Houston Dash drop 1-0 decision to Orlando Pride in NWSL action

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 20, 2016) The Houston Dash battled the Orlando Pride to a scoreless draw through 82 minutes of play, but could not hold on and dropped a 1-0 decision on Friday, May 20, 2016 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas. Houston fell to 2-3-1 for the season while the Pride raised their season record to 4-2-0.

The first half was a fairly uneventful affair, with neither team able to get the ball into the goal. The Dash did manage three shots on goal in the first 45 minutes and generated a stubborn defense that did not allow any shots on goal by the Pride. Captain Kealia Ohai had one of the three shots for Houston, with forward Rachel Daly and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan accounting for the other two.

Houston did a good job of controlling the Pride in second half, but ran out of luck in the 82^nd minute when Kirsten Edmonds shot from outside the box and slipped it by Dash goalkeeper Lydia Williams for the score. It was the first goal of the season for the Metuchen, New Jersey native, who played her college soccer for Rutgers University. The second half saw the Dash make two additional shots on goal, with the Pride evening the shots with five of their own. Midfielder Amber Brooks and defender Stephanie Ochs accounted for the two Dash shots in the second half.

The Dash again were without the services of 2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd. The United States national team captain suffered a sprain of her medial collateral ligament of her right knee on April 23 against the Pride. The injury did not require surgery but her recovery is still progressing.

The Dash will have seven days to prepare for their seventh game of the 2016 season; a Friday, May 27 home match against the Washington Spirit. The Spirit are 4-0-1 (13 points) and in first place in the National Women’s Soccer League. Houston dropped a 2-1 decision against Washington on May 14 at Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland.