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.

GK Lindsey Harris shines in Houston Dash draw with Chicago Red Stars

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 10, 2021) The Houston Dash began the defense of their 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup title by battling to a scoreless draw against the Chicago Red Stars on Friday evening. The crowd in attendance at BBVA Stadium saw a spirited defensive battle.in which neither team could get the ball into the goal. With the draw, both teams pick up one point; placing them tied for second in the Cup's West Division standings.

Portland Thorns FC sit atop the West with their 2-1 win over Kansas City. OL Reign hold onto fourth place, having yet to play a match. 

The Dash were playing without the services of seven of their players; six who were away on International Duty. Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince, and Sophie Schmidt are currently with the Canadian National Team while Rachel Daly is with England. Jane Campbell and Kristie Mewis are on roster duty for the United States.

Dash goalkeeper Lindsey Harris kept a clean sheet in her Dash debut, a feat that no other goalkeeper before her accomplished. The Austin native made a spectacular diving save in the 18th minute to deny Chicago center back Kayla Sharples. After a Chicago corner was initially cleared, the Red Stars cycled the ball back around to the right flank for a cross. Sharples ran onto it and volleyed it on target from six yards, but Harris leapt across her goal to snatch the shot out of the air. 

When questioned about making the first save of the game early in the first half, Harris stated: 

"Yeah, I usually go into games super nervous until I get my first touches on the ball. It came in (the 18th minute) and (Kayla Sharples) was wide open, but I don't know what happened. I saw it and I just jumped at it. I remember afterwards kind of crawling into a ball and just saying 'don't drop it.' First touch on the ball, so just don't drop it. I kind of curled up into it just to make sure it was safe." 

Head coach James Clarkson talked about the draw in his post game meeting with the press.  

“It was great to be back out there. Ten weeks was a really long time for a preseason – you could see the excitement of the players all the way through. The effort they put in tonight was fantastic. We knew it would be a little bit rusty because we hadn’t played since October other than each other in preseason. We know it's going to take a couple of weeks, but what they could ultimate control was ultimately fantastic.” 

 

Houston Dash to face Chicago Red Stars to begin defense of NWSL Challenge Cup title

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 9, 2021) The Houston Dash will kickoff their 2021 season with the defense of their 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup against the Chicago Red Stars. The 2021 edition of the tournament will begin  the first league competition this year for the Dash and an opportunity to defend the Club’s first title. Houston defeated Chicago Red Stars 2-0 at Zions Bank Stadium in Utah on July 26, 2020.

A win will mark the first Dash victory of 2021 after they became the 2020 Challenge Cup Championship and second place in the Fall Series.  A victory will also earn the second consecutive victory against Chicago in addition to their fourth victory against the Red Stars.

Former Dash captain and forward Kealia Watt returns to BBVA stadium for the first time since departing the club in 2019 after spending four years in Houston. Goalkeeper Lindsey Harris is set to make her NWSL debut as Jane Campbell is off in Europe with the US Women’s National Team. 

Defender Allysha Chapman, midfielders Kristie Mewis and Sophie Schmidt along with forwards Nichelle Prince and Rachel Daly will also be absent due to international duty. Defender Katie Naughton and midfielder Shea Groom will lead the team as co-captains against Chicago.

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT. 

 

Courage downs Red Stars while Thorns, Spirit battle to draw in Sunday Challenge Cup action

By Robert Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HERRIMAN, UTAH (July 5, 2020) On Sunday, July 5, the NWSL Challenge Cup had two matches at  Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The first match of the day saw the North Carolina Courage down the Chicago Red Stars by the score of 1-0. The second game had the Portland Thorns and the Washington Spirit battling to a 1-1 draw.

The win keeps the Courage at the top of the Cup standings with perfect 3-0 record with nine points. The Red Stars dropped to 0-2-1 (one point) in the standings which places them seventh in the eight-team tournament. North Carolina and Chicago battled back-and-forth during the match, with neither team able to find a hole in their opponent's defense. The lone goal came in the 81st minute when Abby Ercig headed in the ball from the center of the box, off a assist from Jaelene Daniels following a corner kick.

