Sam Staab Appears to Suffer Serious Injury, Red Stars Lose to Gotham in PKs

The Chicago Red Stars lost more than just a point in their opening Group D match of the inaugural NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup .

The Red Stars ended up falling 5-4 in penalty kicks to Gotham FC after a scoreless draw through 90 minutes sent the match to the spot to determine who would leave SeatGeek Stadium with two points.

Chicago had just gone up a player in the 88th minute but that momentum was immediately quashed as defender Sam Staab went down and had to be helped to the locker room after a non-contact injury in the 88th minute. Staab, who was wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, has been a crucial part of this Red Stars squad and her availability brought stability to a unit that lacked that quality in 2023.

The Red Stars were without Alyssa Naeher and Mallory Swanson while the two are preparing for the Summer Olympics with the USWNT and defender Natalia Kuikka had an excused absence after her work with Finland during the international break. Tatumn Milazzo and Cari Roccaro did not dress for the Summer Cup match.

Gotham managed to secure the two points despite being without Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Jenna Nighswonger, and starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

The match ended up in penalty kicks after a scoreless 90 minutes and Cassie Miller’s save on Shea Groom’s PK in the fourth round was enough to secure two points for Gotham FC.

Match Observations

Chicago created a wonderful chance for themselves in the seventh minute thanks to a great pass from Sam Staab before a better run from Jenna Bike. Staab played a long ball to Bike on the right side and the winger won a free kick just to the right of Gotham’s penalty area. Bike’s subsequent free kick was half-cleared to Taylor Malham near midfield but the left back’s cross flew just past the head of Hannah Anderson, allowing Gotham to get away scot-free.

Gotham will be disappointed with the effort they put toward goal in the 16th minute after winning a corner kick. Yazmeen Ryan hit a perfect line-drive corner into the middle of Chicago’s penalty area that was met at its apex by Katie Stengel, but her header flew high of Chicago’s net.

The Red Stars created a chance from nowhere in the 19th minute and should’ve come away with a goal from the sequence. Bea Franklin headed on a goal kick past Gotham’s backline that found an in-stride Penelope Hocking making a run toward the visitor’s penalty area. Hocking brought the ball all the way into Gotham’s 18 but her effort from 14 yards was saved by a sprawling Cassie Miller. Hocking likely scores if she had gone to either corner of the net with her effort but she made it relatively easy for Miller to make the save.

Ella Stevens, making her first appearance at SeatGeek Stadium for a team other than the Red Stars, made a massive run in the 27th minute to create a fabulous chance for her side. Stevens lost the ball in Chicago’s penalty area as she clashed with Sam Staab but the loose ball fell to Yazmeen Ryan on the right side. Fortunately for the Red Stars, Ryan’s effort flew just over the crossbar to spare the Red Stars from an early deficit at home.

Yazmeen Ryan continued to pester the Red Stars and was rewarded with an advantageous free kick in the 29th minute after being fouled by Sam Staab, who was assessed a yellow card, just outside of Chicago’s penalty area. Ryan stepped up to the centrally-located free kick and ripped a right-footed effort that hit the inside of the post before bouncing away from the danger zone in front of Chicago’s net.

Katie Stengel continued to create chances for her side and did well to extend possession in the 35th minute before her teammates caught up to her in Chicago’s penalty area. Stengel carried the ball into Chicago’s 18 before playing it back to Ella Stevens near the edge of the penalty area. Stevens took a touch before hitting a shot to the near post that Mackenzie Wood had to leave her feet to save it to her right.

Sam Staab intercepted a Gotham pass near midfield in the 42nd minute, jumpstarting a Red Stars counterattack. Staab stole the ball and proceeded to play a perfect pass to Bike on the right before the winger brought the ball into Gotham’s penalty area. Bike’s right-footed effort ripped off the goalpost and the Red Stars were able to win a corner kick, but Chicago couldn’t test goalkeeper Cassie Miller in either sequence.

Gotham outshot the Red Stars nine-four in the first half and doubled Chicago’s on-target efforts two-one. Gotham had 21 touches in Chicago’s penalty area while the Red Stars had only four touches in the opposition’s box before halftime.

