Red Stars' Weissenhofer named WPSL Midwest Co-Player of Year

By Chicago Red Stars and WPSL Communications

Chicago Red Stars forward Michele Weissenhofer (Naperville, Ill.) was named the Women's Premier Soccer League Midwest Co-Player of the Year, and Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames was named WPSL Midwest Coach of the Year after guiding Chicago to a runner-up finish in the 2011 WPSL National Championship on July 31 at Benedictine University.

Weissenhofer, Red Stars midfielder Amanda Cinalli (Cleveland, Ohio) and Red Stars defender Jackie Santacaterina (Geneva, Ill.) were named to the All-Midwest Team.

Weissenhofer shared the Midwest honor with FC Milwaukee Nationals forward Sarah Hagen. Weissenhofer had 10 goals and 10 assists during the 2011 campaign, and she factored into all of the Red Stars' goals during the WPSL Semifinal and Championship.

Read more at WPSL.info.

Marsch named Impact head coach

Former Fire midfielder Jesse Marsch
-- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Former Chicago Fire midfielder Jesse Marsch was named the Montreal Impact's head coach on Wednesday as the team prepares for its first MLS season in 2012.

"It's an honor to be named the first head coach of the Montreal Impact in MLS," Marsch said in a release. "It's a great opportunity to establish something special. There are good soccer people in this organization that are committed to doing things the right way. My time in MLS and with the U.S. National Team exposed me to this game at the highest level. We will be committed to the process of becoming a winning team."

Klopas says Fire not focused on coaching search: With Montreal taking care of its coaching situation for next year and the Vancouver Whitecaps announcing this week the hiring of Martin Rennie, all eyes are on what the Fire's coaching situation will be for 2012. Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said following Wednesday's training that it is not even a topic of discussion right now as the Fire are looking to dig out of its last-place position in the Eastern Conference with a 2-7-13 record.

"We need to focus on the next 12 games and the [Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup] semifinal here," Klopas said. "Obviously that's our main focus. When that's over, then we'll look at the next step, the next thing."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire not progressing in standings since midseason coaching switch

Frank Klopas -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas and former head coach Carlos de los Cobos have been at the helm for 11 games apiece this year. So this is an opportune moment to take a look at how things have changed -- or not changed -- under their leadership this season.

De los Cobos was fired on May 30 after 11 matches and a 1-4-6 record (nine points). He was dismissed following a 0-4-5 stretch that included a winless May against teams such as the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Klopas has not fared much better. As the interim head coach for the Fire's past 11 matches, the team is 1-3-7 (10 points). His club is dead last in the Eastern Conference with a 2-7-13 record and 19 points. And with a double-digit points deficit separating Chicago from a playoff position based on the current standings, the Fire likely will miss the postseason for a second straight year.

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire 'terrible' in loss to Whitecaps

Gonzalo Segares (left) -- Associated Press

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

The Chicago Fire struggled mightily against Major League Soccer's expansion clubs this season. And unless there is a miraculous stretch somewhere within this Fire roster, Sunday's effort against the Vancouver Whitecaps likely spelled the end toward any playoff aspirations.

The Fire fell to Vancouver, 4-2, at Empire Field and were winless this season against MLS's two new clubs, posting a 0-3-1 record against the Whitecaps and Portland Timbers. The lone point was a scoreless draw against Vancouver.

Up to this point, Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas' squad had done its job on the defensive side. But Chicago (2-7-13, 19 points) posted its worst performance in the defensive third this season in a battle between the two last-place teams in their respective conferences.

"I don't know what happened," Fire left back Gonzalo Segares said. "We've been strong defensively in our last games, and today we were just terrible. We made mistakes, we didn't concentrate. It's just tough because we went down so quickly, we tried to fight back, and immediately we were down again. It takes a toll on you."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire look to turn tide vs. Whitecaps

Logan Pause -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The theme around the Chicago Fire locker room during the midweek was toward forging ahead in the midst of a disappointing outcome.

The players certainly have had to cope with quite a few, and their most recent effort was out-playing the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, only to manage a 1-1 draw.

Now the Fire hit the road to take on the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday at Empire Field.

"We cannot dwell on it," Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko said. "We've got to look forward. Every point dropped hurts, but we've got to move on."

"It seems like it's been a little bit of a recurring theme this year," Fire captain Logan Pause said. "We don't have enough time to hang our heads and get upset and worry. ... At this stage, ties aren't really helping. We know we need to get three points."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Fire's Grazzini, Pardo provide impact

Sebastian Grazzini -- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chicago Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas wasted no time in getting his newest midfielders Sebastian Grazzini and Pavel Pardo into the mix.

At this stage, the last-place Fire (2-6-13) need to throw out all the punches with 13 matches remaining on the season.

Chicago is coming off a 1-1 home draw against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. The Fire were the better team in the run of play, and much of the credit can be directed toward Grazzini.

"He can create, he can make the final pass -- he's dangerous," Klopas said. "He's exciting for the fans to watch. Definitely brings something different to the table."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Pardo, revamped Fire tie Union

Marco Pappa (left) and Justin Mapp
-- Getty Images

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire dominated on the attack and had one of their best stretches of passing and movement of the season. But the Philadelphia Union capitalized on its one half-chance and the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in front of 10,557 at Toyota Park on Wednesday.

Fire defensive midfielder Pavel Pardo tallied a game-tying goal in his Chicago debut to salvage the draw. But it was Veljko Paunovic's 34th-minute tally for the Union that was a bitter pill to swallow from the Fire's standpoint.

"It's disappointing because time is running out, for sure," Fire interim head coach Frank Klopas said of the team's current last-place stance in the Eastern Conference. "That's why with the break, I think we felt good coming into this game. The urgency was there, the desire, so I'm happy about that."

Read more at ESPNChicago.com.

Red Stars' Ewing highlights 2011 WPSL All-Championship Team

Julie Ewing -- Chicago Red Stars

Chicago Red Stars & WPSL Communications

CHICAGO - Chicago Red Stars midfielders Julie Ewing and Kara Kabellis and defender Sammy Scofield were named to the 2011 WPSL All-Championship Team.

Ewing in particular had a standout Championship weekend for Chicago, scoring two of the Red Stars' three goals in the final two matches, including a dramatic 88th-minute tally in the WPSL National Championship to force overtime against the Orange County Waves.

Red Stars forward Michele Weissenhofer, who had a goal and two assists, was an honorable mention selection.

Read more at WPSL.info.