5 Chicago Red Stars Players and the Midwest Clubs They Played For
Whether drafting college stars from Big Ten schools or signing players with Illinois roots, the Chicago Red Stars have done a great job at developing players from the Midwest. Although talent and team fit ultimately determine whether a player will succeed for a team, it’s great to see the Red Stars take such pride in the Midwest, so let’s take a look at the current Red Stars who started their soccer careers with Midwest youth club teams.
Mackenzie Wood – Indiana Fire
Wood is a goalkeeper from Granger, Indiana, and she played club soccer for the Indiana Fire in the ECNL. While with Indiana Fire she served as the team captain for two years. Wood then went on to play four years at Northwestern where she made 258 saves in 66 games. She then transferred to Notre Dame for her final year of eligibility in 2022. Wood made 42 saves in 18 games for the Fighting Irish. She signed with the Red Stars in 2023.
Tatumn Milazzo – Eclipse Select Soccer Club
Milazzo is a hometown kid from Orlando Park, Illinois and she played club soccer for Eclipse Select Soccer Club. While with Eclipse, she helped the team win quite a few titles, including the Illinois State Cup in three straight years. She also helped the team win the ECNL Midwest Conference Championship three times and the National Championship twice. The defender then went on to play collegiately for South Carolina where she appeared in 80 games for the Gamecocks.
She signed with the Red Stars in 2021 and has made 77 appearances for the club so far.
Camryn Biegalski – Eclipse Select Soccer Club
Like Milazzo, Biegalski played club soccer with Eclipse Select Soccer Club. Originally from Lombard, Illinois, she went on to play college soccer for Wisconsin where she made 85 appearances for the Badgers. Biegalski was drafted by the Red Stars in 2020 but she only spent one season with the club before joining the Washington Spirit. Ahead of the 2024 season, Biegalski re-signed from the Red Stars as an unrestricted free agent.
Ava Cook – Midwest United
Cook is a forward from Battle Creek, Michigan, who spent her entire club career with Midwest United. She was also selected to the ODP Michigan State Team. She went on to play college soccer at Grand Valley State, where she spent four years, tallying 76 goals and 32 assists in 84 games. Cook decided to transfer and use her last year of eligibility at Michigan State, where she scored seven goals in 17 games during the 2021 season.
She was drafted by the Red Stars in 2022 and has made 52 appearances so far for the club.
Sarah Griffith – Team Chicago Brasilia
Griffith is another hometown kid and is currently a forward for the Red Stars. She played club soccer for Team Chicago Brasilia. She helped her club team win the National Championship in 2013 and was involved in ODP state and regional teams. Griffith went on to play at Purdue University where she appeared in 72 games and scored 26 goals. She was drafted by Chicago in the 2022 NWSL Draft and has appeared in 40 games for the Red Stars so far in her career.
Featured image via @chicagoredstars on Instagram
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
