Sports News

Boston fired 17 shots in the first half and 10 more in the second, but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Boston Legacy FC’s rocky start to its inaugural season continued Saturday night in Chicago, as the Legacy fell to the Stars, 2-0, to remain winless through five games.

Saturday’s loss marked the fourth time in five games the Legacy have been shut out, though they created more scoring chances than they have all season.

Boston fired 17 shots in the first half and 10 more in the second — with eight total on goal — but couldn’t find the back of the net.

“We want it bad right now,” forward Nichelle Prince said. “But we need to channel that into some composure and a little bit more confidence in front of the goal.”

Like Prince, coach Filipa Patão attributed the scoring drought to a lack of confidence and the weight of consecutive losses looming over her players.

“It’s hard when the results don’t come to our side,” Patão said. “These ghosts start to be inside the field. The first moment that we have the first victory, the first win — it’s going to be easier for the players. … Right now what they have is the burden of trying to be big.”

Chicago’s Jordyn Huitema opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Sam Staab sent a corner into the box, and Huitema, uncovered on the far post, poked a loose ball past Casey Murphy for an early 1-0 lead.

Boston’s best chances of the night came on a sequence of three near-misses as the clock wound down in the first half. Hanson native Sammy Smith collected a long volley and sent the ball across the 18-yard box to Alba Caño, who rang a shot off the crossbar.

Amanda Guttieres then blasted the rebound at keeper Katie Atkinson, who made the save but couldn’t hang on, giving Aissata Traoré another rebound chance from point-blank range. Atkinson made another save, and the Stars cleared it out.

“What we need to work on right now is not about principles inside the pitch,” Patão said. “It’s in the head.”

Chicago doubled its lead in the 51st minute. Ryan Gareis and Nadia Gomes broke through Boston’s press, and Gareis set Gomes up with a one-on-one opportunity against Murphy. The forward slotted it home to give Chicago a 2-0 lead.

The Legacy will return to Gillette Stadium Wednesday night (7) to face North Carolina.