Washington Spirit travels to face Chicago Red Stars in Lifetime Game of the Week

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Washington Spirit travels to face Chicago Red Stars in Lifetime Game of the Week

Washington Spirit | June 16, 2017

Washington Spirit (2-5-1, 7 pts) at Chicago Red Stars (5-2-1, 16 pts)
2017 NWSL Regular Season
Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL
Saturday, June 17 – 3:30 p.m. ET
#CHIvWAS | Lifetime TV

Boyds, MD (June 15, 2017) – Following a league-wide international break last weekend, the Washington Spirit (2-5-1, 7 pts) visits the Chicago Red Stars (5-2-1, 16 pts) on Saturday afternoon in the NWSL on Lifetime Game of the Week. Pregame coverage on Lifetime starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Washington comes out of the break seeking to build on a 2-0 shutout win over the Houston Dash at the Maryland SoccerPlex on June 3. Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé racked up seven saves in the win, bringing her season total to 38 which is good for second in the NWSL, as she and the Spirit defense notched their first clean sheet of 2017.

Cheyna Williams scored her first goal of the season in the third minute to give Washington an early lead, and 19-year-old Mallory Pugh netted her first pro goal in the 69th minute to put the game out of reach. Havana Solaun recorded assists on both goals, providing the sole assist to Williams and notching the second assist on Pugh’s strike. Kristie Mewis continued her hot streak for the Spirit attack, providing the primary assist on Pugh’s historic goal.

+READ: NWSL announces kickoff time changes; two Spirit home games moved to Lifetime Game of the Week

Mewis has now scored two goals and assisted two others in her past four games. Solaun leads the Spirit with three goals on the season, which is tied for fourth in the league, followed by Mewis and Nigerian international striker Francisca Ordega with two each.

Chicago enters this weekend unbeaten in its last five games and having won three in a row. In their last outing on June 4, the Red Stars earned a 1-0 clean sheet victory at home against Seattle Reign FC. Alyssa Naeher and the Chicago back line recorded their third shutout of the season, while U.S. Women’s National Team player Christen Press netted the game-winner in the 49th minute on an assist from Sofia Huerta. The Red Stars are unbeaten in their last six home games dating back to last season.

“Chicago presents a difficult challenge, especially at Toyota Park,” said Spirit Head Coach and General Manager Jim Gabarra. “They’re a very difficult team to beat and we look forward to the opportunity to continue our team’s improvement.”

This will be the first meeting between the Spirit and Red Stars since the 2016 NWSL semifinals, when Washington won 2-1 on its home field at the Maryland SoccerPlex. This season, Chicago is tied for the second-lowest goals allowed total in the league, with only seven goals conceded through eight games. On the attacking side, Press leads Chicago with three goals, followed by Julie Ertz and Vanessa DiBernardo with two each. Huerta has been a key playmaker for Chicago, leading the squad with three assists.

+READ: Download the Washington Spirit app for a chance to win a team signed ball

Following this Saturday’s match-up in Chicago, Washington returns home to the SoccerPlex for its next game on June 24 against Portland Thorns FC. [TICKETS]

Tickets for all Washington Spirit home games are available now at Tickets.WashingtonSpirit.com

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