In the second game, Portland scored first when Lindsay Horan  was fed the ball Morgan Klingenberg  in the 69th minute to push the score to 1-0. The Spirit answered nine minutes when Sam Staab scored the equalizer in the 78th minute, with the assist from  Ashley Sanchez. Portland moves to 0-1-2 (2 points) and  while Washington goes to a 1-1-1 record, with four points.

Player Showcase: Chicago Red Stars Kealia (Ohai) Watt

Photo by Mike Kiel, LJR Sports Media
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

Reprinted with permission from LJR Sports Media

HERRIMAN, UTAH (March 27, 2020) Today starts a new era for former Houston Dash captain Kealia Ohai, now Kealia Watt (shown right), after her marriage to Houston Texans star JJ Watt in February. She takes the pitch with her new team the Chicago Red Stars. Traded in the off season, Watt, a high school star in Utah, returns to the scene of some of her most fondest soccer memories in Salt Lake City only this time with Chicago the 2019 NWSL runner-ups in the NWSL Challenge Cup.

The last six months have been strange for Watt and the NWSL. She arrived in Chicago to much fanfare apartment hunting back in January. She then returned to Houston to get ready for the season before arriving back in Chicago in March and that's when things got a little crazy. COVID-19 raised its ugly head and things became uncertain for everyone worldwide notwithstanding professional athletes.

 “When everything started it was the weekend and we thought we literally would have the weekend off and we would be back in on Monday, that everything would just blow over,” Watt told the Chicago Tribune last week. “But then two months later we were still in quarantine. It was wild to have soccer taken away from us, and trying to train on our own was difficult.”

Although most thought the pandemic would be over in a relatively short period of time, it was not.

“The original date was a couple of weeks, so we waited until then and then we waited a little longer and then I finally went back to Houston to train,” she said. “All of it was pretty weird timing, and throughout we didn’t have a firm date of when we’d be back. You would train and think, OK, I have three weeks until we get back, so you schedule your training for that. And then a few days before that they would delay it more. It was such a weird time. The whole world was having such a difficult time.”

But all that is behind Watt and the NWSL as the Challenge Cup begins tomorrow with defending NWSL champion NC Courage facing perennial power Portland in the opening match. Watt and Chicago will follow that game with a match against the Washington Spirit.

In a media Zoom press conference on Friday, Dames shared with Houston based LJR Sports Media his thoughts on Watt.

"She is significantly better then I thought she was though I knew she was really good. She has more tools in her tool chest then I knew. She is one of our top six players, so unselfish. She is super clean, turns corners and is not afraid to do anything."

Watt, the franchise leading scorer for Houston with 28 in 114 appearances is one of the players that Dames and company will be relying on to replace Samantha Kerr who left for Chelsea in the Women's Premier League in England. Kerr had 34 goals in 40 games with the Red Stars.

Chicago with "Captain K" is once again expected to be one of the teams to beat in 2020.

BREAKING NEWS: Houston Dash trade Kealia Ohai to Chcago Red Stars

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 6, 2020)  The Houston Dash acquired defender Katie Naughton and the 18th overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft through a trade with Chicago Red Stars, the club announced today. The Dash traded forward Kealia Ohai to Chicago in return.  

Naughton joins Houston after being a key part of Chicago’s backline throughout their stellar 2019 NWSL season run. The center back was part of Chicago’s 1-0 shutout win over Portland in the semifinals and put in a full 90-minute performance in the NWSL Championship against North Carolina.  

“We are delighted to add Katie to the squad. She brings a lot of quality and playoff experience,” said Head Coach James Clarkson. “She will strengthen the team and help us continue to improve.” 

The Red Stars posted a 15-9-2 record in the 2019 season and reached their first-ever NWSL final finishing as runners-up. Naughton played a role in 13 of Chicago’s 15 wins and five of the Red Stars’ eight clean sheets. The Illinois native appeared in 22 of 24 regular-season games, starting 19.  

