Lindsay Tarpley scored a second-half goal as the Chicago Red Stars won their Women's Professional Soccer opener over St. Louis Athletica, 1-0, on Saturday at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill.
A shade over 5,000 people attended the match, and from the sound of it through several Web posts, a nice chunk of Red Stars supporters were on hand.

A report by the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport which the BBC's Gordon Farquhar blogged about earlier this month points out that just 2% of media coverage on elite sport focuses on women. Now I first got into writing about football by following one of my best friend's journeys through the matches, tournaments and politics of women's football in Oxford.

My photo stream on Flickr... http://www.flickr.com/photos/24522405@N08/sets/72157612598365435/ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Live Photos from the WPS Draft!!!!", url: "http://www.amandavandervort.com/blog/2009/01/live-photos-from-the-wps-draft/" });

WPS, and our Commissioner in particular, recognizes the unique opportunity social media presents us. I've started to compile a comprehensive list of all the WPS Tweeters. Here's the ones I already know are in the Twitter-mix off-hand (more will follow - I will keep a comprehensive list for you here and on my Big Soccer blog).

If Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) sides Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars have their way, Arsenal America had better get ready for a new wave of members. This weekend, both Boston and Chicago hit the road to make their WPS debuts, facing the – it has to be said – curiously-named FC Gold Pride (Santa Clara, [.

Chicago Red Stars forward Ella Masar will miss 4 to 6 weeks because of a hip injury suffered during Sunday's 1-all draw against FC Gold Pride in Women's Professional Soccer action. The team announced Wednesday that the former University of Illinois standout tore four muscles when colliding with FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart in the second half.

The Chicago Red Stars take a quick break from Women's Professional Soccer action to host the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team for a 3 p.m. match Sunday at the Benedictine University Sports Complex, 5700 College Road, in Lisle.
Red Stars defender and Orland Park native Mary Therese McDonnell has earned six caps with the Irish National Team.

Chicago midfielder, along with Lloyd and Rapinoe, to train with squad
On Tuesday, three players from the Chicago Red Stars were named to the U.S. Women's National Team's training session running from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2.
Red Stars midfielder Brittany Klein (pictured) joins the team with the hopes of earning her first international camp.

It was a bad day to be Brazilian in WPS yesterday as teams around the league handed seven of their "Girls from Ipanema" their free-agency walking papers. The name on that list that perhaps raised the most eyebrows was Cristiane from the Red Stars, that team's leading goal scorer and the first and only player in WPS history to register a hat-trick.

Chicago remains unbeaten in home debut at Toyota Park
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars drew 5,824 fans in their home opener despite rainy conditions, and the team itself played to a scoreless draw against Sky Blue FC on Sunday in Women's Professional Soccer play at Toyota Park.

Red Stars schedule exhibition at FC Indiana on Saturday
Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer welcome in Club de Futbol America of the Primera Division for a 7:30 p.m. friendly Wednesday at Toyota Park.
Blanco takes on his former Club America team for what could be the biggest crowd to date this year at Toyota Park.

Chicago tries to finish the way it started, with a win vs. St. Louis
For many, it is difficult to imagine that the Chicago Red Stars' inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season is just about to come to a close.
The Red Stars wrap up their regular season against the team they first faced, St.

Cristiane, Rapinoe, Klein join lineup for Aug. 30 festivities in St. Louis
Three Chicago Red Stars players will represent the organization during the first-ever Women's Professional Soccer All-Star Game on Aug. 30.
Brazilian forward Cristiane and midfielders Brittany Klein and Megan Rapinoe will be part of the match, which features a collection of WPS All-Stars against Swedish champions Umea IK.

Editor's Note: Chicago Red Stars President and CEO Peter Wilt returns for his third weekly column on Pitch Invasion, pulling no punches as he grades the first season of the league his own team plays in.

Sunday's Women's Professional Soccer All-Star victory over Swedish powerhouse Umea ended WPS' first season and that makes this a good time to reflect on the inaugural year and analyze WPS' progress.

No they're not an MLS team but a loyal MLSR reader and passionate Red Stars fan, feels they should get some love and so he sent along what came in his season ticket package for the Chicago Women's Professional Soccer club, Chicago Red Stars.

Lots of people showing off their MLS season tickets but no love for the WPS.

I was in Chicago this weekend for their home opener. I'd been to two Opening matches already - LA Sol vs. Washington Freedom, and FC Gold Pride vs. Boston Breakers, both were very cool. Los Angeles hosted the Inaugural Match, which by all accounts was the most awesome event I've ever helped organize.

Women's Soccer Weekly has a link to my article at Goal.com where I list the starting eleven from the first half of the season. Read On -- WPS: My First-Half Eleven

The Chicago Red Stars out-shot the Ireland Women's National Team, 16-2, on Sunday. But it was Ireland that tallied the game's lone goal in a 1-0 exhibition victory over the Women's Professional Soccer squad at Benedictine University in Lisle.
Ireland's Aine O'Gorman scored on a breakaway in the 40th minute for a lead that held up the rest of the way.

A few noteworthy topics from within the confines of the Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Stars:
• Gold Cup update: Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause got his second start for the U.S. Men's National Team during Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at RFK Stadium. Pause stayed in the game until Benny Feilhaber replaced him in the 64th minute.

Hanks' stoppage-time goal dooms Chicago
The Chicago Red Stars' playoff hopes for their inaugural Women's Professional Soccer campaign hit an all-time low Sunday. Sky Blue FC's Kerri Hanks scored in second-half stoppage time en route to a 1-0 victory over Chicago at Yurcak Stadium in Piscataway, N.

