Katie Atkinson makes 8 saves to keep the clean sheet
By Lesley Ryder
The Chicago Stars are now 2-0 when they play under miserable weather conditions at Martin Field. Last night, as the Lake Michigan fog enveloped the stadium, the Stars claimed a 2-0 victory against Boston Legacy despite being outshot 27-6.
Jordyn Huitema, back in the lineup for the first time since March 22nd, started the scoring in the 10th minute. The Stars earned a corner kick, taken by Sam Staab. Aaliyah Farmer took the first touch on the inswinger, and the ball fell to Jordyn Huitema, who herded it in for her second goal in three appearances.
Huitema left the match in the 72nd minute after clonking heads with a Boston defender. Head coach Martin Sjogren informed the media that she did not suffer a concussion on the play, but she did have “a big bump.”
Boston Legacy nearly found the equalizer multiple times in the 45th minute. A three-shot sequence began with Alba Caño’s screamer off the crossbar. The Stars were unable to clear the rebound, so instead it fell to Amanda Gutierres, who launched a shot parried away by Katie Atkinson to the feet of Aissata Traore. Traore’s attempt was snuffed, and the Stars were finally able to clear to safety.
Atkinson’s skillful save sequence helped the Stars escape to halftime with a 1-0 lead after being outshot by Boston 17-3.
In the second half, the field still tilted towards the Stars goal. But in the 51st minute, Sam Staab sent a long pass down the left side. Huitema headed the ball to Ryan Gareis who continued downfield, bringing three Boston Defenders with her. She slid a pass to an open Nadia Gomes, who slammed it home for her first goal of the season.
After the match, Gomes told the media that she and Ryan Gareis had talked about playing the ball early at training. “I was lucky that, you know, that pass was amazing. It was literally, like a tap in for me.”
The Stars held on to keep the clean sheet for the first time since May 4, 2025. It was Katie Atkinson’s first since March 30, 2025, against the Chicago Stars.
The moment meant a lot for Atkinson, who missed most of last season after undergoing hip surgery. “Injuries are tough, and I went through a lot, and to be here and to be with this club is super special,” Atkinson said after the match “Obviously a clean sheet is what you're always looking for and so to do it at home, and to have two goals, it was really exciting. And I think it's a positive for us going forward.”
A new number one keeper?
Martin Sjogren named Katie Atkinson the starting keeper for the second match in a row, but he wouldn’t go so far as to name her the new number one starter. After the last match in Utah, he thought of the move more as trying to have two goalkeepers up and running for the long season. Last night, Sjogren noted the healthy competitiveness for the position.
“I think [the competitiveness] is really good. I think it's the first time for a long period of time we'll have that in Chicago. So I think that's important. And today [Atkinson] makes use the great game. She's just fantastic today.” Sjogren said, in awe of Atkinsons’s multi-save sequence “the three shots that come like ‘Bum Bum bum’, and then she has one of those also in the second half. So now I'm really happy with what Katie has shown.”
So, what do we think?
It’s great to get the win, but it would be foolish to think the Stars have fixed their scoring woes. It helps to have a healthy Jordyn Huitema, who seems to work very well with Ryan Gareis going down the left side. It also helps to be playing against the Boston Legacy, the only team on the table with fewer goals than Chicago.
But having a field this tilted is no way to live in the NWSL in 2026.
Chicago’s also still figuring out some things with their depth. For the first time this season, they lined up a midfield without Maitane and Mana Hayashi. Both have struggled in defending, and turning the ball over to the opposition. Instead, Emma Egizii and Aaliyah Farmer made their first starts. WIth two more games to come before the end of next weekend, they got some vital minutes for their development in this league.
Up next for the Stars will be a midweek tilt at home against reigning NWSL champions, Gotham FC. Unlike Boston, Gotham found their scoring boots, having just dispatched Bay FC 3-0. They should present an even greater challenge for the Stars defending. But can they do it on a foggy night on Lake Michigan?????
(Photos: Gretchen Schneider/Chicago Stars FC)