A serious mid-season slump, a late season push, a tie on points and a Chicago side ultimately left on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. That was 2014 for the Red Stars. The offseason saw Chicago lose a handful of players to retirement and gain a bunch right back with a strong draft, but will that be enough to finally get them the rest of the way, or are the Red Stars in for another season of almost?
Head Coach: Rory Dames, third season.
Where we left off: The 2014 Chicago Red Stars were streakier than a window washed with Pledge and a pineapple. Chicago went unbeaten -- as in one draw followed by five straight wins -- in the month of May, and then proceeded to win just single time through the next 12 games. All that left the Red Stars tied on points with the Spirit for the final playoff spot, but ultimately missing out on the postseason thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Chicago finished in fifth, with a 9-7-8 record and the distinction of being the first, and one of only two teams, to beat Seattle.
Where have all the goalkeepers gone?: Chicago allowed just 26 goals in 2014, worse than only than the league-leading Reign. Karina LeBlanc carried most of the goalkeeping load for Chicago, appearing 21 times, with Taylor Vancil working as her backup. Fast forward to this season; LeBlanc will miss some time as a part of the Canada WNT and Vancil announced her retirement in early March. The Red Stars did pick up a pair of NWSL newcomers in Michele Dalton and Monica Gonyo, and one of them is going to have some big shoes to fill in LeBlanc's absence.
Okay, there's probably some larger thing we should talk about here, like why are so many players retiring in their early 20's, but this is already too long so let's just ignore it: Goalkeeper isn't the only position where Chicago was hit hard by retirements and World Cup commitments. Abby Erceg (New Zealand), Julie Johnston (U.S.) and Rachel Quon (Canada) -- three key components of Chicago's back line a season ago -- are all set to miss some time with their respective national teams. The Red Stars also lost Jackie Santacaterina and Keica Morway to retirement. Which basically leaves Taryn Hemmings, Michelle Lomnicki (you may remember her as Michelle Wenino) and Samantha Johnson to just kind of run around back there and hope for the best, but isn't like, everyone missing players and we're not even really going to do that whole 11 v. 11 thing are we? We are?
Dames at least planned ahead here, grabbing Kentucky standout and 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year Arin Gilliland with the eighth pick in the draft, presumably to fill holes both defensive and of the confusingly spelled name variety.
The Lori Chalupny appreciation section: Everyone likes Lori Chalupny. Not liking Lori Chalupny is like not liking puppies or a crisp fall day. And so everyone felt bad and sad and mad at Lori Chalupny's strange predicament of being able to play for club, but not medically cleared for country. For years. Years. And then, by some stroke of miraculous magic -- or whatever bizarre revisionism thing U.S. Soccer has going on where they're pretty sure certain that if the USWNT roster never changes they can go back and win all the World Cups since 1999 (you know, if you're the cynical type) -- Lori Chalupny's USWNT career resumed. Which is great news for everyone who isn't a puppy-hater, but not so great for Chicago. In Chalupny, the Red Stars had a national team caliber player, without any of the national team strings. She led the Red Stars in scoring 2013, and was second on the list last season. Chalupny also provides a serious veteran presence in an otherwise young midfield and whatever time she misses due to USWNT commitments is going to leave a major hole in the Red Stars lineup.
Chalupny isn't the only one Chicago will be missing in the middle of the park though. Shannon Boxx, who missed most of last season due to injury and having a baby, is back, and because no one ever gets older or even a step slower and there are no other players that could even possibly play, back with the USWNT too. The Red Stars do return a trio of non-national teamers in Zakia Bywaters, Alyssa Mautz and Vanessa DiBernardo.
Pressing on with draft picks: Dames made some solid moves on draft day, realizing that most of his forward corps would probably be M.I.A. for part of the season. Adriana Leon (Canada), Melissa Tancredi (Canada) and Christen Press (U.S.) could all miss some time thanks to the World Cup, but the Red Stars used most of their seven draft picks to fill those holes. Danielle Colaprico, Sofia Huerta, Cara Walls and Rachel Tejada all join Chicago after successful college careers. The Red Stars will also get some stability in Jen Hoy, who returns after a 21-appearance, four-goal 2014.
In conclusion: Chicago will need more consistency than a season ago if they hope to finally break into the postseason, which, well, World Cup year and consistency aren't exactly BFFs.
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