Ella Masar scores first home goal Houston Dash histlry in 3-1 loss to Chicago

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 23, 2014) A historical event occurred at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday evening, May 23, 2014 and the 4,868 fans in attendance have been waiting for it since the Houston Dash became a member of the National Women’s Soccer League.

In the 51st minute, Ella Masar scored the first home goal in Dash history, but it was not enough, as the Chicago Red Stars downed the Dash by the score of 3-1.

The historical moment was the second for the 5-5 forward from Urbana, Illinois and was extra sweet as it came against her former team.

Masar also scored the first ever goal in Dash history in their 3-2 win over the Boston Breakers on April 20, 2014.

Unfortunately, historical moments do not singularly win games, and despite the Dash’s inspiring play, they could not overcome the offensive power of Chicago in dropping their sixth game of the season.

Chicago was relentless with the ball; scoring their first goal on the 10th minute off a penalty kick by Vanessa DiBernardo.

Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod anticipated correctly, going to the right, but she was unable to reach it and keep it out of the goal.

With the scored tied at one after Masar’s goal, the hopes of the Dash and their fans went south when Chicago scored two goals within eight minutes of each other.

Three minutes after Masar’s historic goal, Red Stars midfielder Alyssa Mautz was all along on the left side of the box and drilled the ball past McLeod for their second score.

The final Red Stars goal came in the 62nd minute off a DiBernardo free kick that was cut off by forward Jen Hoy and sent past McLeod.

The game saw four yellow and two red cards; with Red Stars forward Melissa Tancredi and Dash head coach Randy Waldrum both being sent off.

Tancredi received her ejection for delay of game while Waldrum was sent to the showers for “misconduct.”
Of the four yellow cards issued in the game, the Dash was on the receiving end of a single warning.

Masar, after scoring her historic goal, ran down the field and pulled “Brandi Chastian” in removing her shirt in joyous celebration.

She was promptly issued the warning and spoke of it during the post game press conference:

“No, I didn’t plan it., It was our first goal at home and I think just coming in and Chicago, you know playing for them last year, and them coming and us scoring against them. It's our first goal at home...and I think there's a lot of emotion behind it.”

The Dash will next hit the road to take on the Washington Spirit at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland on Monday, May 26, 2014 with a 3 p.m. CDT start.