Chicago Red Eleven: The Red Stars Little Sisters

In the beginning there was the W-League. Before and after WUSA, it was the best women's soccer league in the United States. W for women. But also, A for amateur. W-League teams pay players a per diem when they travel, but otherwise they play for the love of the game, and an opportunity to develop their talents for professional leagues.

Before and after WUSA, and before WPS, in this country, the W-League was the best place to play. But now that Women's Professional Soccer is in its second season, the W-League is back to its role as a minor league feeder for WPS and other pro leagues around the world.

Unless you've heard an announcement at Toyota Park during a WPS Red Stars match, you may not know that Chicago is represented in the W-League by the Red Eleven. They are also the official W-League affiliate of the Chicago Redstars.

By agreement, the Red Eleven is the exclusive amateur affiliate of the Red Stars, as well as the team's exclusive W-League affiliate in the state of Illinois.

According to team officials, the affiliation agreement will involve player personnel development, and also strive to build a strong tie that fosters the growth of women's soccer in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois.

Among the two organizations' synergies will be cross promotions, player appearances, and participation in youth camps and clinics.

The Red Stars and Red Eleven also an exhibition game on May 30 at Benedictine University in Lisle, the Red Eleven's home match venue. The Red Stars won that match 5-0.

In addition to the Red Stars regular roster and their development roster, which also includes professional players who are eligible for call-up to the regular squad when needed to cover for injury or international call-ups, the Red Eleven provides a group of players from college, or who played professionally in the past, an opportunity to play at a high level of competition, hone their skills and hopefully get some looks from professional scouts.

With the regular season completed, the Chicago Red Eleven now turns its focus to the W-League playoffs, set to get underway with the conference finals Friday and Sunday (July 23-25) in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Red Eleven (8-2-2), who finished second in the Midwest Division behind the host Flash (10-0-2), take on the top seed out of the Great Lakes Division in the Ottawa Fury (8-1-3) on Saturday at 8 p.m. The winner advances to Sunday’s conference final against the winner of Buffalo and the Toronto Lady Lynx (7-2-3).

The 2010 W-League Final Four is scheduled for July 29-31 in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Chicago established itself as one of the most dynamic teams during the regular season, scoring 32 goals and surrendering just eight. The offensive output put CRE second in the 29-team W-League with 2.67 goals per game. The team’s +24 goal differential was also second.

The offense was paced this season by Sarah Campbell (University of Montana) and Kate Megna (UW-Milwaukee), while Kara Kabellis (formerly of Karnsveden KIKK) proved to be a driving force in the midfield. Campbell scored a team-high seven goals and finished tops on the squad with 16 points. Both those totals rank near the top in the league, as she finished the season tied for fifth in goals and sixth in points.

Megna was one of just two Red Eleven players to play in all 12 games this season. She scored 10 points on four goals and two assists. Her points and goals were second on the team only to Campbell. A veteran midfield presence, Kabellis was the other player to appear in all 12 games. She led the league with six assists and added a goal of her own for eight points.

All told, 16 different players scored goals for Chicago and three more added assists.

The Red Eleven also found strength in goal, where Erin Kane (UW Milwaukee) and Alexa Gaul (University of Texas) combined on eight shutouts and a 0.67 goals against average. Kane saw the bulk of minutes in goal, starting 10 games and posting eight clean sheets.

Gaul spent time away from the team with U.S. U-23 National Team duties, but was perfect in a pair of games.

Speaking of national team experience, Chicago looks to be at full strength for a playoff run, as Gaul, Jackie Carron and Rachael Sloan will be with the team full-time after the completion of the most recent U23 stint for each.

Gaul and Carron accompanied the team to the Four Nations Tournament in England July 7-12, helped the U.S. to a first-place finish. Both players played every minute in the tournament and anchored a defense that conceded just two goals. Sloan got her first taste of the U23 national camp prior to the trip.

Red Eleven defender Bonnie Young played briefly for the Red Stars.

Chicago and Ottawa met in the first game of the 2009 playoffs as well, with the Fury coming away with the 4-2 win.

The W-League is now a part of the USL (United Soccer League) which includes a professional minor league and an amateur league for men, as well.