Naughton came into NWSL as the 19th overall selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft after a stellar four-year career at Notre Dame. She captained the Fighting Irish as a sophomore, junior and senior, becoming the first player in school history to serve as a three-year team captain. She was a three-time all-conference selection and was a member of Notre Dame's Student-Athlete Advisory Council. 

The defender also represented the United States in international competition at the Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels during her youth career, including at the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2014 Concacaf U-20 Championships. 

Ohai leaves Houston after six seasons with the Dash in which she made 114 appearances and started 108 times. She owns the club record for goals scored, with 28, and has recorded 16 career assists. 

“I just want to thank Kealia for her commitment to the Dash and wish her all the best for the future on and off the field,” Clarkson said. 

Ohai was the second overall pick in the 2014 NWSL Draft and served as the team’s captain for the past three seasons. 

Ohai stated:  “I want to thank the entire Houston organization and the wonderful fans for my last 6 years as a Dash player. I have created lasting friendships and Houston will always be my home. I’m excited for a new opportunity with Chicago and to become the best player I can be.” 

With this transaction, the Dash now have 19 players on their active roster ahead of the 2020 NWSL season. The Dash expect to kick off their 2020 campaign in mid-April. The 2020 schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Houston Dash fall to Chicago Red Stars 3-0

Archive photo by
Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

For Houston Dash Press Release

BRIDGEVIEW, ILLINOIS (September 8, 2019)  A first-half brace from Chicago forward Sam Kerr lifted the Red Stars over the Houston Dash this evening at SeatGeek Stadium, 3-0.

Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell denied Chicago a fourth goal with a penalty kick save in the 84th minute, setting the NWSL single-season record with her fourth penalty save of the year.

Kerr gave the Red Stars the lead in the seventh minute when she found a ball that midfielder Morgan Brian sent from midfield. The ball slipped through the Dash back line for Kerr to dribble inside the box and shoot past Campbell.

Kerr found the back of the net for the second time in the 44th minute when Chicago forward Yuki Nagasato dribbled the ball into the box and crossed it to find the Australian international near the penalty spot. Kerr held off a challenge from a Dash defender before striking the ball into the left side of the goal.

Houston nearly leveled the score in the 33rd minute when forward Rachel Daly (No.  3 above) found a loose ball in the box after a corner kick from midfielder Sofia Huerta. Daly beat two Chicago defenders in the air to win the initial ball and was the first to recover to the second ball. Her first-touch volley appeared destined for the upper left corner of the goal, but Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher alertly leapt to push it over the bar.

Chicago forward Savannah McCaskill provided the Red Stars’ third goal in the 65th minute when she beat a pair of Dash defenders to the ball, putting it in the net on a one-touch hit.

Campbell set a league record with her fourth penalty save of the year when she denied Nagasato in the 84th minute, diving low to her right to push the spot kick wide of the target.

The Dash will return to BBVA Stadium to host the Utah Royals on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CDT. Tickets for the match start at $15 and are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com. 

Houston Dash drop 1-0 decision to Chicago Red Stars

Kyah Simon drives the ball past an unidentified

Chicago Red Stars player.

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography

Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyrights 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 13, 2019) The Chicago Red Stars defense came onto the pitch at the beginning of the game and totally shut down down the Houston Dash offense; resulting in a 1-0 win at BBVA Stadium in Houston. The lost was the third in a row for the Dash, who have not seen the winning side of a match since their 2-1 victory over the Utah Royals on May 11. Since then, the Dash have recorded three draws and three losses to post their record after 12 games to 3-5-4, for 13 points.

It did not take Chicago long to get on the scoreboard, with a qucik goal by forward Katlyn Johnson; her first of the season, with an assist from midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo. It was the University of Illinois alumni's second assist of the season.  The win raised the Red Stars' record to 5-2-5 (20 points) and keeps their playoff hopes alive. Houston has only beat Chicago twice in fifteen games dating back to 2014, when they became a member of the league.

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography

Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

One milestones was achieved by the Dash in the match. Forward Kealia Ohai made her 100th appearance in an NWSL game; becoming the 26th player to play in 100 regular-season games. Ohai played 66 minutes in the match, and was replaced by Christine Nairn.

