Christen Press is the focal point of the Chicago Red Stars offense.
With 10 goals in 11 National Women’s Soccer League games this season, she’s a constant. FC Kansas City will focus their game plan around her when the two teams meet in the NWSL semi-final. Press scored both of Chicago’s goals when the two teams played to a 2-2 draw in Chicago on August 1st.
To beat the reigning champions and advance to the NSWL title game in Portland, they’ll need additional scoring options beyond Press. Canadian International and Winger/Forward Adriana Leon has to become one of those scoring options. Leon, who holds down a very key position in Chicago’s attack, will play a significant role in determining how far the Red Stars go in their first ever trip to the postseason.
“She’s definitely going to play a role in the playoffs,” Red Stars Coach Rory Dames said.
“Dri is trying to settle into that space. And Dri is great in the attack, and she’s working on the defensive side of the ball, and I think you heard Christen say that space has the most defensive running of anybody in our shape. So I think when she’s actually getting into the areas she can be really dangerous.”
“She’s tired from all the running she’s doing and she’s trying to find her fitness, but I think the last two games have been huge for her.”
With the World Cup taking place this summer, the Red Stars, like all NWSL teams, have had to deal with more flux than usual in their line-ups and player rotations. Every team has had to deal with roster comings and goings, and most international players have had to deal with finding match fitness.
Adriana Leon, or “Dri” was one of the most pivotal players for Canada this summer. After a last place finish in the 2011 tournament, the host nation made it to the round of 8 before a critical mistake by defender Lauren Sesslemann began the Canucks unraveling against England.
Now regarding what Christen was saying about Leon’s position in the shape.
“I think the role that she’s in is really difficult in our system,” said Press.
“It’s probably the role that requires the most defensive running on the entire field and that makes it hard. He’s tried a lot of us out there and not many people survive, so it’s a credit to the players that do. And I think when she’s 1B1 she’s really good for our whole team.”
Maybe Adriana Leon doesn’t have the flashiest statistics in the whole world, but another reason to think that she’ll be an x-factor come playoff time is the fact that she’s done it before, and in a similar role.
As a freshman in 2010, she came off the bench to score Notre Dame’s lone goal in their 1–0 victory over Stanford in the 2010 national title game. Dri had a couple decent chances today, but couldn’t convert them in the Red Stars 1-1 draw against the Houston Dash (who feature World Cup Golden Ball winner and USWNT MVP Carli Lloyd)
It was the most exciting and relevant regular season game in Red Stars history, as 5,623 showed up at Toyota Park to see it. Capacity at the Red Stars usual home is about half that attendance figure.
Although it’s painfully cliche to say this, it’s entirely true- the Red Stars will need an entire team effort to take these next two playoff games and win it all. #CRS07 (the Red Stars’ official hashtag) is not just Christen Press, or Adriana Leon, or Sofia Huerta, or Jen Hoy or Melissa Tancredi, or Vanessa DiBernardo. It’s everybody.
“We said this from day one, we think we have the deepest team in the league,” said Dames.
“We think we can put anybody out and play.”
Just six more days till the biggest game in franchise history.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
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