Brownsville grad Dellarose makes pro soccer debut
Brownsville graduate and Grindstone native Tessa Dellarose made her professional soccer debut for the Chicago Stars FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Sunday evening against Angel City FC at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Stars had a tough start to their season in a 4-0 setback, but Dellarose entered the match in the 72nd minute and played the remaining 18 minutes, plus stoppage time, on defense.
Dellarose had 12 touches, and completed eight of 10 passes, as Chicago didn’t concede any goals with Dellarose on the field.
The former University of North Carolina (UNC) product took a corner kick one minute after she entered play, which resulted in a shot on target for the Stars’ Julia Grosso.
Angel City carried the play from the opening whistle, as it had an 18-6 advantage in shots, including a 6-2 edge on target, while maintaining 60 percent of possession. The home team earned 10 corner kicks, while the Stars took three.
Kennedy Fuller scored what would be the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute after she received a pass from Ary Borges, beat several players on the Chicago backline and buried a right-footed blast that went to the left of Stars keeper Alyssa Naeher for the 1-0 lead.
Fuller set up Evelyn Shores in the 53rd minute for a 2-0 advantage before Borges scored on an unassisted tally in the 66th minute to extend the lead to 3-0.
Maiara Niehues closed the scoring in the 70th minute. Sveind铆s Jane J贸nsd贸ttir assisted on the goal.
At 21-years-old, Dellarose is the fourth youngest player on her team.
Dellarose, who graduated from UNC in December, signed a three-year contract with Chicago after her career with the Tar Heels concluded on Nov. 24 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament.
The NWSL is the highest level of the United States soccer league system for women. The league features Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit, who is the highest-paid player in league history.
“It really feels surreal and quite amazing,” Dellarose said in an article that was published in the 蘑菇视频 on Jan. 19. “I think playing professional soccer was more of a dream that became something tangible over the years. I think once I got to North Carolina, and being in that environment with a school that produced so many professional athletes, made it more real each year.”
The daughter of Melinda and Ron Dellarose scored 108 goals in three years at Brownsville before turning her attention to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds academy and youth national team as a senior.
Dellarose played in 89 matches at UNC, where she scored six goals and recorded 12 assists in 5,482 minutes. Unlike her high school career, Dellarose was used on defense and midfield for the Tar Heels. She was the team’s co-captain as a junior and senior, and helped lead UNC to a national championship in 2024. Dellarose was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Fourth Team following her junior year.