Loyden -"mine"!Saint Louis Athletica may not have had many opportunities during Saturday night’s WPS contest against the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park but the chances they did get they made count. And the chances the Red Stars got Athletica goalkeeper Jillian Loyden made count.
Loyden denied Chicago in the 17th minute with a dramatic save against Brazil’s Cristiane. Karen Carney struck a perfect corner kick that Cristiane headed on goal but Loyden was able to get a hand to it and push it over the top of the cross bar. The save was the first of what would prove to be a very productive night for Athletica’s deputy keeper. Loyden faced six Chicago shots on goal and turned away each one, three of which were goal bound chances.
The game stayed scoreless going into the 26th minute with very little going towards either teams net until Eniola Aluko struck. Aluko was able to use her speed on the left wing to turn the corner on Chicago’s back line. As she came in to the edge of the six-yard box she found herself one-on-one with Red Star Goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson. Aluko’s attempted pass to Kerri Hanks deflected off Ifeoma Dieke and over Jonsson before falling on the other side of the goal line.
From that point onward Saint Louis turned in a master class performance. An especially encouraging result considering they were without Lori Chalupny and Hope Solo (U.S. National Team duty), Melissa Tancredi (Canadian Team National Team duty), and Kia McNeill (serving a one game suspension). Chicago was without four regular starters as well, Carli Lloyd, Lindsay Tarpley , Megan Rapinoe, and Marian Dalmy. The absences of star power seemed to bother Athletica less as Saint Louis kept up the pressure and took a commanding 2-0 lead minutes before halftime.
Eniola Aluko was again involved. This time driving home a powerful right-footed shot from 10 yards out on a ball that Kendall Fletcher had struck and which fell to Aluko.
The second half Chicago outshot Athletica by a 12-5 margin overall and put six shots on goal, all of which Loyden handled.The Red Stars best opportunity of the second half came late as Frida Ostberg made a bid to get Chicago back in the game. A rare glimpse of open space in Athletica’s back line allowed Ostberg to drive in a shot from just inside the penalty area on the right wing that Loyden kick saved as she went to the turf. The save preserved the shutout for Loyden and Athletica. Who have now posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time the season.
Athletica is now on a two game winning streak and undefeated in their last four. The win moves Athletica into a fifth place tie with Chicago. Chicago and Saint Louis are even on points, goal differential, and wins.
Chicago are in a 3 game loss slump. They haven't scored in those 3 games and confidence is low. This is the time for the coaches to start earning their money.
“We were in a similar situation to Chicago, we lost our first two games,” said Barcellos. “We were able to find our game today and get three points away from home.”
“Typical strikers goal,” stated Aluko. “Ball fell to me perfectly and I just tried to put it away.”
"We'll evaluate as a coaching staff what we need to do, and I think this is a time the team as a whole have to come together, along with the staff, we have to find solutions to things which in my opinion are not based off of ability," Hayes said. "They're based mentally. We have to develop a collective and a focus when we've conceded goals and the game's not going our way. For us we're better than we're showing at the moment."
Line-ups:
Chicago Red Stars – Jönsson; Igwe (Adams, 46), Krzysik (Garriock, 46; Wenino, 56), Dieke, Spilger; Oakes, Östberg, Klein; Carney, Masar, Cristiane.
Saint Louis – Loyden; Cross, Ellertson, Larsson, Weber; Francielle, Stoia (Walter, 70), Woznuk, Fletcher; Aluko, Hanks (Welsh, 88).
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