W-League Recap

Chicago Red Stars W-League affiliate FC Indiana dominated the Minnesota Lightning last Wednesday at Purdue University, but only managed a 1-1 tie against their fellow unbeaten team. If there were any justice or a lesser goalkeeper, FCI would've scored a half dozen goals as the Lionesses outshot Minnesota 27-2. Lightning keeper Ann Marie Gleason made eight saves and received some woodwork help as well.

Lightning Forward Caroline Smith scored a beautiful goal over the outstretched arm of FC Indiana Goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill in the 28th minute. The highlights make the second half seem like a half field match with FC Indiana peppering the Minnesota goal with only an 85th minute shot by Julianne (Lu) Sitch alluding the Lightning goalkeeper.

Here is the game recap and FCI interviews with Coach Shek Borkowski, Forward Lauren Sesselmann and Defender Christie Shaner.

Then on Saturday, FCI demolished the West Michigan Firewomen 9-0 on the road. FCI had a similar shot advantage (31-2) to the Lightning game, but this time they found the back of the net one more time than the US Men did yesterday against Barbados. Laura Del Rio, Monica Ocampo and Veronica (Bhudu) Phewa scored twice each for FCI.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Gaels, who are an official amateur team affiliate of the Red Stars took to the road for three W-League games the last couple weeks. The Gaels beat the Michigan Hawks 3-1 on June 6th and the Fort Wayne Fever 1-0 on June 10th on the road before dropping a hard fought 1-0 match to the Lightning in front of 2,741 fans at Minnesota's National Sports Center on Saturday. Minnesota's Caroline Smith, who scored the Lightning's goal at FCI last Wednesday, did the damage for Minnesota in this game as well.