Nichelle Prince's hat trick propels Houston Dash to 5-0 win over Orlando

Rachel Daly was honored prior to the match
for her 100th NWSL appearance against the
North Carolina Courage on May 29, 2022.
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 (June 3, 2022) The Houston Dash jumped out to a 3-0 lead after 45 minutes of play, in route to a 5-0 rout of the Orlando Pride at PNC Stadium in Houston. The 5-0 win marked Houston's largest regular season margin since a 4-0 win over Racing Louisville in September 2021.

The 4,000-plus fans in attendance saw forward Nichelle Prince achieve a hat-trick, with goals in the 27th,  39th and 48th minutes, with captain Rachel Daly's  goal in the 32nd minute being the "meat" of the trifecta first half goal sandwich, The three goals gave the Ohio State alum her second, third and fourth goals of the season. Her season total of four goals in 2022 has already pasted her overall season total of three from 2017, with the Dash only six goals into the season. Daly's goal total for 2022 increased to four, and puts her in position to break her scoring high of 10 from 2018.  Michelle Alozie added the insurance goal in the 87th minute to cap Houston's scoring.

Houston played an aggressive, but controlled match against the Pride. That aggressiveness allowed Houston to record 16 shots on goal in route to their five-goal victory, along with giving acting head coach Sarah Lowdon her third career win. It also extended the Dash's unbeaten streak against Orlando to five games.

With the win, the Dash win their third regular season win and increased their unbeaten streak to five matches. Their current record of 3-1-2 through six games gives them 14 points and pushed them, currently, to first place in the NWSL. The top ranked team, prior to the match was the San Diego Wave (4-2-0, 12 points). They will face off against Kansas City (1-4-1, 2 points) on Saturday. 

Houston Dash fall to North Carolina Courage 4-3; finish match with 10 players

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

CARY, NORTH CAROLINA (September 12, 2020) Playing without the services of Rachel Daly, the Houston Dash played the final 40 minutes of the game with ten players, and fell to the North Carolina Courage 4-3 in the first match for both squads in the Verizon NWSL Community Shield.

Houston, playing their first game since winning the NWSL Challenge Cup, were without the talent of team co-captain Rachel Daly, who currently is "on loan" to West Ham United of the Barclays FA Women's Super League in England.

In reality, the Dash held a 2-1 lead until the final seven minutes when the Courage scored their final two goals in the 83rd and 86th minute. Whether it was fatigue or playing almost the entire second half down a player, is a discussion for another time. They scored two of their three goals early in the match; both off assists by Shea Groom. Veronica Latsco tallied Houston's first goal in the 25th minute, to even the score at one. Abby Dahlkemper put North Carolina on the board in the 18th minute, with a successful penalty kick, for the first score of the game. Kristie Mewis followed Latsco's goal 12 minutes later, to give the Houstona 2-1 lead at halftime.

In the 53th minute, the Dash when a player down when Allyssa Chapman received a her second yellow card of the game; colliding with a North Carolina player along the touchline. She received her first yellow card in the 18th when she slipped into Debokhs' ankle, in an attempt to break up the play. The caution foul resulted in Dahlkemper's pentaly kick goal

The Courage evened the score at two, in the 52nd minute, with a goal by Debinha. Houston responded in the 70th minute with a go-a-head goal bu Sophie Schmidt. North Carolina close out the match with their two final goals to secure the win.

Houston head coach James Clarkson expressed his disappointment in the loss after the match.

“I’m really disappointed in the result, I thought we could have had the game won by halftime. We had a number of chances that we didn’t put away and if you leave a team like this hanging around there is always a chance they can come back and take it. Obviously, getting somebody sent off that early in the second half made it difficult. I think the players showed amazing courage and fight to get back into the game and take the lead. We just had a quick chat about it and we are really disappointed in how we handled and finished the game out, because there were three points to be won out there today.”

In addition, he also praised the play of Groom.

"She has maintained a fantastic level and the way she played today was incredible on both sides of the ball. Two really good assists, she is disappointed because she could have had a couple of goals in the first half and ultimately, when you go back and look at the game they have two World Cup winners and arguably the best player in the league on the field. They scored their chances and their finishing has been top drawer, their finishing has been great. We have been very wasteful in front of goal.”

The Dash return to play on Saturday, September 26 when they host the Orlando Pride at BBVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Old problems plague the new look Houston Dash

Rachel Daly (3) scored two goals
in the Houston Dash's first game of the
2020 Challenger Cup.  File photo from 2018 by
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

Reprinted with permission from LJR Sports Media

HERRIMAN, UTAH (July 1, 2020)  One had to only watch the final eight minutes of yesterday's game to realize that despite all the changes made by the Houston Dash in the offseason, some things have not changed. The inability to close out games cost Houston a 3-1 win over the Utah Royals and instead fell into a dismal 3-3 draw.

Dash head coach James Clarkson characterized the draw with these words: "We’re obviously a little disappointed." A little disappointed, are you kidding me?  You and the team should be infuriated with the way you gave the game away AGAIN! A little disappointed, are you kidding me? You and the team should be so upset that you want to get up and knock the crap out of somebody. A little disappointed is when you work your butt off but things don't go well not for lack of effort but because it just wasn't your day. Giving up two late goals and relinquishing a two goal lead is not working your butt off to the end. A match is 90 plus minutes, when will you and the team understand that and do something about it?