Next up for Houston will be a nationally televised game against the Washington Spirit at Maryland SoccerPlex  in Germantown, Maryland, on Saturday July 20. They return home on Sunday, July 28 to host Carli Lloyd and Sky Blue FC. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CDT.

Two early goals by Chicago Red Stars gives Houston Dash 2-1 loss

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 19, 2019) Foward Sam Kerr scored two goals, in the eighth and thirteenth minute, to give the Chicago Red Stars a 2-1 win over the Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium. The game, which was very physical, which saw both squads playing without some of their top players due to international asignments for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup.

In the eighth minute, Kerr got behind Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell and rounded the ball into the net. She came back five minutes later to again get the ball past Campbell for her second brace in as many games. In the 26th minute forward Sophia Huerta runs onto the ball brought down by forward Kayla McCoy and left-footed it in the far corner for her seccond goal of the season.

With the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the horizon, the Dash is looking to maximize in the games left with the club’s world cup players. CanWNT players Lindsay Agnew, Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince and Sophie Schmidt left last week to join Canada as they compete in Group E against Cameroon, the Netherlands and New Zealand. After this evening’s game against the Stars, the Dash are projected to miss the rest of the players adding up to eight this summer during the FIFA Women's World Cup. 2018 Team MVP Rachel Daly and England will compete in Group D against Argentina, Japan and Scotland. Kyah Simon will join Clare Polkinghorne and Australia as they face Brazil, Italy and Kayla McCoy and Jamaica in Group C play.

Houston Dash drop heart breaker to Chicago Red Stars, 3-2

Rachel Daly (3) scored her fourth goal of the season, in
the 86th minute, for the Houston Dash.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 23, 2017) In their final home game of 2017, the Houston Dash (7-13-2, 23 points) fell behind in the first half, but their second half rally was not enough as they fell to the Chicago Red Stars (11-6-6, 39 points) by the score of 3-2 on Saturday evening. The 6,707 fans in the stands at BBVA Compass Stadium saw Houston hold the Red Stars scoreless in the second half, but their two goals were not enough to overcome Chicago's three-goal first half.

The Red Stars jumped on the scoreboard in the 13th minute when forward Jennifer Hoy took a cross from defender Casey Short and scored on her own rebound for the first goal of the game. They added their second goal seven minutes later when Short scored from a short angle after Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands. Four minutes later,

Chicago's Yuki Nagasato react to
her red card in the 89th minute.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

Houston cut the Chicago lead to one when defender and team captain Amber Brooks converted a penalty for the goal; her first of the season. The Red Stars got back the two-goal lead in added-time of the first half when forward and captain Christian Press converted a penalty kick. Houston scored their second goal in the 85th minute, from forward Rachel Daly, with an assist from midfielder Kristie Mewis.

In the 89th minute, Chicago midfielder Yuki Nagasato received a red card for a hard take down of Daly. She entered the game three minutes earlier as a substitute for Alyssa Mautz. Nagasato She will not be eligible for the Red Stars next weekend, but wiill be available for the playoffs.

After the game,  Dash interim coach Omar Morales was quoted, "There were times in the game we played really well. There were times in the game we didn't play very well. There is an old Western movie 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.' There was a lot of that."

Houston was still without the services of Kealia Ohai and Carli Lloyd. Ohai is out with a torn ACL in her left knee and Lloyd is suffering from a left ankle strain.

The Dash have two remaining games in 2017; a Wednesday, September 27 match up against the North Carolina Courage at H-E-B Par in Edinburg, Texas. When asked about the Dash playing their next game in Edinburg, Morales responded:

“Yeah I mean it’s a decision that was made and we can’t control it, so we have to go down there and play in Edinburg and make the best of it and make it a home game and make it as much of a home game as we can with inside of the locker room and with the players and make sure that we come out and perform in the way that we performed at certain times tonight. I think if we do that we will get a result.”

Houston will finish the regular season in Kansas City with a 5 p.m. EDT game against FC Kansas City on Saturday, September 23.