Camryn Biegalski came on for Maxi Rall at halftime and nearly helped create a goal in the 47th minute. Penelope Hocking won the Red Stars a corner kick that ended up being headed wide of the net by Bea Franklin after a nice service from Jenna Bike. The loose ball was collected by Biegalski, who made a run toward goal before passing off to Sam Stabb on her right. Staab’s left-footed effort was goalbound before Cassie Miller punched the ball up to herself, denying Chicago’s best chance of the match to that point.

Penelope Hocking made another strong run on her own in the 57th minute but was unable to really test Cassie Miller in goal. Hocking brought the ball from near midfield to the edge of Gotham’s penalty area, cut to her right and hit a right-footed effort that was collected by Miller with ease. Credit to Hocking for creating another chance from nothing but you have to assume she wishes she hit a better shot against Miller.

The Red Stars created chaos in front of Gotham’s goal in the 65th minute but somehow didn’t score. Julia Bianchi hit a corner kick that Cassie Miller punched away to Penelope Hocking at the edge of Gotham’s penalty area. Hocking took a shot that was deflected right to Bea Franklin in front of net but the rookie’s effort deflected right into the arms of Miller, making it easy for Gotham to thwart the Red Stars’ chance.

Yazmeen Ryan was constantly creating chances for her side but lacked the quality to beat Mackenzie Wood in Bridgeview. Ella Stevens had time and space on the right side before playing the ball to Ryan in the middle of Chicago’s penalty area in the 71st minute. Ryan lined up her shot but ended up hitting the ball right at Wood, who made the easy save. Ryan had all the time in the world to go to either side of Wood with her shot but rushed the effort and made it easy for the Red Stars goalkeeper.

Jenna Bike did incredibly well to intercept the ball deep in Gotham’s half of the pitch and ended up being fouled by Maitane López, who was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. The red card was assessed in the 88th minute, leaving Chicago very little time to take advantage of being up a player.

The Red Stars vibes dropped a moment later when Sam Staab, who was wearing the captain’s armband for the first time with the Red Stars, had to be helped off the pitch in the 89th minute. The defender was immediately taken to the locker room by the club’s medical staff and, frankly, it didn’t look good at all.

The match wound up scoreless after ninety minutes, sending the two squads to penalty kicks to fight to determine who would leave with an additional point. Gotham outshot the Red Stars 18-13 but Chicago won the on-target shot battle five-three.

Gotham secured the two points in the fourth round of PK’s when Cassie Miller leaped to her left and denied Shea Groom’s attempt from the spot. Gotham went five for five from 12 yards, leaving Chicago with no room for error.

Mackenzie Wood made her third start with the Red Stars in goal and made five saves in regulation. The 90 minutes was her first clean sheet with the NWSL side and she’s thrilled to be getting the competitive minutes in Alyssa Naeher’s absence.

“It was good to get a couple games in experience-wise for me,” said Wood. “I think that there’s things to grow on but I'm really excited and hungry for more and I just love the people around me and I can't wait for the challenges that come next.”

Taylor Malham started and played the entire match at left back. She was happy with her side collecting a clean sheet through ninety minutes despite losing in spot kicks

“Anytime you can get a clean sheet it's a big statement and something that we pride ourselves on,” said Malham. “I think we could have done a lot better taking care of the ball, but obviously to get a clean sheet is a good thing.”

Red Stars head coach Lorne Donaldson emphasized post-match that he wasn’t content with a loss but does want to implement some squad rotation during this tournament.

“Winning is always important, but we just wanted to come on with it," said Donaldson. “We have players that haven't been getting as much time, so we just want to make sure that some players can come in and we can see when we need players that players can get in and do it. So it's a little bit of both: you want to win but you also want to make sure that we give players an opportunity because if they never get an opportunity, we don't know what they have.”

What’s On Tap Next?

The Red Stars will host Liga MX Femenil’s Chivas de Guadalajara in their second Group D matchup of the Summer Cup on July 26 at SeatGeek Stadium. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 PM CT and will be broadcast on Paramount+.

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