Alyssa Naeher is accustomed to making clutch saves on big stages.

The Chicago Stars FC captain has won two World Cups and two Olympic medals (one gold, one bronze), and she was voted the Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2024, among her numerous other honors.

So, with Sunday’s match against Gotham FC on the line in the final seconds, there was no one the Stars trusted more than the keeper in her ninth season with the franchise.

Naeher delivered another clutch moment in the 96th minute, making a diving save on Gotham FC forward Mak Whitman’s point-blank effort to keep the match level at 0-0 and earn the Stars a point on the road.

Naeher became the first NWSL keeper to record 45 regular-season shutouts with one club in the draw, and also earned the 50th regular-season shutout of her 14-year NWSL career across Chicago and Boston.

It was an important point for the Stars, who have struggled this season, with just four points (one win, five losses and one draw) in seven matches. They’ve been held scoreless for seven consecutive halves and not scored a goal since Ludmila’s 41st-minute strike in an April 13 road win over Bay FC.

It was Naeher’s first shutout of the season and her first since Oct. 4, 2024, when the Stars blanked the Houston Dash 2-0. Naeher made five saves in Sunday’s draw, and her first stop, in the 27th minute, marked her 450th for Chicago. She is just the third keeper in NWSL history to record 450 saves with one club.

The Stars parted ways with head coach Lorne Donaldson on Wednesday. So, the point was their first earned under interim head coach Masaki Hemmi.

Naeher, Hemmi and the Stars will look to carry the momentum into their next match, as they host the Washington Spirit at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:50 a.m. CT.