Houston Dash gains come-from-behind win over Racing Louisville FC

Rachel Daly with the Challenge Cup
trophy from 2022.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (March 26, 2022) The Houston Dash raised their NWSL Challenge Cup record to 1-1-0 after downing the Racing Louisville FC by the score of 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium.

Louisville scored first, in the 16th minute when Kirsten Davis right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Twenty-four minutes laster, they added their second goal when Jessica McDonald right-footer the ball past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell to give Louisville a 2-0 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Dash came storming back with two goals within two minutes of each other. Maria Sanchez scores in the 56th minute. Marisa Viggiano added the second Dash goal two minutes later to even the score.

The third Houston goal came from a penalty kick by captain Rachel Daly as a result of Louisville's Addisyn Merrick being charged with a hand ball inside the penalty area.

The loss dropped Louisville to 0-1-1. Houston will next face the Kansas City Current (1-0-1) on Wednesday, March 30, with a 7 p.m. CT start at PNC Stadium in Houston.

Houston Dash drop opening game of 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup to Chicago Red Stars

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 20, 2022) The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup defending champion Houston Dash took to the pitch at PNC Stadium against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday afternoon in the 2022 edition of the Challenge Cup. After ninety minutes-plus of intense play, the Dash fell to the Red Stars by the score of 3-1.

Defender Katie Naughton (Strongsville, Ohio) scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute. The Norte Dame alumni right-footed the ball to the bottom right corner, past  goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Bridgeport, Connecticut) to put the Dash up 1-0. The Red Stars responded eight minutes later when forward Mallory Pugh (Littleton, Colorado) right-footed the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, from the center of the box, to even the score in the 26th minute. After spirited play for the remainder of the first half, the score remained tied at one at the half.

Naughton stated in the post-game press conference:

"I think for the first half we came out pretty strong, I think we were trying to find some pockets of space and play and build out of the back. Maybe stretch their line, I think it came off quite a few times which is good and exciting. I think in the second half some calls maybe didn't go our way and that is something we need to work on and bounce back from those adversities that we’re going face throughout the year. And honestly, I do think we were in their line for the first 20 or 25 minutes. We just have to be more clinical in the final third and finish off chances we create. Obviously, it is not the result we want but it is the first game of the Challenge Cup. It is a good litmus test to see what we need to work on and what we can build off." 

After 12 minutes of play in the second half, Dash defender Sophie Schmidt (Abbotsford, British Colombia, Canada) committed a foul in the penalty area, giving the Red Stars a penalty kick. Defender Arin Wright (Lexington, Kentucky) converted the penalty with a successful lick to the bottom left corner, to give Chicago a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.

The Red Stars added a third goal two minutes later when Pugh shot from outside the box and found the top right corner of the goal, on a pass from midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, New Jersey). After many attempts by the Dash to overcome the Chicago lead, the game ended with the 3-1 loss for Houston.

The Dash will face Racing Louisville FC on Friday, March 25 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville before returning home on Wednesday, March 30 for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Kansas City Current.

Late goal gives Houston Dynamo FC a draw against Colorado Rapids

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 19, 2022) Houston Dynamo FC trailed the Colorado Rapids after their score late in the first half,  but a late goal with one minute
remaining in regulation tied the score at 1-1 at PNC Stadium. The draw to enabled Dynamo to earn one victory point in their final home match of March.

The Rapids got on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute when midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye punched in the ball past goalkeeper Steve Clark, off a corner kick. 

Houston tallied four shots and four corner kicks in the first half, while the Rapids had five shots to go along with their four corner kicks.

In the 37nd minute, Houston attacker Fafa Picault when down on the pitch, causing medical personal to rush onto the pitch to check him out. After a few minutes, he was on his feet and continued in the game.

Colorado retained their one goal lead until the 89th minute. The Dynamo took possession of the ball, which allowed Memo Rodriguez started a run and aptly passed the ball to Tyler Pasher (shown above, No. 19). The Canadian approached the top of the box and drove the ball past goalkeeper William Yarbrough to score the equalizer. 

Houston had 12 shots and 11 corner kicks in the match, while the Rapids tallied six shots and five corner kicks.

The Dynamo will hit the road to face Miami on April 2 at DRV PNK Stadium. The will return the PNC Stadium on April 9 to host San Jose on College Night.

HBU Huskies to face Toledo Rockets in first round of WNIT

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

AKRON, OHIO (March 18, 2022) The HBU Huskies women's basketball team will face the Toledo Rockets at 6 p.m. CT at Akron's Savage Arena in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Huskies were the Southland Conference regular season champions and had an early exit from the conference tournament to eventual champions Incarnate Word Lady Cardinals, dropping their semifinal game 54-33.

The Huskies were 16-10 for the 2022 season with a 12-2 conference record and will be facing a 26-5 Toledo team who was 19-1 in conference play before going 1-1 in the Mid-America Conference tournament. They dropped a 71-66 decision to Ball State. The WNIT first round match-up will be the first meeting between the two squads and the first NCAA post-season appearance for the Huskies. 

