Chicago Red Stars go 3-1-2 despite losing 8 players to World Cup
The Women's World Cup drew many of the NWSL's biggest stars away from their teams for most of the 2015 season, and some teams have adapted to their absences better than others.
The Chicago Red Stars are one of those teams, despite losing a league-high eight players from their roster who took hiatus to play on the international stage.
At the same time, it's no coincidence that the Red Stars sit atop the league through nine games because rookie Sofia Huerta is second overall in goals and second-year player Vanessa DiBernardo ranks first in assists in the National Women's Soccer League.
The two up-and-comers have been a formidable offensive tag team for Chicago, helping the squad to a 5-1-3 record.
Most recently, they showcased their attacking abilities in the sixth minute of a win on June 28 over Sky Blue FC, when Huerta deftly escaped a defender in the box and found DiBernardo positioned in front of the goal. She redirected the pass from Huerta to the back of the net for a go-ahead score.
Huerta, a 22-year-old forward out of Santa Clara, was picked 11th overall by the Red Stars in the 2015 draft, teaming up with her old friend and college teammate Julie Johnston.
"I had kind of set in my mind that I was going to come here, and then when I actually got drafted here it was a great feeling," Huerta said.
When the National Team players - including Johnston - left for Canada after three NWSL games, Huerta stepped up in a big way and was named NWSL Player of the Month in May.
"When the (World Cup players) were here, I started a couple games, but I wasn't playing my best. I don't know if that's because I was intimidated or what, but once they left I think I felt a little more comfortable," Huerta said. "I just needed to get into the groove of things. I was able to get more time on the field and have more opportunities individually."
Her transition from college to the pro ranks - which can be a difficult one, she noted - was smoother because of how many minutes she was able to play early on, she said.
"In college it's a lot more creativity, and the coaches are trying to incorporate some of the skills and tactics that they've been trying to teach you," Huerta said. "Here … it's just about who can transition from offense to defense and from defense to offense the fastest, and athleticism."
DiBernardo, a Naperville native, is familiar with the rookie experience. Last season was the midfielder's first in the pros after the Red Stars drafted her in the first round out of Illinois, where she was a Big Ten star.
She summed up her first year succinctly, saying, "you just don't know a lot.
"Last year I didn't know how long and hard the season would really be on your body," DiBernardo said. "This season I'm a lot more educated and I understand what I need to do and know the teams we play a little bit better."
With four players on the U.S. National Team (Johnston, Christen Press, Lori Chalupny, and Shannon Boxx), three on the Canadian National Team (Melissa Tancredi, Adriana Leon, and Karina LeBlanc) and one on the New Zealand National Team (Abby Erceg), it would have been natural to expect the Red Stars to struggle without them the past six games.
Instead, they went 3-1-2 in that stretch.
"We've had to adjust a lot with the players coming in and out, but I think that's allowing us to grow as a team and puts more emphasis on how everyone individually has to step up," DiBernardo said. "The level is a little different, but I think we have a good training environment with them and we have a good training environment without them."
Huerta expressed pride that the team, which has two more NWSL road tests before its next home game July 18 vs. Boston, handled the changing roster so well.
"I'm happy that our team is first place still. I know it's not the biggest deal in the world, but I think it's still a tribute to the players and the club that we were able to keep moving forward," Huerta said. "Hopefully when the National Team players come back, we'll still be in first place."