The Red Stars posted an impressive first half of the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Regular Season and are currently ranked third in the NWSL with a 4-1-4 record.
The Red Stars kicked off the regular season by making some major business moves, announcing their front-of-jersey partner, CIBC, in a multiyear deal. This was followed by another multiyear partnership with Sloan, as the club’s official water efficiency partner and jersey sponsor. Earlier in 2022, the Red Stars also teamed up with US Fertility and Fertility Centers of Illinois to provide education and reproductive care to players, United Airlines as the club’s official airline sponsor and travel partner for all away games, Powering Chicago, and the Forgotten Dogs Foundation.
The season started with a bang as The Red Stars took down Racing Louisville for the first time in club history in the home opener April 30. Ella Stevens scored a goal in the first minute of the match from a Danielle Colaprico assist, followed by a goal in the 25th minute by Bianca St-Georges to claim the 2-1 victory. Making the win even sweeter, both goals were the first regular season goals for Stevens and St-Georges.
The Red Stars had their only loss in San Diego against the Wave in the second match of the season, with five rookies making appearances during the match. Ava Cook scored her first NWSL goal, breaking the Wave’s streak of no goals to that point in the season. The Red Stars quickly bounced back, winning 4-2 against the Orlando Pride Sunday, May 22 thanks to goals from Sarah Griffith, Bianca St-Georges and two from Mallory Pugh. Griffith’s goal was her first professional and regular season NWWL goal.
Since the loss against San Diego, the Red Stars have not lost a single match, posting draws against the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit (twice), and the Kansas City Current while adding a 1-0 win against Orlando in June.
The Red Stars added six rookies to the roster ahead of the 2022 Challenge Cup: Jill Aguilera, Ava Cook, Samantha Fisher, Channing Foster, Sarah Griffith and Mikenna McManus, with Amanda Kowalski joining the Red Stars following an injury to Tierna Davidson. Aguilera, Cook, Griffith, Fisher and Kowalski have become regular-season regulars, with Cook and Griffith each scoring a goal so far this season.
As a result of the Red Stars’ impressive season thus far, Mallory Pugh is currently ranked third in the NWSL for Goals with six, ranked just below Portland’s Sophia Smith with 8 and San Diego’s Alex Morgan with 11. Pugh also is ranked third for Shots On Goal with 19 total. Ava Cook holds the top spot in the league for Assists with three, in addition to one goal. As a team, the Red Stars are ranked fourth in goals with 14 total, and are ranked second for assists with ten.
Red Stars Mallory Pugh and Alyssa Nahaer were called up for international duty on the United States Women’s National Team, and Bianca St-Georges was called up for Canada’s National Team. Ava Cook also was called up to the United States U-23 National Team to play two friendly matches against Sweden and India’s U-23 teams.
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