MATCH RECAP: Chicago House AC Drops Season Finale To California United Strikers FC

CHICAGO, IL (November 20th, 2021) - Chicago House AC (7-2-9, 23pts) was not able to extend their win streak to three straight at SeatGeek Stadium as they lost 3-1 to the Cal United Strikers FC (9-6-3, 33pts). Wojciech Wójcik was the lone goal scorer for the House as he finished the 2021 NISA fall season with eight goals.

In the first half, Louis Bennett had a free kick in the 6th minute and lined up his shot towards the box, but Cal United Striker goalkeeper Jean Antoine was able to secure the ball. In the 9th minute, the Cal United Strikers FC broke through the House defense as Bryan Medina attacked inside the box and found an open Omar Nuno, and he tapped the ball into the back of the net to give the Strikers a 1-0 lead. In the 14th minute, House goalkeeper Michael Novotny stepped up big with two back-to-back saves on Omar Nuno to prevent him from scoring his second goal of the night. In the 16th minute, Louis Bennett had a corner kick chance and decided to launch a shot towards Antoine, but he was able to snap the ball away. In the 17th minute, the House was called for a foul when defender David Abidor took down Christian Thierjung in the box, and Cal United was awarded a penalty kick. Thierjung stepped up in the box and converted from the spot to double the Strikers lead 2-0. The House would respond a few minutes later in the 22nd minute when Drew Conner found an open Wójcik down the left flank, and he counters and buries his shot past Antoine to pull the House back in the match down 2-1. Ian Cerro had a great chance in the 24th minute for the equalizer after the Strikers turned the ball over, but his shot hit the side netting. In the 39th minute, Cal United Strikers FC was able to double their lead once again when Omar Nuno crossed the ball towards Bryan De LaFuente, who went in for the header and scored to give the Strikers a 3-1 lead. The first half ended with the House down 3-1 at halftime.

In the second half, Omar Nuno kept frustrating the House defenders by creating scoring chances. In the 53rd minute, Nuno took on the House defenders and ripped a shot towards Novotny, and he had to stand tall and get a hand on the shot to keep it out of the back of the net. In the 57th minute, Drew Conner cut inside and rifled his shot from outside the box, but it went straight towards Cal United's keeper Antoine, and there was no rebound opportunity. A minute later, Omar Nuno took a shot on the other end of the pitch, and it hit the post as Cal United Strikers were inches away from taking a three-goal lead. In the 66th minute, the House had a throw-in from defender Anthony Bowie, and the ball got deflected from Musa Morris straight to Wójcik, and Antoine saved his one-time shot to maintain their two-goal advantage. In the 74th minute, the Strikers had a free kick near the box, and Felipe Loborio Jr, curled a shot, but it was punched away by Novotny, and the House defenders could clear the ball from danger. After pressing forward, the House had very few chances, with Wójcik getting the best opportunity in the 82nd minute but blasted his shot wide. Damon Almazan also had a great chance in the 84th minute, but his shot sailed wide past Antoine. The match would end with the California United Strikers FC winning 3-1 over the House.

After the match, Head Coach and Technical Director, C.J. Brown shared his perspective on how his players have improved day in and day out throughout a challenging first season.

"I'm truly 100 percent proud of what we’ve done as a team," said Coach Brown. "I think where we started and where we finished, it's night and day. These guys have matured in their way of playing, their thinking and went from being individuals to being a team. They put a lot of their individual ideas and egos aside to make a name for Chicago House. I think you saw that throughout the season, and if you had talked to me after the preseason, you probably thought we would finish in last place in this league. Still, these guys came together to play real soccer, moving the ball around, scoring goals, and I'm just extremely proud of them."

Chicago House AC Managing Partner, President, and CEO Peter Wilt shared his thoughts on Chicago House AC's successful first season.

"I think any first season will see highs and lows, and this one was no different," said Wilt. "It was a great American thrill ride with lots of ups and downs. I think we're ending the season in a good place on and off the field despite the result tonight. The last four games were our highest attendance of the year, and in the second half of the season, we were one of the top teams in points per game. More importantly than the soccer and business end is what we've done in the community, and so many of our partners are grateful for the impact we've made in Chicago, and that makes a difference, so I'm thrilled."

The House dropped to 6th place in the 2021 NISA fall table and finished their inaugural season with 23 points, while Cal United Strikers FC remained in 2nd place and finished with 33 points.

For team updates and information, please follow the team's social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, @ChicagoHouse_AC for live updates and fan reactions. Here are your final match statistics from tonight's match.

Match Statistics:

Match Notes:

• Wojciech Wójcik finished the season as the team's top goal scorer for Chicago House AC with eight goals and finished 3rd in the NISA Golden Boot race
• Omar Nuno scored his 12th goal for Cal United Strikers FC, and with a four-goal lead, Nuno looks on track to win the NISA Golden Boot award for the 2021 NISA fall season
• Chicago House AC goalkeeper Joel Serrano finally made his NISA league debut in goal in the 83rd minute, substituting for starting goalkeeper Michael Novotny
• Chicago House AC forward Derek Huffman finished the 2021 NISA fall season as the top three leaders in the league in assists with four throughout the season

Scoring Summary:

• CUSFC - Nuno (Medina) 9’
• CUSFC - Thierjung (PK) 17’
• CHAC - Wójcik (Conner) 22’
• CUSFC - De LaFuente (Nuno) 39’

Misconduct Summary:

• CHAC - David Abidor (Yellow Card) 17'
• CHAC - Anthony Bowie (Yellow Card) 71'

Lineups/Substitutions:

• ​​Chicago House AC: Novotny (GK) (Serrano 83'); Bowie, Sulia, Ribeiro, Abidor (Thompson 83'); Conner (C), Kidd, Bennett (Morris 58'), Cerro (Acosta 77'), Huffman (Almazan 77'); Wojcik
  • Subs: Serrano, Almazan, Acosta, Kafari, Morris, Smith , Thompson
• Cal United Strikers FC: Antoine (GK) (C); Bryant, Hogbin, Fuerte, Salguero Liborio Jr; De
• LaFuente, Lopez (Contreras 75’), Medina (Kadono 89’), Thierjung (Kwak 85’); Nuno (Farias 89’)
  • Subs: Barrera, North, Kwak, Contreras, Kadono, Farias

ABOUT Chicago House AC

Founded in 2020, Chicago House Athletic Club is a community-based professional soccer team that plays its home matches at the 20,000 capacity SeatGeek Stadium at 71st and Harlem in Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA,) a U.S. Soccer sanctioned third division league. Led by Managing Partner, President & CEO Peter Wilt, Chicago House AC is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) committed to using its platform for social justice, diversity, equality, inclusion, and community improvement. The club's name is a tribute to House Music, which was created in Chicago in the early 1980's. Fans can help #BuildTheHouse by purchasing tickets at www.chicagohouseac.com/tickets or by calling our Ticket Sales Team at (312) 444-0976. For more information on Chicago House AC, please visit www.chicagohouseac.com and follow the club on social media @ChicagoHouse_AC. Our City, Our House.

ABOUT NISA

The National Independent Soccer Association was founded in 2017 with a mission to bring professional soccer to every city in the United States. A pro league member of U.S. Soccer, NISA focuses on a model based on meritocracy, independent clubs controlling their own league, clubs owning their intellectual property, all without the barrier of territorial rights. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, NISA also runs the mid-summer pro-am Independent Cup tournament, the year-long amateur league NISA Nation, and NISA Media.

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