Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (July 12, 2009) -- Cristiane wrote her name in the WPS history books notching the first hat trick ever recorded in the league as she powered the Chicago Red Stars to a 3-1 win over FC Gold Pride Sunday evening at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. in front of 5,127 fans.  With the victory, the Red Stars improved to 4-6-5 (17 points) and moved into fifth place in the WPS standings, one point behind the Boston Breakers and Sky Blue FC who are tied for third place.

Cristiane's historic night got started in the 31st minute.  After being fouled by FC Gold Pride's Marissa Abegg in the penalty box, Cristiane stepped to the spot and fired her shot into the right side as FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart guessed the wrong way.  The PK was the first in Red Stars history.

During injury time of the first half, Cristiane scored goal number two on a play that was created by midfielder Megan Rapinoe.  From the right side in the midfield, Rapinoe sent a diagonal ball through the FC Gold Pride defense that put Cristiane in all alone.  Cristiane juked Barnhart before taking a shot that deflected off defender Erika and slowly trickled into the net.

In the 64th minute, FC Gold Pride pulled a goal back as Rapinoe was whistled for a foul on Christine Sinclair inside the penalty box.  Tiffeny Milbrett took the ensuing PK and put her shot into the left corner of the net for her third goal of the season.

Just a minute later Cristiane completed her hat trick.  Receiving a pass from Lindsay Tarpley, Cristiane rifled a shot from the right side into the upper left corner.  The hat trick doubled Cristiane's goal output on the season to six.

With the loss, FC Gold Pride remains in last place with a 3-8-3 record.

The Red Stars travel to Boston to face the Breakers on Wednesday evening at 7pm ET/4pm PT, while FC Gold Pride returns to the Bay Area to host the Breakers on Sunday at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

POST-GAME QUOTES

Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes

“We went into this game hoping to build on some momentum in our play from the result last week.  The atmosphere of the locker room and what we have been doing in training has been great.  Tonight, we went out and I don’t think it was our best game.  But, we showed what you do when your best players do their very best things.”

“Cristiane showed her quality as a world class finisher and I will credit the assisters as well.”

“Who’s laughing at us now?  We might have started slowly in this season but we’re ready to go for playoffs.”

“Winning is their motivation and proving that they are more than just the talent on paper.  That they in reality and actual fact are going to be chasing the WPS championship."

Chicago Red Stars Forward Cristiane

“I think for me, I’m very happy to score three goals because they are three important goals for my team.  We needed this, so I’m going to continue to look for this in the next game.”

“About my substitution, I left the game happy about the work that I did and I understood why Emma wanted to take me out.  For me it was no problem.”

Chicago Red Stars Midfielder Megan Rapinoe

“We have to win to be honest.  We just got to keep winning and if that doesn’t motivate you then you probably shouldn’t be playing the sport.”

FC Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya

“I thought it was an exciting game for the fans, it could have been 6-6 or 7-7.”

“We had to make a couple of adjustments and Chicago took advantage of that and got in behind Osborne and put it away.”

On opening the second half shorthanded:
“How Chicago is so dangerous on the attack, I need Kristen (Graczyk) back on the field and unfortunately it took 25 minutes to get her stitched and back and I just couldn’t wait that long.  You saw what they did in a few minutes that we were playing the first half short.  My plan was to put Brandi in the attack […] but it took us so long because I wanted Kristen back on the field.  Also, I was told she was coming back in 30 seconds and I waited […] and sent several people in and they came back and said its 15 minutes now. I wasn’t too happy about that.”