**BRIDGEVIEW, Ill.** – The Chicago Red Stars and Washington Spirit drew 1-1 at SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday night after Spirit forward Ashley Hatch’s penalty kick goal in the 29 ^th minute was cancelled out by an equalizer from Chicago defender Bianca St-Georges just four minutes later. Though Washington more than doubled Chicago’s attacking output statistically (22-10 shots, 6-3 shots on goal) they could not get past the hosts a second time meaning Chicago bounces back from a loss with a draw and the Spirit continue their unbeaten run to start the year (W2 D3).
Chances went back and forth in the opening half hour with both teams having looks on goal, though ultimately neither would convert. In the 10 ^th minute, Washington defender Gabrielle Carle was in possession on the left side of the field where she threaded a pass forward for attacker Ashley Hatch to latch onto. However, out came Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to thwart the move with Naeher arriving just milliseconds ahead of Hatch to collect the ball. On the other end, Red Stars midfielder Ella Stevens had a beautiful free kick from just left of center fall inches over the cross bar and out of play in the 18 ^th minute. Then, in the 24 ^th minute, Washington was back on the attack with midfielder Paige Metayer having a headed effort saved by Naeher following a cross from the right via defender Amber Brooks.
However, a major turn of events came when Stevens was judged to have fouled Spirit forward Trinity Rodman in the box resulting in a penalty decision for Washington. Rodman was sprinting onto a ball and coming from behind Stevens, when the Chicago midfielder stuck out a leg that Rodman tumbled over in her advancements leaving forward Ashley Hatch to take the penalty. Hatch was then able to convert from 12 yards out despite Naeher diving the correct way and Washington took a 1-0 lead.
Wasting no time after going down though, Chicago bounced back near immediately with an equalizer just four minutes later as Bianca St-Georges and Ally Schlegel combined for a great team goal in the 33 ^rd minute. St-Georges was on the ball heading toward the Washington penalty area when she spotted a potential run from Schlegel and timed the pass perfectly to beat the offside trap and send the forward into the penalty area and onto the ball. Schlegel then needed just one touch before she picked out the return run from St-Georges dead center of the penalty area, and St-Georges tapped home to bring her side back level.
Washington had one final opportunity to restore their lead before the break as a short corner eventually resulted in Hatch playing a long ball to the back post toward teammate Tara McKeown. Attempting to hit the ball on the first time asking though, McKeown was unable to keep her shot down and her effort sailed high.
Into the second half, Hatch missed a header from just a few yards out that sailed wide of the goalmouth in the 48 ^th minute and Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury made a great save on St-Georges from close in in the 54 ^th minute as the two sides traded chances in the opening minutes of the second half. Then in the 71 ^st minute, Washington came close again as McKeown had a shot from close in blocked following an enticing corner.
The final ten minutes of the game where almost all Washington then beginning with a free kick in the 80 ^th minute that defender Sam Staab attempted to make something of, though ultimately the Red Stars defense got the ball away. Three minutes later, McKeown had another shot from a few yards out blocked away before a follow up cross in from Brooks was hastily cleared by the Chicago back line. Finally, another shot on Naeher’s goal in the 87 ^th minute–this time from the forward Rodman–forced the goalkeeper into action again as she saved at the near post to end the chance.
The game means that Chicago now has a won, a draw, and a loss in its three home games this year while the Spirit pick up a second consecutive draw following their scoreless tumble with the Houston Dash last weekend.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights