Tessa Dellarose scored her first professional goal in her first start and the Chicago Stars beat the Kansas City Current 2-1 on Sunday in the National Women's Soccer League.
In the only other match Sunday, San Diego edged the Utah Royals 2-1.
Chicago's win was the team's first of the season after losing 4-0 to Angel City FC last weekend, and it came in windy conditions at the Stars' new home, Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Dellarose, who was on the 2024 NCAA championship team at North Carolina, scored in the 42nd minute off Sam Staab’s corner, bicycle-kicking the ball with her left foot after a failed attempt by the Current to clear it from the box.
The Current, winners of the NWSL Shield last season, had several more offensive chances than the Stars and put a shot on goal in the first minute of the game. The Stars spent a majority of time on defense but played with more attacking confidence in the second half.
In the 50th minute, Jordyn Huitema, who spent four seasons with Seattle before joining the Stars, scored Chicago’s second goal. running in and heading the crossing attack from Ryan Gareis.
Haley Hopkins subbed into the match for the Current in the second half and put Kansas City on the board in the 57th minute. Penelope Hocking had an opportunity to tie it late, but the attempt was wide right.
Lia Godfrey scored her first career goal in the 87th minute to lift visiting San Diego over Utah.
Utah played the final 10 minutes of the match down a player after Tatumn Milazzo was shown her second yellow card. The Royals, who set an NWSL record in 2025 with 54 yellow cards, had three yellow cards.
Kenza Dali’s one touch pass found Godfrey with enough space to take a touch and fire the game winner across her body past Utah goalkeeper Mia Justus.
The Wave led for a majority of the match after taking advantage of Utah’s defensive blunders when Maria Eduarda Rodrigues Silva scored in the 17th minute.
In the 67th minute, Lara Prasnikar made NWSL history, becoming the first Slovenian player to ever score as Utah had equalized the match. But the Royals have never defeated the Wave, and fell to 0-2 on the season.
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Kansas City Current forward Haley Hopkins (13) makes a play on the ball against the Portland Thorns FC during an NWSL soccer match in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A.J. Ewing hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, Ronny Mauricio went deep from both sides of the plate for his first career multi-homer game and the New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 7-1 on Saturday.
New York left fielder Juan Soto left the game in the ninth inning after he was hit on the right hand by a 91.7 mph sinker from Richard Lovelady. Mets manager Andy Green said X-rays were negative.
Mets rookie Carson Benge had three hits for his 44th multihit game and 13th with three hits or more. Benge also made a sprawling, backhand catch in right field with two on in the third on Abimelec Ortiz’s sacrifice fly, a grab reminiscent of Ron Swoboda's against Baltimore's Brooks Robinson in Game 4 of the 1969 World Series.
Ortiz's fly gave Washington a lead that stood until Ewing homered in the seventh on an 0-2 curveball from Jake Irvin (2-10), ending an 0-of-10 slide and putting the Mets ahead 3-1.
Mauricio connected on a fastball three pitches later for his first home run since May 1. Mets Nos. 8 and 9 hitters hit consecutive home runs for the third time this year. Mauricio added a two-run homer in the ninth.
Washington has allowed 22 home runs in the seventh inning or later that tied games or put opponents ahead, the most in the major leagues.
Dedniel Nuñez (2-1) struck out the side in the sixth.
New York clinched its sixth straight season series against Washington at 7-5.
Starter Connelly Early made his Nationals debut, retiring nine of 10 batters while allowing one hit in three innings. The left-hander was acquired July 26 from Boston for Curtis Mead and activated from the injured list Saturday after recovering from left elbow inflammation.
Mets starter Jonah Tong struck out a career high nine, allowing three hits in five innings. The rookie finished 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances.
New York LHP Sean Manaea (6-7, 4.67 ERA) faces Washington LHP DJ Herz (0-1, 9.00) in Sunday’s season finale, which was moved up two hours to 1:05 p.m. because of rain forecast later in the day.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
New York Mets' Carson Benge scores a run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Mets second baseman Ronny Mauricio, right, and shortstop Brett Baty, left, embrace after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Mets' Ronny Mauricio (0) celebrates his two-run home run with A.J. Ewing (9) during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Francisco Alvarez (4) during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
