Western New York Flash vs. Chicago Red Stars: Final Score 2-1, McCall Zerboni strikes the game winning goal

The Western New York Flash couldn’t break down a strong Chicago defense during the opening half of Friday night’s game. However, Abby Wambach sparked her team to live after the Chicago Red Stars took the lead in the 51st minute, scoring an equalizer and starting them on the path to a comeback victory. In the 64th minute McCall Zerboni recorded her first goal of the season and the game winner.

The Red Stars debuted their new keeper Taylor Vancil, replacing the injured Erin McLeod. Vancil was tested immediately with shots coming from Adriana, Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach. Under a great deal of pressure she was able to make numerous saves and keep a shutout into the second half.

Ten minutes into the first half, Chicago found their rhythm on the ball. The inclusion of Maribel Domingues and Jessica McDonald in the starting XI helped them going forward and defensively as well. The Chicago defense played well in the opening half, clearing away crosses and shutting down WNYF’s offense. In the closing minutes of the first half, Lloyd found the ball at her feet inside a crowded box with two Chicago players obstructing Vancil’s view. Lloyd struck a dangerous left footed strike on target but Vancil spotted the attempt and deflected the ball.

Lori Chalupny threatened to take the lead in the 50th minute when she found space in the box but she rushed her shot and it sailed wide over the crossbar. However, she made up for it two minutes later. Chaulpny picked up a cross from McDonald into the box and fled the coverage of the WNYF defenders to ship a low strike into the corner pocket.

Wambach responded with an equalizer two minutes later. Brittany Taylor crossed the ball into the box to meet Wambach’s head, and she nodded past a helpless Vancil to level the score at 1-1.

Vancil’s heroics between the posts continued after the equalizer. Samantha Kerr had a chance shortly afterwards, but couldn’t beat the Chicago keeper. Various turnovers and deflections off Chicago defenders in the box kept her under pressure, and she narrowly avoided an own goal in the 64th minute off a poor header by Lauren Fowlkes.

Unfortunately, without much help, Vancil was unable to secure a point for her team. Taylor picked up her second assist of the night on the game winning goal from McCall Zerboni in the 65th minute off a corner kick. Taylor nodded Adrianna’s free kick on goal, and Zerboni finished it off to seal the win for her team.