The Huskies are led by Southland Conference Player of the Year Timia Jefferson who averaged 12.7 points per game for the season. She was aided by N'Denasija Collins, who averaged 9.4 points per game while pulling in 6.4 rebounds and shooting 35 percent from the field. Marilyn Nzoiwu pulled down 7.4 rebounds per game to lead HBU. Abbey Sutherland is tied with Nzoiwu for the team lead in blocks with 32.

Toledo was led this season by Quenesha Lockett who averaged 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Rockets. Sophia Wiard drops in 12.8 points per game for Toledo and leads the rockets in assists with 137.

The game can be viewed on ESPN3.

HBU falls to UTSA in college baseball action

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 15, 2022) The HBU Huskies scored four runs in the fourth inning, but they were not enough to overcome a late UTSA surge and dropped a 10-5 decision to the Roadrunners at Husky Field on Tuesday.

The Huskies were paced by shortstop Diego Davila who went went 4-for-5 with two RBI along with leftfielder Connor Fremin walked, was hit by a pitch and scored twice. Junior catcher Parker Edwards was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and scored a run.

 
Daniel Garza (1-0) earned the win, shutting the Huskies out on two hits with four strikeout and no walks over the final three innings.
 
Flores' two-run homer put UTSA ahead 3-1 in the third.
 
HBU rallied for four runs in the fifth, including Edwards giving the Huskies the lead with an RBI single and senior rightfielder Lane Botkin getting hit by a pitch with the bases load for a 5-3 lead.
 
UTSA took advantage of five walks in the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded free pass to tie it, 5-5. Poston then delivered a two-run, go-ahead single in the eighth and Bailey added a two-run triple in the ninth.
 
HBU returns to action when it travels to face Michigan State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday in East Lansing.

HBU downs UIW in first round of Southland Conference tournament

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 9, 2022) The No. 5 seeded HBU Huskies advanced to the second round of the 2022 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament with a 74-64 win over the Incarnate Word Cardinals at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

The Huskies, who raised their season record 11-17, shot 59% from the field and was paced by Khristion Courseault, who put up 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Fellow starters Darious Lee, Sam Hofman, and Brycen Long also tallied double digits, with Lee adding 17 points, while Hofman and Long adding 11 each. Lee also recorded his sixth double-double of the season; pulling down 10 rebounds. Hofman also has 10 RBs, earning his second double-double of the season.

The number 8 seeded Cardinals had four players scoring in double digits. Drew Lutz led the way with 18 points, followed by Josh Morgan (17), RJ Glasper (12), and Brandon Swaby (10). UIW shot 41% from the field, 93% from the line, and 36% from the arc.

HBU pulled out to its largest lead of the game, 13 points, with 3:17 remaining in the game. The Cardinals were able to cut the Husky lead, but it was not enough, with HBU winning by 10. The Huskies also led the game with the lead (22:22), points in the paint, 46-22, second chance points (8-2), fast break points (8-5) and bench points (8-7). 

Incarnate Word finished the season with a 7-25 record in their last game in the Southland Conference, Next season, they will be joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). 

With the victory, HBU advanced to the second round of the tournament on Friday, March 10 where they will face the winner of McNeese State Cowboys vs. Northwestern State Demons matchup.

Tennessee downs Oklahoma 8-0 at Minute Maid Park

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 6, 2022) Number six ranked Tennessee completed their three-game series at the Shirners Children's College Classic  inside Minute Maid Park in Houston with an 8-0 win over Oklahoma. The Voluneers (10-1) went 2-1 in the tournament, dropping their first game of the season by the score of 7-2 to the No. 1 Texas Longhorns on Friday evening (March 4). On Saturday, they downed the Baylor Bears by the score of 10-5.

Tennessee was paced by designated hitter Christian Moore, who was 3-for-4 at the plate, with two runs and three RBI. He was assisted by left fielder Seth Stephenson, who went 2-for-2 with one RBI. For the Sooners, center fielder Tanner Tredaway tallied two hits from four at bats. 

The Volunteers used five pitchers in the victory, with starter Drew Beam getting the win. He completed five innings while giving up only two hits in facing 17 batters. The win pushed his season record to 2-0.

Starting pitcher Chazz Martinez receive the loss for the Sooners, with 3.2 innings of work. He gave up five runs, all of them earned, on five hits while facing 20 batters.

Next on tap for the Volunteers with be a Tuesday, March 8 matchup against James Madison. Oklahoma, who went 0-3 at Minute Maid Park, will face Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.

The box score from the game can be accessed by clicking here.

HBU downs Prairie View A&M 9-1 in softball action

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 5, 2022) The HBU Huskies downed Prairie View A&M by the score of 9-1 in a shortened run-rule game at Husky Softball Field on Saturday. 

The Huskies started their scoring run in the first inning when Jasie Roberts tripled, sending two runners home, to give HBU a 2-0 lead. The score would remain at 2-0 until the fifth inning when the Huskies tallied RBIs from Baylee Chanmdler, Riley Martin, Justice Palmer, and Sarah Venker to push the score to 7-0. The Panthers scored a single run in the sixth inning, while HBU added two runs off a Martin triple to complete scoring.

The win pushed the Huskies to 9-7 while the loss dropped the Panthers to 0-17. HBU will finish the series on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. CT first pitch against Brown.