Check out my Examiner.com feature highlighting this Sunday's anticipated Brazilian showdown: the Chicago Red Stars' Cristiane and the Los Angeles Sol's Marta. This is the last home game of the Red Stars' inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season. The Red Stars are expecting one of their biggest crowds of the season for this clash against the first-place Sol.

The Chicago Red Stars saved their best for last, winning their final home game of the 2009 season and avenging their worst ever loss against the Los Angeles Sol Sunday in front of a franchise record crowd. "It really wasn't what we expected," LA's superstar forward Marta admitted afterwards.

Chicago Red Stars meet their fans

Editor's Note: Chicago Red Stars President and CEO Peter Wilt returns for his second column on Pitch Invasion, considering the critical role good customer service plays in winning fans in American soccer.

One of the basic tenets of the soccer management philosophy I discussed last week was the importance of providing good customer service.

Last season's Red Stars selected in WPS expansion draft
Defender Nikki Krzysik (top) and forward Danesha Adams (bottom) will continue their Women's Professional Soccer tenure in Philadelphia in 2010. This past season's members of the Chicago Red Stars were selected by the Philadelphia Independence in the first-ever expansion draft Tuesday.

Red Stars hoping to bring back team's scoring leader for 2010
The first day of Women's Professional Soccer's free agency had some pretty big names on the list, including Brazilian forward Cristiane (pictured right) and U.S. Women's National Team midfielder Carli Lloyd (pictured left) from the Chicago Red Stars' 2009 roster.

$695 bucks get you hotel room (double occupancy - $250 extra for single occupancy), breakfast, transportation to/from games, meeting rooms, field rentals, NSCAA notebook, and entrance to all Algarve Cup games.SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Wanna Go To Portugal in March?", url: "http://www.amandavandervort.

I just sent this email to the Women's Committee, and I wanted to share it with you. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Email to the Women's Committe - Good links!", url: "http://www.amandavandervort.com/blog/2009/01/email-to-the-womens-committe-good-links/" });

If you ever run into Peter Wilt, CEO of the Chicago Red Stars who will begin play in America's new women's league, WPS, on April 4th in St Louis, you'll soon notice there appears to be a Blackberry permanently appended to his hand. Despite being the antithesis of the stereotypical geek -- Peter is gregarious to the max -- his twittering, blogging, facebooking and forum-posting is becoming legendary in the world of American soccer.

Soccer City FC readers in the ChiTown area.... The Chicago Red Stars will be hosting an event on Sunday at The Globe Pub.br /br /Time: March 29, 2009 from 4pm to 8pmbr /Location: The Globe Pubbr /Organized By: Chicago Red Starsbr /br /Event Description:The Chicago Red Stars will be at the Globe Pub this Sunday at 4 pm for the WPS Inaugural Match, LA Sol vs.

Soccer City FC's newest contributor, KC, writes about this weekend's Chicago Red Stars and Saint Louis Athletica match. Read on at Women's Soccer Weekly:

• WPS Opener - Athletica vs. Red Stars

Check out the lastest from Women's Soccer Weekly...

• Athletica vs. Red Stars - The Opening Day Experience

Here is Women's Professional Soccers' latest promo video showing the ball striking ability of one of its marquee players - USA international and Chicago Red Stars forward Lindsay Tarpley. The WPS "Extraordinary" commercials are well done to say the least. Here are Shannon Boxx's and Abby Wambach's previously released "Extraordinary" spots.

Chicago hosts Sky Blue FC on Sunday; game televised on FSC
Just how good is this brand-new Chicago Red Stars squad? Now is the opportunity for Chicagoans to get a firsthand look as the Red Stars (1-0-1) host Sky Blue FC (0-1-1) in Women's Professional Soccer play this Saturday at Toyota Park (5 p.

Got a nice link up for the JMS Podcast w/ Ella Masar last week on Soccer City FC. They are pretty good about posting cool soccer news and also sell soccer gear if you need any.

If you haven't heard it yet definitely listen to the JMS Podcast with Ella Masar! She was awesome and her and the Chicago Red Stars play the LA SOL this Wednesday at the Home Depot Center!

Go on Red Stars!!! Can you say back heel??

JM

Lloyd, Rapinoe, Tarpley join U.S. for 2 friendlies; Carney joins England
The Chicago Red Stars' Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Lindsay Tarpley were named to the U.S. Women's National Team roster on Monday for two friendlies against Canada later this month. Also, Karen Carney will join England for two games against Iceland and Denmark.

The regular-season countdown is now at four games. This is not a bad time to regularly repeat the "must-win" motto as the Chicago Red Stars stand on the outside of the Women's Professional Soccer playoff race.
Chicago (4-7-5) stays out on the road to take on Sky Blue FC (5-6-4) at 3:30 p.m.

Not happy this morning putting up this highlight clip. The Chicago Red Stars are not in contention for the playoffs anymore.

My guess is Ella Masar was out of the lineup for too long!

Next year ladies, keep your heads up!

JM

Especially after the drubbing the Chicago Red Stars served up to the league-leading Los Angeles Sol last Sunday one cannot help but wonder why this team has not advanced to post-season play. The deciding factor may have been two games in particular: May 16against Gold Pride FC and July 19 against Sky Blue FC, when they played both times without the services of four of their regular starting players, who were inopportunely whisked away for national team duty.

SlideTackles.net dishes final grades of Chicago's inaugural season
The Women's Professional Soccer playoffs are here this weekend. But missing from this group of four postseason teams are the Chicago Red Stars, who finished their inaugural season with a 5-10-5 record, 20 points and a sixth-place finish.