Chicago Red Stars vs. Seattle Reign FC: Preview

The Seattle Reign FC took a different approach to their preseason as they traveled to Japan to compete against a set of elite Japanese football clubs. The Reign scheduled three matches and won the latter two against Fukuoka J Anglas and Nojima Stella Kanagawa. Promising performances were set by Emily Zurrer and Tiffany Cameron as they logged goals for the team during the 4-0 win against Nojima Stella Kanagawa.

The Reign will be travelling to Illinois for their first ever NWSL match to face the Chicago Red Stars, led by Leslie Osborne and Lori Chalupny. Both teams will likely use the formations they employed during their preseason with Seattle using a 4-3-3 and Chicago a 4-4-2.

Chicago had a different preseason experience in comparison to Seattle. The team had little need to adjust to one another’s playing styles as the majority, not including the college recruits, are former members of previous Red Star squads or have played together internationally. Chicago won all their preseason matches and will depend on Ella Masar and Lauren Fowlkes to score goals.

The Canadian and Mexican allocated national team members will come out in full force for Seattle’s opening game after they had a thrilling final against Nojima. Teresa Noyola was originally expected to play for the club in June after her commitments with ADO Den Haag were completed. Fortunately, she played her last match with the Dutch club on March 1st, and immediately joined Seattle for their preseason. She could potentially start on Sunday.

It is difficult to forecast the starting squads for both clubs as it remains a mystery whether Haley Kopmeyer will start as the Reign’s keeper, or will they provide Michelle Betos with a start. Betos performed well against Nojima when she thwarted a penalty kick. Regardless of which keeper starts, there will be plenty of scoring threats from Chicago for them to deal with. Chalupny, Fowlkes and Jessica McDonald were very good in the preseason, with McDonald netting six goals, Chalupny four goals and Fowlkes three goals.

The Reign reported early Sunday morning that their star forwards Lindsay Taylor and Tiffany Cameron would be absent from the Chicago match, as Taylor is tending to an eye injury and Cameron is completing her studies. For the Reign’s preseason matches only Cameron and Taylor were set as forwards for more than a single game while Liz Bogus only played one game as a forward and notched a goal.

The Chicago Red Stars’ biggest lineup mystery is whether Zakiya Bywaters will start as a midfielder or a forward.

Seattle Reign FC Injuries and Unavailable

Out: Tiffany Cameron (completing her studies)

Lindsay Taylor (injury sustained to her eye during training)

Hope Solo (left wrist – sidelined 3-4 months from March).

Megan Rapinoe (expected to join in mid-June following season with Olympique Lyonnais)

Amy Rodriguez (remains on the roster but is out indefinitely for the season due to pregnancy)

Chicago Red Stars Injuries and Unavailable

Out: Amy LePeilbet (reconstructive knee surgery – out for entire season)

Lindsay Tarpley (rehabbing a knee injury - return date TBD)

Inka Grings (joining squad in May)

Sonja Fuss (joining squad in May)

Jen Hoy (joining squad in June)

Match Date\Time: Sunday April 14, 5:00pm EDT

Venue: Benedictine University Sports Complex Stadium, Lisle, Illinois

Online: Streaming live on ReignFC.com, archived on NWSL’s YouTube page.