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.

Houston Dash, Utah Royals "were" to play today

Story and Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 16, 2020) If professional sports had not been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Houston Dash would be hosting the Utah Royals this evening at BBVA Stadium in Houston. It would have been the seventh meeting between the two squads.

They first met in 2018, in the Royals inaugural season. The Dash hosted Utah on March 30 at BBVA Stadium with neither team finding the goal; resulting on a 0-0 draw. In their next meeting on May 19 at Rio Tonto Stadium in Sandy Utah, the Royals came out on top 1-0. In their final meeting of 2018, again in Houston, the Dash dropped a 2-1 decision, with Veronica Lasko scoring the first-ever Dash goal against Utah.

In 2019, Houston and Utah met for three games, with the Dash winning their first two meetings of the season. On May 11 in Utah, Rachel Daly tallied a brace; scoring in the 42nd and 50th minute to give Houston a 2-1 victory in their first-ever win over the Royals. On September 13, Houston received their second win over Utah; another 2-1 decision with Sophia Huerta scoring the brace in the 27th and 62nd minute. In their final matchup of 2019, Utah came out on top by the score fo 2-1 in Utah. Kristie Mewis scored for Houston in the 78th minute.

Utah and Houston are also scheduled to meet on July 3 in Utah and August 22 in Houston. Time, and the "powers that be," will determine of any of these games will be played.

Latsko's solo goal not enough for Houston Dash to overcome Utah Royals; drop 2-1 decision

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 5, 2018) The Houston Dash finally broke their 2018 scoring drought against Utah Royals FC on Sunday evening. Forward Veronica Latsko did what she has done twice previously this season. However, the goal was not enough, as the Dash dropped a 2-1 decision to Utah at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Midfielder Sophia Huerta, in a display of pure athleticism, got possession of the ball and aptly kicked it to Latsko, who headed it past goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart in the 41st minute for the score. “Oh my goodness, I was so incredibly tired on that goal." stated Latsko. "Pretty much, it was all (MF) Sofia (Huerta). She’s incredible and an amazing player who can target any player with an amazing ball, and I saw the perfect ball coming in and I was just like, ‘Please just go into the back of the net,’ and it did. So really, I didn’t have to do much; I just had to head it.”

 It was the third goal of the season for the rookie, who played her college soccer at the University of Virginia. She was selected by the Dash as the 38th overall selection in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. Huerta's assist was her third as a member of the Dash. She has two additional assists in 2018, as a member of the Chicago Red Stars.

Houston head coach Vera Pauw stated after the game:

“I am very, very disappointed, because again we gave it away ourselves, and if we would of won here, then it would of been a logical result – if we don’t make those mistakes, then we would of been three points away from the playoffs, so I’m really disappointed. If we don’t make mistakes, we win. It’s now four games that we have given away, that is 12 points. We have given it away ourselves, and that’s with little mistakes and huge mistakes, and every time the same mistakes, and at a professional level you cannot do that – you will not make the playoffs.”

Both the Royals' scores came in the second half. Christian Press scored in the 77th minute, followed seven minutes later with a Katie Stingel goal. 

The win pushes Utah into sixth place with 25 points. Houston drops to seventh place with 23 points. The North Carolina Courage lead the NWSL with 49 points, followed by Seattle and Orlando, each with 30 points. After tonight's match, the Dash have five games remaining on their schedule, with their next match occurring on Saturday, August 11 at Sky Blue FC. Houston and Sky Blue have met once this season, on May 5, with the Dash coming out on top 3-2

They will return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday, August 17 to host the Washington Spirit. In two previous meetings this season, the Dash came out on top; a 3-2 decision on May 27 and a 1-0 win on July 21.

Houston Dash, Utah Royals face off in Sunday evening contest

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 5, 2018)  On a humid Sunday evening in Houston, the Houston Dash (6-5-7, 23 points) host the Utah Royals (5-7-6, 22 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium in a crucial NWSL match up. The match will also serves as the inaugural Salute to Women Veterans' night, hosted by Sasol. Utah is yet to concede a goal to the Dash through their first two meetings in 2018. On March 31, the two squads battled to a scoreless draw, with their second meeting on May 19, resulting in a 1-0 win for the Royals.

Houston has scored in nine consecutive games this season, which is a franchise record. The last time the Dash were held scoreless was the March 31 loss to Utah. The Royals have just one of their last seven games (four losses and two draws) and have been held scoreless five time during that stretch. They are currently in seventh place in the NWSL standings, one spot behind Houston.

The Dash will look to forward Kealia Ohai for her continued success in 2018. The 24-year-old has converted 19.1% of her shots this season, including blocks, which ranks her third in the league among players with at least four goals this season.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT in Houston.

Houston Dash and Utah Royals battle to a scoreless draw

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

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 30, 2018) For the second week in a row, the Houston Dash remained undefeated in 2018 as they battled to a scoreless draw against the Utah Royals FC at BBVA Compass Stadium. The draw pushed Houston's record to 0-0-2 (two points) and kept head coach Vera Pauw undefeated in her Dash premier season. 

After 45 minutes of mostly defensive play, the game was scoreless with the Dash taking one shot, by Kimberly Keever and the Royals taking two, by Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir. The only shot on goal was by Jonsdottir.

In the second half, the Dash got more in the offensive side of the pitch. In the 51st minute, Haley Hanson received the ball from Meleana Shin and sailed it too high from outside the box. Two minutes later, Savannah Jordan got the ball on a cross from Kristie Mewis and right-footed a shot from the center of the box. Unfortunately for Houston, the ball was wide. The give-and take play in the second half saw more offense by the Dash; shooting six times. Utah took eight shots in the second half. The highlight of the game was the performance of goalkeeper Jane Campbell. The Kennesaw, Georgia native, who played her college soccer at Stanford, tallied five saves. The game was the second shutout of the season for Campbell and the Dash. In 2017, Campbell registered three shutouts.

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

Pauw (shown left) discussed Campbell's performance with the press after the game, stating, “She was superb, of course. She kept us in the game, and she won the point for us.” 

Campbell gave her thoughts about the team after their first two games. She was quoted, “We were expecting to get two wins. In the first game, we gave up a late goal. We beat ourselves. Today, Utah came and played a great game. We didn’t play that well, especially in the second half. Utah took full advantage, so we’re thankful they didn’t put one away. We were expecting two wins, but at least we got two points out of them."

The next game for the Dash will be Wednesday,  April 18 against the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, followed by a Sunday, April 22 match-up versus Orlando City. They will return home on Saturday, April 28, where they will face the North Carolina Courage with a 2:30 p.m. CDT start.