Chicago Stars held onto a controversial 0-1 win at PayPal Park to claim their first away win of the season. Bay FC outside back Aldana Cometti was sent off in the 12th minute for denying Jordyn Huitema a goal-scoring opportunity just outside the penalty area. Taylor Huff and Cristiana Girelli combined to put the ball in the back of the net just before halftime, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz was sent off for handling the ball outside the box shortly after the hour mark, leaving Bay down to 9 players for the rest of the match. Mal Swanson scored the lone goal in the 71st minute, finding space to drive a low shot into the near post. Bay FC kept searching for a point, and Hannah Bebar almost equalized, but her injury-time chance bounced off the post.
In their last home match before the international break, Bay FC met Chicago Stars in a gritty clash defined by red cards, refereeing controversy, and heart. The match, which doubled as the club’s Pride celebration, had 12,533 fans in attendance. The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performed throughout the day, and fans had the opportunity to browse the club’s third annual Pride Collection.
Bay, who suffered a 2-0 loss midweek away to Portland Thorns, were determined to get a result at home. Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz was called into action in the sixth minute, stretching herself to save a shot headed for the top right corner from Stars forward Ryan Gareis. Bay had the majority of the chances in the first 10 minutes, with attempts from midfielders Caroline Conti and Taylor Huff saved by Stars goalkeeper Katie Atkinson. Drama ensued in the 11th minute, when Bay defender Aldana Cometti was sent off for denying Jordyn Huitema a goal-scoring opportunity just outside the penalty box. Silkowitz saved the ensuing freekick from Stars midfielder Brianna Pinto.
Despite going down to 10 players, Bay kept pushing for an opener. In the 38th minute, Cristiana Girelli headed the ball towards Huff, who fired a low shot into the left-hand corner. To the confusion of home fans, a lengthy VAR check ensued. The officials found Girelli to be in an offside position, and the game remained level. The half ended scoreless, despite Bay’s best efforts.
Both teams started the second half by introducing their own attacking substitutions. Recent USWNT call-up and Stars forward Jameese Joseph was replaced by Mallory Swanson in only her second appearance since returning from maternity leave, and Bay FC forward Racheal Kundanaji came on for striker Karlie Lema. The opening five minutes were a battle between the two sides, with each team trading fouls. Huitema nabbed the first chance of the second half, with her header sailing just over the bar.
Bay, playing with ten for over 50 minutes, went down to 9 players after Silkowitz handled the ball outside the box in the 62nd minute. She came out of her area to clear the ball, but miscalculated her header, touching the ball in the process. The referee had no choice but to give Bay’s second red card of the afternoon. Italy international Girelli made way for goalkeeper Emmie Allen shortly after, and momentum swung towards the Stars.
The deadlock was broken by USWNT forward Mallory Swanson in the 71st minute. Scoring her first NWSL goal since July 2024, Swanson was able to find space on the edge of the box, firing a shot into the near post. Despite being down two players and a goal, Bay relentlessly searched for an equalizer. Both Kudananji and Hannah Bebar nearly equalized in stoppage time, with Kudananji’s strike from distance sailing just over the bar and Bebar hitting the post.
Although the match ended in a second consecutive loss for Bay, head coach Emma Coates had nothing but praise for her players. “It’s a difficult circumstance when you end the game with nine players,” reflected Coates. “We kept creating chances, we hit the crossbar, I thought we might have been able to pinch one towards the end of the game. I thought they had the hearts of lions out there today.”
Bay FC will look to regroup in their final match before the June international break. They will visit the Orlando Pride on Friday night, while the Chicago Stars will face off against third in the table San Diego Wave at home on Sunday afternoon.
- Diana Viveros
