to threaten on goal with forward Mallory Pugh striving ahead and trying to make the most of an opportunity in front of goal. Taking the ball from midfield and into attack, Pugh slipped down the left side of the field and made her way into the penalty area where she was able to work the ball onto her right foot. Firing low, Pugh was ultimately denied by OL Reign goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce as the shot stopper got big in front of goal to deny the attacker her opportunity.
In the final couple of minutes in the first half, Chicago created one more opportunity to force Tullis-Joyce into a save. Following a set-piece situation that the Reign defense initially cleared outside the box, Chicago’s Jillienne Aguilera swung hard with her right foot to drive the ball at goal but Tullis-Joyce was in good position to make the save.
At the break, neither side was able to break through as chances fell few and far between, though the hosts looked the more likely of the two to score.
Starting the second half how they ended the first, it took Chicago just 56 seconds into the second half to open the scoring on the afternoon, though, with Mallory Pugh producing a stunning effort that landed in the top left corner. Fed into the penalty area by a pass from halftime substitute Samantha Fisher, Pugh cut inside past a defender before lifting a left-footed effort to the far corner and in as Chicago leapt to an early second half lead.
Then, near the hour mark, midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo had a well-struck shot from outside the box repelled by Tullis-Joyce, who produced a fantastic save to keep the dipping effort from finding the back of the net. As far OL Reign’s search for a goal, the Red Stars were doing well to allow the visitors possession while looking to pounce on a turnover and head the other direction.
Though momentum seemed one directional, OL Reign weren’t without chances and nearly changed the trajectory of the match in the 70 ^th minute. Charging ahead, midfielder Rose Lavelle got plenty on the end of a left-footed shot that sailed toward Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher from distance. However, the powerful shot could not find the goalframe and instead whistled over the crossbar and out of play.
In the 75 ^th minute, Chicago again charged at the OL Reign goal seeking a second on the day. Unsurprisingly, it was forward Mallory Pugh who worked her way into the box and found a narrow angle between the endline and a defender at the near post, but Tullis-Joyce was again equal to her shot as she saw the effort away and the chance went by.
The best opportunity of the night for OL Reign came just five minutes later, this time for forward Bethany Balcer. Sprinting into the right side of the penalty area, Balcer produced a bit of skill that left a defender on the floor as she cut in and onto her left foot. Lifting a ball to the back post, Balcer’s strike looked almost cross-cum-shot but regardless, nearly found the top corner on its way over the line.
Back Chicago’s way, Mallory Pugh had another shot saved by Reign’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce at the near post. In the 84 ^th minute, a long ball over the top sent Pugh on a chase and, beating a Reign defender to the ball, she was able to go clear of the defensive line and race in for a near 1v1 situation. Shifting down toward the endline, Pugh slid a low effort on goal that Tullis-Joyce again sent back and out for a corner that nothing came of.
The visiting Reign would push for an equalizer all the way through the five minutes of stoppage time, but ultimately fell short as Red Stars forward Mallory Pugh separated the two sides with a 46 ^th minute strike that stood as Chicago’s winner on Saturday afternoon. The clean sheet is Chicago’s first of the year as they extend their unbeaten run to four games.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights