Fire sign Bolingbrook native Pineda

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire signed Bolingbrook native and Plainfield East High School product Victor Pineda as the organization's first homegrown player.

The 17-year-old Pineda will be available for selection for Wednesday's match against the New England Revolution at Toyota Park.

"Victor is a talented, technical midfielder who has a bright future with the Fire," Fire technical director Frank Klopas said in a release. "His addition to the first team is representative of the Fire's commitment to the future and to our player development system."

For more, visit ESPNChicago.com.

Vandenbergh named to Red Stars' 1st team

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer announce today the move of defender and midfielder Lydia Vandenbergh to the organization's first-team roster. Per team policy, terms of her contract are not released.

Vandenbergh has spent the 2010 season as a developmental player for Chicago, playing in three matches (one start) and logging 109 minutes.

"I think her versatility is her biggest asset," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "She's able to play in the midfield and on the left side as a defender, and that gives us different options where we can be flexible with where she plays. She's a steady player who doesn't make a lot of mistakes, and she's a calming influence."

Read more at ChicagoRedStars.com.

Red Stars vs. Independence highlights

Highlights from the Chicago Red Stars' 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Independence on Wednesday.

Red Stars' Sitch, Weber out for season

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Red Stars medical staff confirmed Thursday that Red Stars midfielder and Oswego, Ill., native Julianne Sitch will miss the remainder of the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Sitch's injury to her right knee took place late in the second half during Chicago's 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Independence on Wednesday at Toyota Park. In anticipation of a pass, Sitch planted her right foot and quickly rotated, injuring her knee in a non-contact play.

Late Wednesday, team medical staff diagnosed Sitch with a knee sprain before a Thursday doctor's visit confirmed that she tore her ACL.

"Julianne Sitch is a role player who's got the heart of a lion," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said following Wednesday's match. "She works her butt off, and to replace her is tough."

The Red Stars announce another roster setback with developmental player and Elk Grove Village, Ill., native Elise Weber out for the rest of the season with a labral tear of her left hip -- an injury that occurred during training.

For more, visit ChicagoRedStars.com.

Jared Montz's podcast with Frank Klopas

Chicago Fire Technical Director Frank Klopas on JMS Podcast from MontzTV on Vimeo.

Former Chicago Fire defender Jared Montz has an interesting conversation with Fire technical director Frank Klopas.

Red Stars fall to Philadelphia, 2-1

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Red Stars fell to the Philadelphia Independence, 2-1, on Wednesday in Women's Professional Soccer action in front of 3,152 at Toyota Park.

With the win, the second-place Independence improved to 9-6-4 overall and 3-0-0 against the Red Stars during their inaugural season. Chicago fell to 5-9-6 overall.

The Red Stars are tied for fifth in the WPS standings with the Washington Freedom. Both teams have 21 points, but the Freedom has played one less match than Chicago.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia's Lianne Sanderson and the team's leading goal scorer Amy Rodriguez each netted a tally for the Independence. Sanderson's game-winner came in the 78th minute off of a free kick as the ball scooted past Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden for the 2-1 lead.

Chicago forward Ella Masar netted her team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 62nd minute to tie the score at 1-1. Casey Nogueira provided a deep cross from the right side and Masar lunged at the ball and headed it past Independence goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.

Read more at ChicagoRedStars.com.

Fire need cohesiveness in critical stretch

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Following the Chicago Fire's scoreless draw against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, one thing was glaringly clear -- New York looked like the tighter, cohesive group.

Saying so does not imply that the Fire do not have that characteristic inside of them. On the contrary, with an acquisition such as a Freddie Ljungberg, that type of talent will bond and energize the 11-man grouping on the pitch.

The Fire are just past the midway point of the season with 16 matches and a 5-5-6 record, and this team has some good pieces in place. But the cohesiveness will need to form relatively quickly for a strong second-half run. And at the moment, the Fire still are on the outside of the postseason picture if the regular season wrapped up today.

"We're now getting to the point of the season where we can't drop many points," Fire defensive midfielder Logan Pause said. "We've got to start making up some ground."

Read the full post at ESPNChicago.com.

Johnson leads Fire to draw vs. Red Bulls

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Despite five designated players taking to the pitch and the anticipation heading into the Chicago Fire's home match against the New York Red Bulls, both talented squads lacked the offensive gusto on Sunday.

In the end, it was Fire rookie goalkeeper Sean Johnson earning the spotlight with seven saves as the Fire and Red Bulls played to a scoreless draw in front of the largest crowd (21,868) in Toyota Park history.

The Red Bulls began to penetrate the defense in the second half, but Johnson was up to the task.

"I think we played our style pretty much 70 minutes throughout the match," Johnson said. "I think the last 20 minutes or so they were attacking us pretty strong and I think us sitting in, we were very organized. I didn't have a problem. I think defensively we were strong throughout the 90 minutes."

The hype heading into the match focused on both teams' slew of designated players. Four of the five available designated players started the match, with New York's forward tandem of Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry and defender Rafael Marquez taking the pitch, and Chicago midfielder Freddie Ljungberg making his first Fire start. Fire forward Nery Castillo opened the match on the bench, but he made his debut in the 56th minute, entering the match for target forward Brian McBride.

For more, visit ESPNChicago.com.