St. Louis Earns a Draw in the Windy City

The St. Louis Athletica earned a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Red Stars today at Toyota Park in the Windy City.

The Athletica lead the scoring in the third minute thanks to a goal by midfielder captain Lori Chalupny. After a cross from Tina Dimartino was punched away by Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden, the ball fell to Chalupny, who knocked it in for her first goal of the season.

The edge that the Athletica carried during the first half lasted until a second-half substitution by Chicago coach Emma Hayes brought Casey Nogueira onto the field.

In the 58th minute, a shot off the crossbar by a Red Star bounced straight down. The Red Stars continued to press the attack, and it ended in Chicago's Katie Chapman passing the ball from right to left to Nogueira.

Nogueria took a touch to free space before firing the ball into the upper right corner past Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo.

"She is better than anyone I know at that (shot)," Solo said about the goal. "When you have players like they have and the opportunities they had, sooner or later they are going to score and they did."

While the rest of the game was focused in the midfield, the Red Stars went on the attack late. Nogueria almost had a second goal five minutes before the game ended, but her shot went high.

"I should have placed it," Nogueira said. "But I blasted it."

With temperatures dipping below 40 degrees, both teams fought well. The Athletica had nine corner kicks to Chicago's four, but the Red Stars had seven shots on goal to Athletica's three.

Athletica defender Elaine left the game in the 28th minute with a leg injury and was replaced by Niki Cross. Also making their Athletica debut were Madelaine Edlund and Lindsay Tarpley. It was Tarpley's first game action since her ACL injury suffered in August.

St. Louis returns to action next Sunday night when they host the Boston Breakers at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. Kickoff is at 6PM ET. The match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.