**HOUSTON, Tx.** – The Chicago Red Stars earned a big road result as a second consecutive 1-0 scoreline ended in their favor, with first-year forward Penelope Hocking scoring the game’s lone goal in the 69 ^th minute.
Houston came close to scoring first following a corner kick in the 14 ^th minute that forced a goal line clearance out of the Red Stars. Attacker María Sánchez swung in a dangerous ball toward the back post that was headed back across goal toward the far side netting. Leaping to make an acrobatic clearance, Chicago forward Ella Stevens was the only one to prevent the game’s opening goal from happening as she cleared it in the nick of time to keep the match level.
Five minutes later, Chicago was on the attack through Stevens who fed teammate Sarah Griffith in on goal. Receiving the pass near the top of the box, Griffith settled herself and was able to fire on goal despite onrushing Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. However, Campbell’s ability to close space allowed her to repel the shot and end the move.
A relatively tame rest of the first half saw Chicago create one more big chance, but this time it was Houston who made a goal line clearance in the final few seconds of the half to prevent an opening goal before the break. Chicago defender Bianca St-Georges was chasing a pass into the right side of the box where she was able to squeeze a low shot past Campbell. With not quite enough power to burst over the line, Houston defender Caprice Dydasco cleared it just a couple of feet from the goal’s entrance and the danger was cleared.
The second half brought more with it as Chicago created a brief look in front of goal after 57 minutes. Stevens produced some nifty footwork that saw her break into the penalty area where she squared a pass for her teammate Griffith, but her shot was blocked away as the Red Stars continued to ask questions of the Houston back line.
Then, two chances just seconds apart saw Sánchez and forward Ebony Salmon keep Chicago goalkeeper Emily Boyd on her toes in the 65 ^th minute. First, Sánchez pulled up from distance and nearly saw a laser of a shot sneak in the far post only to be pulled just wide in the end. Just after that, the forward Salmon took a pass and fired on goal from just inside the penalty area, but Boyd was equal to that as well and all remained scoreless.
In the 69 ^th minute, though, Chicago got their first and the game’s only goal of the night as rookie forward Penelope Hocking lifted a ball across the line from just a few yards out to put the Red Stars in front. An initial shot from outside the box via midfielder Cari Roccaro was deflected on its way in and landed perfectly in front of an unmarked Hocking in the left side of the box. Hocking then pushed a simple shot over the line and into a relatively unguarded back of the net to put her team ahead.
The last look for Houston in front of goal came in the 76 ^th minute as an initial corner was cleared only for the ball to find its way to Salmon a yard or two inside the penalty area on the rebound. Known for her prolific scoring record against Chicago, Salmon opted to have another go as she lobbed a ball back into the penalty area that looked more a shot than a cross, but the ball landed just high of Boyd’s goal as Houston remained frustrated in their pursuit of a goal.
Chicago would ultimately survive Houston’s late push and cling onto their 1-0 home win for a second straight win. Houston, meanwhile, is winless in six straight in all competitions now as the Red Stars earned revenge for an early April loss in Bridgeview.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights