The Chicago Red Stars are having the best season of their short history, and scoring sensation Christen Press is leading the way. The Red Stars were founded in 2007, hence the hashtag #crs07, and this is the first season in which they reached the postseason. Today is their regular season finale, versus World Cup Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd and the Houston Dash.
It’s 4 p.m. at Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire, instead of at the Red Stars’ usual home, Illinois Benedictine University. Next week, they’ll be back at Toyota Park to host a National Women’s Soccer League semi-final game.
The nine team NWSL has a post-season that is just like the Final Four in college basketball- two semifinals, then one final, single elimination. The #2 seed Red Stars will take on the #3 seed FC Kansas City (the defending NWSL champs) Sunday September 13th. If they win, the Red Stars will play in the NWSL title game on October 1st in Portland (that game will be on FOX Sports 1).
It’s clearly not hyperbole to say that this is the best season in Red Stars history, and that today brings the most exciting regular season game in #crs07 history.
You’re coming off the post-World Cup buzz, which you really didn’t have in 2007 and 2011, and you’re facing the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Most Valuable Player.
For Chicago, leading scorer Christen Press has nine goals in just ten games, ranking her near the top of the NWSL. Had the Palos Verdes, California native been able to play the entire season, she likely would have won the scoring title.
“I think the success I’ve had stems from a combination of the freedom I’m given when I play for Chicago and playing in a forward position where I’m really comfortable,” Christen Press said via the club’s official website.
“Given it’s been a balancing act between several different objectives this year, I’m proud of how I’ve managed that and that I’ve been able to help the team by scoring some goals.”
She’s not the finished product though, not by a long shot. We saw that during the World Cup. Jill Ellis moved her from forward to the wing and that didn’t work out for anybody. Ellis really didn’t play Press all that much in the knockout round.
“Truth be told, I wouldn’t rate all my performances since coming back that highly,” said Christen Press.
“I’ve had a few good games and a few games that could have been better. Part of that is being really tired after a funky season. I was super fit heading to Canada with the U.S. team and then a bit exhausted when I came back. Now it’s about building my fitness back up, which is hard to do in season.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
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