Houston fell behind a score in the 35th minute off the foot of Diane Matheson. Houston star Rachel Daly responded with a  "l'll see your one and I’ll raise it one" as she netted her fifth career brace to Houston a 2-1 lead in the 47th minute. Newcomer Shea Groom added her first goal as a member of the Dash in the 67th minute giving Houston what appeared to be a comfortable two goal advantage. 

She very nearly had the hat trick in the 61st minute knocking home a loose ball off the foot of Utah keeper Abby Smith. Referee Karen Abt disallowed the goal calling Daly for obstruction and preventing Smith from playing the ball.

 “Exactly what we expected and what we’ve seen through preseason," continued Clarkson. That’s the sort of thing that Rachel can give us. She’s a constant thorn in the opposition’s defense."

Six minutes after Daly's disallowed goal, Groom in her first game as a member of the Dash scored the team's third goal of the match. Groom's blast from the 18-yard mark came off a centering ball from fellow newcomer Katie Stengel

The two goal advantage would not hold as Utah got two late goals off set pieces to pull even in the 89th minute. The Royals final goal came off the head of rookie Tziarra KIng, her first professional goal in her first professional match.

"We got ourselves in a great position –three to one up with probably ten minutes to go and unfortunately,we gave away two really soft goals that cost us three points,"concluded Clarkson.

Houston nearly pulled the joy of victory from the agony of a draw but midfielder Christine Nairn's right footed strike was deflected just wide.

The Dash take on OL Reign next on July 4th in a 9:00 PM CDT kickoff on CBS All-Access.

Solid passing, advancing the ball keys to Houston Dash downing Orlando on Sunday, May 5

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Jennifer Edwards
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 4, 2019) The Houston Dash lost to the North Carolina Courage by the score of 4-1 this past Sunday (April 28) at BBVA Compaass Stadium. The score did noy reflect the amount of work the Dash displayed on the field and in practice. It was easy to see that the Houston did their homework ahead of the 2018 NWSL Champions coming to Houston. They did a great job defensively and had a pretty decent showing offensively. Their passing game has come a long ways in the past two seasons. They are making better connections with their passing and communicating within those passing opportunities much better than in previous seasons.

While the passing game is coming together, was a major disconnect between the Dash midfielders and the forwards. It looked as if the game plan was to keep the midfielders from crossing the midfield area and take a more defensive role and not assist the forwards in advancing toward scoring opportunities. The only problem with this idea was when of the two designated forwards advanced the ball with their speed, the offsides call was made because there were not enough players across the line when a shot was attempted. Rachel Daly (No. 3, shown above right) scored a beautiful goal that was called back for this reason. She tried to argue the call knowing it was going to a fruitless argument.

The coaches made some great strategic moves to make positive changes, but it was too little too late when the Courage scored 3 goals in the second half. While the four goals scored would clearly point to a goalkeeping issue, that is not the case in the Dash defensive line. Jane Campbell had a spectacular save in the free kick that the Courage were awarded. She also had a number of “Save of the Week” worthy saves. It can clearly be seen that the Dash’s full time goalkeeper coach is doing great work and making great strides in this area.

The Dash will take on the Orlando Pride this Sunday. Hopefully their offensive woes will not carry over on to this game and the Dash can get back to their solid passing skills and advancing the ball without so many offsides calls.

Houston Dash FW Rachel Daly named to NWSL Team of the Month

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

From Houston Dash Press Release

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 4, 2018)  Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly (number 3, shown right) was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for July by the NWSL Media Association, the league announced earlier today. 

The forward earned the honor after scoring three goals in the month, including two game-winners, leading the Dash to a 2-2-0 mark in July. This was the third time Daly has been named to the Team of the Month this season after key performances in March and May. The Harrogate, England is the first Dash player to earn the award more than once in the same season since it was first handed out at the beginning of the 2017 season. 

The striker scored two goals in a 3-1 victory over the Orlando Pride on July 11. FW Kealia Ohai sparked a fast break that lead to Daly's first goal of the evening after she beat Pride GK Ashlyn Harris with a curling shot to the inside of the far post. The third-year veteran then scored the game-winning goal minutes into the second half. After her effort was cleared by Harris, Daly followed up on the rebound and struck the ball mid-air to beat the Pride goalkeeper at the near post.  

Daly scored her second game-winning goal of the month in Houston's 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex on July 22. MF Sofia Huerta found the forward inside the box in the third minute of the game and Daly reached the ball just before a lunging effort from Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe for the only goal of the game.  

With the three goals in July, Daly has now scored seven times in 2018, surpassing her previous single-season career high of five set last season.  

Daly, Huerta, Ohai and the Dash return to league play on Sunday as they host Christen Press, Becky Sauerbrunn and Utah Royals FC in the club's inaugural Salute to Women Veterans game, presented by Sasol.   

A special Salute to Women Veterans ticket package is available and includes one ticket to the game as well as a $5 donation to Trauma to Triumph - The W.A.V.E. Campaign, aimed at supporting homeless women veterans in Texas, for only $19. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDashSoccer.com/Salute.