**BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.** – The Chicago Red Stars defeated San Diego Wave FC, 1-0, at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night with forward Ella Stevens putting the hosts in front for good in the first minute of first half stoppage. The result still leaves Chicago bottom of the league in 12 ^th place but brings their points total to 13 from 14 games played. Meanwhile, San Diego remains in 6 ^th place with 20 points from 14 games played.
The two teams took their time settling into the match, but San Diego saw the bulk of the first half chances fall their way beginning with a 20 ^th minute opportunity for forward Jaedyn Shaw. Receiving a pass near the top of the center of the box, Shaw spun and turned her way around the defense before unleashing a left-footed shot toward goal. However, her effort sailed high over the crossbar in the end.
One minute later, Chicago nearly countered effectively as defender Bianca St-Georges was sprung down the right side into the penalty area. Aiming for the near post, St-Georges looked on in agony as her shot ricocheted off the inside of the post and back into play, eventually hitting the other post before the Wave were able to get it clear.
San Diego then seemed to regain temporary control, with multiple chances falling their way in the final 15 minutes of the first half. In the 29 ^th minute, a chance for forward Makenzy Doniak at the near post saw her miss high in the end, and 10 minutes later, teammate Taylor Kornieck could not get her shot on frame as well.
A major turning point in the match came in the 41 ^st minute, though, when Makenzy Doniak had put the ball in the back of the net after a chaotic scramble in front of goal eventually saw the forward complete her mission. However, after VAR review, the center official ruled that there was offside in the buildup to the goal and waived it off, restoring the score at nil-nil.
To make the matters worse for San Diego, Chicago would then attack the other side of the field and, in the first minute of stoppage time, buried a chance through forward Ella Stevens. Defender Tatumn Milazzo had found herself running down the right flank when she received a pass. Looking up, Milazzo saw Stevens in the box and rifled a cross that Stevens did well to beat into the back of the net from just a few yards out to give Chicago the lead just before the break.
Into the second half, Chicago had another look on goal through forward Sarah Griffith, though her effort would ultimately land high of the goal frame. Griffith was present for another cluster of bodies fighting for the ball in the box, but as she came away with it, she twisted and turned as she pulled a left-footed shot out. However, the effort was high in the end.
San Diego then began its big push for an equalizer with a double chance for both Doniak and Kornieck in the 71 ^st minute. Doniak had been played into the right side of the box where she fired on goal, forcing a save out of Chicago goalkeeper Emily Boyd. Then, Doniak was able to collect the rebound and play a ball across the face of goal for her teammate Kornieck, but Boyd was quick off her line to pounce on the ball and smother the chance.
The two sides then traded blows for the next few minutes, though neither would find the scoresheet. First, St-Georges flashed a shot across goal in the 75 ^th minute that forced San Diego shotstopper Shae Yañez into a great save. Then, one minute later, substitute Jenna Bike poked a shot between defenders that Yañez did extremely well to react to as she somehow kept it out in the end. Finally, in the 77 ^th minute, San Diego forward Amirah Ali was able to get near a cross at the back post, but she could not make solid contact and the chance went missing.
Despite a late push by the visiting Wave, the Red Stars were able to hold on for a crucial victory that could swing some season momentum back their way.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights