Chicago Red Stars Defeat Bay FC 2-1

The Chicago Red Stars bounced back from a catastrophic mistake and defeated Bay FC 2-1 in San Jose thanks to goals from two members of their 2023 draft class.

Penelope Hocking, Chicago’s first-round pick in 2023, scored before halftime to tie the match and Ally Schlegel, Chicago’s second-round pick in 2023, scored the match-winner in the 63rd minute and propelled their side to three points after losing their previous two matches.

Hocking told reporters in the pre-match press conference that she’d been working on “getting in scoring positions and having more composure in front of goal” and was rewarded with her first goal of the 2024 NWSL season a day later.

It couldn’t have started worse for the Red Stars as they found themselves down a goal after eight minutes through a careless mistake in the back. Alyssa Naeher attempted to clear a ball out from her own penalty area but her kick deflected off the shoulder of Bay FC’s Tess Boade and into Chicago’s net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Things turned in Chicago’s favor after that and they were able to score one before the halftime break.

Sam Staab played a ball from inside Chicago’s own half of the pitch that floated over Bay FC’s backline to Penelope Hocking. Chicago’s number 55 fought off the defender and ripped a shot across the face of goal and in to tie the match at one in the 30th minute.

Chicago continued to press in the second half and were rewarded with a second goal in the 63rd minute.

Jameese Joseph and Mallory Swanson combined down the right side, creating space for Joseph to take the ball into the Bay FC penalty area. Joseph’s shot was blocked but fell to Ally Schlegel on her left. Schlegel took a touch and hammered a right-footed shot into the corner of the net.

The Red Stars had a great chance to take a 3-1 lead after Penelope Hocking won a penalty kick but Mallory Swanson’s effort from the spot was saved.

Bay FC’s Deyna Castellanos had a great chance to tie the match in the 90th minute but her shot was just wide and that was enough for the Red Stars to secure three points on the road over one of the two NWSL expansion teams.

Match Observations

Bay FC took the 1-0 lead in the eighth minute and it was as lucky a goal as you will ever see. Sam Staab played the ball back to Alyssa Naeher and the goalkeeper’s clearance attempt deflected off Bay FC’s Tess Boade and into the net. You can’t draw up a worse way to go down a goal on the road and the Red Stars will be seeing this play on NWSL blooper reels forever.

The Red Stars bounced back quickly and registered a solid chance in the tenth minute through Mallory Swanson. Ally Schlegel headed the ball onto Penelope Hocking and Chicago’s number 55 made a run into Bay FC’s penalty area. Hocking played a perfect pass between two defenders to find Swanson but her shot was saved by Katelyn Rowland. Hocking deserves loads of credit for threading the needle with her pass but Swanson needed to go to either side of Rowland with her shot.

Mallory Swanson made one of her patented mega runs from inside Chicago’s own half of the pitch in the 22nd minute and it created some chaos. Swanson ran down the middle of the pitch with the ball, cut to her left and hit a shot that would’ve tested the goalkeeper but former Red Stars defender Kayla Sharples blocked the effort out for a corner kick. The subsequent corner kick from Sam Staab was claimed by Katelyn Rowland but it was a necessary bit of possession for Chicago after having very little going forward in the previous ten minutes.

The Red Stars should’ve gone down 2-0 in the 27th minute. Bay FC’s Caprice Dydasco made her way down the right side after a few passes and had plenty of space with the ball. Dydasco played a perfect cross to the far post and found Princess but Bay FC’s number seven missed the open net completely with her header.

Sam Staab’s passing from Chicago’s backline brings so much to this Red Stars squad and she showed why in the 30th minute. Staab had the ball deep in her own half of the pitch and played a gorgeous ball over the top of Bay FC’s backline to Penelope Hocking in the middle of the field. Hocking timed her run perfectly and held off Bay FC’s Jennifer Beattie as she claimed Staab’s cross, took a few dribbles and hammered a right-footed effort across the face of goal and into the back of the net. The feed from Staab was top-tier and it helped propel Hocking to her first goal of the 2024 season while tying the match at one.

Bay FC combined well to create a chance moments after conceding but Alyssa Naeher protected her post well. Savy King found Princess on the left side and her effort was heading into the net before Naeher got herself in front of the shot to deny Bay FC. It was a great response from Bay FC but Naeher positioned herself so the save was routine.

Chicago played themselves back in the game through a plethora of long balls from their backline and took the 1-1 scoreline into halftime. The Red Stars outshot Bay FC four-three overall in the first half but both sides had two on-target efforts before the break.

Tatumn Milazzo was removed from the match at halftime after going down in the first half with what appeared to be a leg injury.

Maxi Rall had to mark Princess and the Bay FC attacker managed to get around Chicago’s right back in the 48th minute. Princess had a ball played to her by Jennifer Beattie and cut to her right but floated her shot just wide of the far post. Princess had Rall on her heels but the Red Stars’ right back did enough to force the shot to fly wide of the net.

Sam Staab’s long passes from open play are enough of a threat but she created a chance with a long throw in the 55th minute. Staab made a long throw from the right side that was headed in front of goal by Maxi Rall. Leilanni Nesbeth was there but made marginal contact with the ball before it was corralled by Katelyn Rowland.

The Red Stars finally took the lead in the 63rd minute thanks to some wonderful work from multiple attackers in the build up. Jameese Joseph played a give and go with Mallory Swanson on the right and hit a shot that was blocked over to Schlegel on the left. Schlegel took a moment and placed her shot perfectly into the far corner of the net to give her side the 2-1 lead. The finish from Schlegel was sensational but the build-up from Joseph created the chance.

Chicago had a great chance to take a 3-1 lead but weren’t able to find the frame with a shot in the 70th minute. Mallory Swanson had the ball on the left side of Bay FC’s penalty area and played a lovely cross in front of goal. Penelope Hocking got a boot on the ball but it flew wide of the net, sparing Bay FC from a two-goal deficit.

The Red Stars had an even better opportunity to take the 3-1 lead in the 81st minute but Mallory Swanson had a very poor effort from the penalty spot that was saved easily by Katelyn Rowland. Penelope Hocking was taken down by Kayla Sharples in the Bay FC penalty area and, after a VAR check, was awarded a penalty kick. Unfortunately for Chicago, Swanson hit a terrible PK and it was saved easily by Katelyn Rowland.

Bay FC had a great chance to equalize in the 90th minute but the shot from Deyna Castellanos just missed the target. Caprice Dydasco played a fabulous ball from near midfield to Castellanos at the edge of Chicago’s penalty area. Castellanos had space and hit a shot that trickled just wide of the far post, silencing the crowd in San Jose who thought they’d witnessed a leveler.

Both sides finished the match with nine shots but the Red Stars doubled Bay FC’s shots on goal four-two.

Leilanni Nesbeth made her first professional start and played the entire match while wreaking havoc in the midfield. Head coach Lorne Donaldson said that Nesbeth looked like the player they expected to have when they drafted her in the first round of this year’s draft out of Florida State.

“That’s why we drafted her, it was a position we actually needed. She’s been a little bit injured but we had a chat last week I said ‘listen, just go as hard as you can and if it happens it happens.’ She’s quick. She’s a natural in that position and we needed that. And she’s just unbelievably fearless, so she will tackle the heck out of you.”

Penelope Hocking’s 30th minute goal was her first of the season and she said she was happy with the chances she was creating in San Jose.

“I think I got in front of goal more, gave myself more opportunities,” said Hocking. “Part of that is just playing in a position that’s more central but I think I created more opportunities for myself and my team got me in those spots as well.”

Ally Schlegel’s goal was her fourth of the season, doubling the total from her rookie season last year. She says that she’s finally feeling comfortable in her spot with the Red Stars.

“I think there's a change in mindset to be completely honest,” said Schlegel. Last year, you come into it nervous, to rookie year, there's all these things flying around and trying to learn so much being a sponge. And I wouldn't change anything about my rookie year. There was a lot of growth that happened there, but I think this year has just been stepping into the confidence that was probably there all along. But, you know, you don't know what you don't know. And that's just the reality of it. So I think this year, I've grown a lot and our team and this environment that Lorne [Donaldson] has created here is just incredible, and I think it has allowed all of us to flourish.”

What’s On Tap Next?

The Red Stars will be back at home on March 12 when they host the Utah Royals in Bridgeview. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on NWSL+.

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