Make sure to check out Chicago’s professional women’s soccer team, the Redstars, who play their home games in nearby Lisle at Benedictine University. See attached file for schedule and ticket information.

In 2014, the Red Stars have strengthened their roster and return for their second season in the NWSL. Players returning from the previous Red Stars lineup included Captain Lori Chalupny, midfielder Alyssa Mautz, and defenders Michelle Wenino and Jackie Santacaterina. Notable additions to the team include USWNT player Christen Press, Canadian National Team veterans Karina LeBlanc and Melissa Tancredi, and first round college draft picks, Julie Johnston and Vanessa DiBernardo.

Can’t make it to Brasil for the World Cup, here is your chance to see some international players in Chicago. On July 27 you can watch Liverpool FC vs Olympiacos at Soldier Field in Chicago as part of the 2014 International Champions Cup will be played in a total of 12 cities and 13 stadiums across the United States and Canada and feature these teams:
Real Madrid
Manchester United
Manchester City
AC Milan
AS Roma
Liverpool FC
Inter
Olympiacos

Please see attached flyer or contact Andrew Puzyk at 646.582.2392 or apuzyk@releventsports.com for more information and group sales.

Liverpool FC

Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world’s most historic and famous football clubs having won 18 League Titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three European Super Cups and 15 Charity Shields.

Liverpool FC is the home to footballing legends including Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, Ian Rush, John Barnes and Robbie Fowler.

Currently coached by Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool FC is experiencing a resurgence led by Club legend Steven Gerrard, English striker Daniel Sturridge and Uruguayan superstar Luis Suarez.

The “Reds” play at the famed Anfield stadium which opened its doors in 1888.

Olympiacos F.C.

Since its establishment in 1925, Olympiacos has been writing history and justly earning the nick-name “Legend” !"

Up to the present day, the club has won a total of 40 League titles and 26 Greek Cup titles! To put that in perspective, all other Greek teams combined have won only 37 league titles.

The “Red and Whites” play at the famed Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium which is also known as its “roaring castle". It is a fact that Olympiacos enjoys the most fervent fans in Greece and amongst the most passionate in the world!

The club recently reached the Round of 16 in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League where it will face Manchester United. Coached by Spain and Real Madrid legend Michel, the club’s diverse roster includes former Barcelona striker Javier Saviola, Greek defender Avraam Papadopoulos and Spanish goalkeeper Roberto Gago.

This year the club has partnered with UNICEF, who also appears on the team’s jersey, with the aim to immunize 50,000 children in need all around the world!

The tryout dates for the 2014-15 Team Chicago Soccer Club teams are now available. The exact times are yet to be determined for the U7 – U14 Boys and Girls. The U15 – U18 Boys tryout dates and times are yet to be determined.

All tryouts are hosted at PlayUSA, Gentile Fields, 2323 Liberty St, Aurora, IL 60502

Please, register for the tryouts at http://www.teamchicagosoccer.org/tc_tryouts.htm

Saturday, May 3, 2014 U16G & U17G 6:00PM – 7:30PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014 U18 G 5:00PM – 6:30PM

Sunday, May 4, 2014 U15G 6:30PM – 8:00PM

Sunday, May 11, 2014 U16G & U18G 5:00PM – 6:30PM (Supplemental)

Sunday, May 11, 2014 U15G & U17G 6:30PM – 8:00PM (Supplemental)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 U7 – U14 Boys and Girls
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 (Supplemental)
Thursday, May 29, 2014 (Supplemental)
Friday, May 30, 2014 (Supplemental)
Saturday, May 31, 2014 (Supplemental)

U15B – U18B TBD

Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on Friday night in support of tri-captain Bailee Witt’s 16-month-old cousin Giada Moratti who has Down Syndrome.

The world-wide celebration encouraged participants to “Rock Your Socks” in support, and the Cruzeiro players did so in some style for their game against NSA at the Bridgeview Dome. Their socks were not the only flashy items on display, as the girls outplayed their cross-town rivals in a 2-1 win that easily could have been 2-3 goals bigger between two shots on the crossbar and two shots that hit the upright, as well as controlling 65-70% of the possession.

Below is an article from the Chicago Tribune about Team Chicago Academy-Cruzeiro midfielder Erin Sweda’s upcoming trip to Barcelona to train at the FC Barcelona Escola.

Teen gets to train with Barcelona soccer team!

By Jeff Banowetz, Special to the Tribune
3:58 p.m. CDT, March 18, 2014

When 13-year-old Naperville resident Erin Sweda heard that coaches from FC Barcelona, the Spanish soccer team that’s considered one of the world’s best, would be in the Chicago area for a clinic last summer, she was thrilled to participate. But thanks to her performance, she’s now one of only three girls in the United States who have been invited to Spain to train with the team’s coaches and participate in the FC Barcelona Escola tournament the week before Easter.

“It’s quite an honor,” said Ken Sweda, Erin’s father and a local soccer coach. “We’re unbelievably proud of her that she not only made it through a week of that kind of intensive training but that she stood out enough to be chosen.”

For Erin, an eighth grader at Crone Middle School, the chance to see FC Barcelona in person is still hard to believe.

“They’re definitely my favorite team,” she said. “I know all the players. We may get to meet some of them when we’re there, but just being there and practicing with the coaches is going to be great.”

Erin actually came to the game a bit later than most in the youth soccer-crazed western suburbs.

“I’m a big soccer fan, but I had never intended for her to be a soccer player per se,” Sweda said. “She was 5 or 6 when we took her to a soccer clinic from a local club. Frankly, she didn’t take to it too much. So we said, well, we gave it a shot.”

A few years later, after watching a lot of games on TV with dad and kicking the ball around in the back yard, Erin decided to try it again.

“She as about 8 then, and this time she really enjoyed it,” Sweda said. “And she’s progressed fantastically since then.”

“I think it’s just fun being out there (on the field),” Erin said. “I get to be surrounded by my friends and have a good time.”

She now plays a U14 club team with Team Chicago, and she’s looking at the FC Barcelona trip as a way to improve her overall game.

“I’m hoping to get the most out of it and put the most into it, effort-wise,” she said. “I like the way that (FC Barcelona) plays, and I want to be like that.”

“It’s really one of the best teaching academies in the world,” Sweda said. “This is pure soccer training. It’s really getting into the details of the game and how they play it. That’s where the enjoyment and fun come out of it, where you can see yourself getting better.”

Erin’s also looking forward to trying out her middle school Spanish while traveling — even if she’s worried about understanding the Catalonia dialect they use in Barcelona. And as a hopeful future architect, she’s interested in touring the city’s landmarks.

“I’m excited about getting to see everything in person,” she said.

While Sweda has been a lifelong soccer fan, his daughter’s success has caused him to get more involved and develop a coaching career.

“It’s really become a passion of mine as well, and I’m glad that we’re able to do it together,” he said. “It’s amazing that she’s going to be able to experience something like this at her age.”

Copyright © 2014 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC