Red Stars blank Breakers

After losing their first four games, the Chicago Red Stars captured their second straight victory and first at home Sunday by blanking the Boston Breakers 1-0, avenging a 4-1 defeat earlier this season.

The Red Stars scored the only goal in the 26th minute when Julianne Sitch drove down the left sideline and slotted the ball to Lori Chalupny inside the box — and Chalupny beat goalie Ashley Phillips.

“We were very good in the first half,” said Red Stars coach Rory Dames. “We were able to carry over a lot of the things we did well out of the Portland game. We had two other really good chances to get the second goal.”

The Breakers had a chance to tie in the 65th minute when Sydney Leroux was open in front of the net with a crossed ball at the top of the 18-yard box. She launched a shot past keeper Erin McLeod, but it hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced close to the line and back onto the field, where McLeod was able to scoop it up.