PC: Chicago Stars FC
The Stars couldn't light up the night in a 3-1 loss to the Houston Dash, extending Chicago's winless drought on October 23rd at Martin Stadium.
With 5,961 in attendance, Chicago held a tribute in their final home game of the 2026 season, thanking fans for their continued support through a difficult season. However, their hopes of giving the home crowd a positive farewell would soon be tested by the visiting Houston Dash.
In the forth minute of the game Chicago mistakenly overextends for a grab on the ball leading to a free kick in Houston favor, Stars centerback Sam Staab failed to clear the ball out of harms way leading to Dash Left back Leah Klenke to shoot just inside the penalty arc hitting the back right of Chicago’s net just getting past goalkeeper Alyysa Neaher giving Houston the first score of the game.
Trying to answer back, mistakes keep piling on for Chicago as a miscue by Stars Fullback Taylor Woodss turns into a gift for Houston forward Kate Faasse in a one-on-one race towards Chicago's goal, just missing wide right, keeping the Stars on their back foot.
At minute 18, coming out in a 4-3-3 formation, Chicago was trying to protect and stack the penalty area, limiting Houston's middle-of-the-field shot opportunities. Trying to adjust, Dash’s midfielder Linda Ullmark shoots from the left side of the penalty box but misses far right, trying to exploit a weakness on the Stars' left side of the field.
Trying to relieve some of Houston’s pressure, Stars midfielder Tessa Dellarose wins a contested battle with Ullmark, being able to kick the ball out of Chicago's side of the field around the 19th-minute mark.
Multiple opportunities presented themselves to the Stars following Houston's mistakes, but Chicago failed to capitalize on either. The Stars earned two corner kicks but came up short in execution, as Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell caught one while the other went out of bounds in the 22nd and 23rd minute.
In an attempt to keep Houston on its back foot, Stars forward Micayla Johnson shoots from just outside the Dash’s goal box but is caught by Houston Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, ending the momentum for Chicago.
Unable to capitalize, and with continuous mistakes by the Stars, Chicago went into the half down 1-0.
Coming out of the half, Houston's first yellow card is issued in the 50th minute by midfielder Klenke after a contested battle with Johnson led to a trip.
Chicago would follow up with a mistake of their own that cost them, as in the 53rd minute, a pass by Defender Bea Franklin to Naeher, with the veteran goalkeeper picking the ball up, which resulted in an indirect free kick for Houston in Chicago's penalty area.
Houston would capitalize on the free kick as left back Lisa Boattin sent a high pass across the middle, finding midfielder Maggie Graham to the right of the goal box. Graham fired a shot into the middle of Chicago’s net, extending Houston’s lead to 2–0 over the Stars in the 54th minute.
Houston would continue to keep Chicago on its heels, giving the Stars minimal opportunities to shift the momentum and get back into the game.
In the 77th minute, the second yellow card is given to Houston midfielder Sarah Puntigam during an attempt to win the ball, one of the very few mishaps for Houston.
The Dash would then answer in the 78th minute, around Chicago's Penalty area, as Houston Midfielder Kiki Van Zanten made a cross pass to forward Clarissa Larisey, who shot a right-footed shot just out of reach, hitting the back left of Chicago's net, further extending the game to 3-0 over Chicago.
Mistakes would continue to plague the Stars as the final yellow card of the game was given to midfielder Dellarose in an attempt to give the ball back to Chicago in a battle with Houston's midfielder Ullmark in the 87th minute.
Chicago would end the game on a positive note, however, as in the 93rd minute, following a corner, Stars midfielder Emma Egizii delivered a cross into Houston's penalty area, allowing Centerback Staab to head in the right side of Houston's net.
Stars in a mistake-driven game with missed opportunities, while only holding 35% of possession compared to Houston's 65 percent, didn't give the Stars control of the game as they hoped, leading them to only attack Houston 8 times, giving the Dash more opportunities with 12, which they took full advantage of, resulting in a final 3-1 loss against the Dash.
“Right now, we are going in the right direction as far as planning strategy and new players coming here. We know Vladco has a lot of experience, and we trust in his decision,” Stars head coach Karina Beaz said, looking into next season.
“Keep coming, keep supporting. It's beautiful to see the kids come to watch their heroes on the field, and they know they can be future soccer players or coaches. This is great. This team will bring a lot of joy. You will see.” Beaz is giving a message to the fans despite a difficult season.
“Trying to build chemistry on and off the field and unfortunately not getting a lot of wins has not helped that process. I feel like I've grown a lot in ways I didn't want to have to,” Sam Staab said.
“Rookies not being rookies anymore, really given a trial by fire, have stepped up and embraced it, and looking for consistency and giving the players a lot of credit for pushing through,” Alyssa Neaher said about the growth she has seen for player groups throughout the season.
The Stars head to their final game of the season to face the Washington Spirit on November 1st at Audi Field, with kickoff at 4 p.m. CT.
