Bay FC took a first-half lead Sunday in scorching, humid Chicago however couldn’t maintain on, settling for a 1-1 tie with the lowly Pink Stars at SeatGeek Stadium.
Rookie midfielder Taylor Huff opened the scoring for Bay with a point-blank aim within the twenty ninth minute on a volley on the again submit. A Caprice Dydasco nook kick was headed on by a Chicago defender and got here to Huff for her second profession aim after she scored in final week’s draw towards Houston.
“It just helps with her confidence,” coach Albertin Montoya mentioned of Huff scoring in consecutive matches. “She’s starting to really understand what we want her to do and she’s fitting in really well with the team.”
The Pink Stars answered again earlier than halftime with a aim from Shea Groom 13 minutes later. Groom dribbled deep into Bay territory, then put the ball into the underside proper nook previous the outstretched leg of backtracking defender Dydasco and diving keeper Jordan Silkowitz.
The second-year membership stays in tenth place within the NWSL standings with 17 factors, three behind Gotham FC for the eighth and last playoff spot, with North Carolina in ninth. Bay has simply 17 targets in 15 matches, the third-fewest within the league for a group that goals to play an aggressive fashion beneath Montoya.
“I thought our quality was not good enough,” Montoya mentioned, acknowledging the 90-degree warmth and humidity that necessitated hydration breaks. “We could have been a lot better and cleaner on the ball at moments, and our game plan was there. We just didn’t necessarily execute as well as we would like.”
Earlier this season, Bay gave Chicago (8 factors, thirteenth place) its solely win of 2025 because the Pink Stars received 2-1 at PayPal Park in April.
“A tie is not good enough in these past two games,” Huff mentioned. “We haven’t been performing how we want to play, but it’s going to continue to get better. … It’s going to click at some point.”
Midfielder Hannah Bebar had maybe the very best probability of the second half by both group when she shot from simply contained in the 18-yard field within the 59th minute, however her try went huge to the left. She’s nonetheless searching for her first skilled aim.
Every group had an enormous probability early as Silkowitz made a troublesome save to her proper on a shot from Grosso within the eighth minute, pushing it simply outdoors the submit.
Rachel Hill had a golden probability within the thirteenth off a cross on the bottom from Racheal Kundananji, however she despatched the shot into the trail of veteran Chicago keeper Alyssa Naeher, who was racing again throughout the aim.
Bay had three nook kicks within the first three minutes of stoppage time however every time Dydasco curled the ball towards the aim mouth, Naeher saved it out of her internet. Naeher had two saves to Silkowitz’s one, however neither group mustered a shot on aim within the second half. Bay FC had extra photographs total, 13-10, and had 53 p.c possession.
Bay FC’s subsequent match is Saturday, when San Diego Wave FC involves PayPal Park (7 p.m. PT, ION TV).
Initially Printed: August 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM PDT
