Special Correspondent for TexSport Publications
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved
HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 28, 2017) In National Women’s Soccer League action, the Houston Dash
hosted the Boston Breakers at BBVA Compass Stadium on Wednesday, June 29, 2017. The Dash were 3-0-0 overall against the
Breakers prior to the start of the game. The match marked the third game that Kealia Ohai has missed in
her career with the Houston Dash. Ohai was injured in last week’s match against
the Orlando Pride. It was later stated that she will miss the remainder of the
season with an grade 3 ACL sprain and a medial meniscal tear of the left knee.
Many are wondering how this injury to one of the Dash’s key players will affect
the outcome of the remainder of the season. In good news on the injury front, Bruna Benites was listed as a probable coming off a grade 2 MCL sprain to her
left knee. The Breakers are also feeling their fair share of loss in the
college draft standout Rose Lavelle, who is nursing a strained hamstring injury
that occurred during her last appearance with the Women’s National Friendly
game.
In the opening minutes of the match
Rachel Daly and Megan Oyster collide while simultaneously attempting to head the
ball. As the sprinkles of a summer rain shower descend on BBVA Compass Stadium
a penalty is assessed on the the Dash and that hasn’t slowed the momentum of
the Breakers offense. Rachel Daly continues her all out and physicality playing
style that she is known for. In the 20th minute Daly’s teammate Andressinha
passed the ball to Carly Lloyd who kicked the ball wide of the goal. Lloyd
followed the first attempt up with a second that sailed over the top goalpost.
A yellow card was issued to Boston
Breakers’ Morgan Andrews for tripping Rachel Daly. The penalty kick failed to
make it’s mark and was saved by the Breakers’ goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme.
After 26 minutes of play both teams have failed to make it on the board, but
are showing the NWSL that they are very equally matched with the amount of back
and forth going on. Penalties are reigning supreme tonight being pretty equally
spread between both teams. In the 28th minute the Dash’s keeper, Jane Campbell,
made a spectacular save, on a free kick by the Breakers. Shortly after Camille Leven is tripped up and
a penalty kick was assessed and taken by Carly Lloyd. Unfortunately it did not
make it’s intended target.
The Breakers have an answer for
every Dash play that they tried to execute within the first half of play as
well as most of the second half. Poliana, the NWSL Player of the Week,
contributed in a strong, quiet fashion that she is known for. She drove the
ball toward the net and Prudhomme answered with a great save. Her Brazilian national and club teammate,
Andressinha had several shots and assists on potential goals that went wide of
the net. They teamed up again when a yellow card was assessed against former
teammate Allysha Chapman. Andressinha took the kick and Poliana headed it over
the net.
The second half brings a calmer
Breakers team while the Dash kept chipping away at their defense a bit more
sluggishly than the first half, they were just not finding those good scoring
opportunities. While there were a few opportunities on the Dash side, they were
unable to put the ball in the net. Late minute substitutions for a tiring Dash
proved to be not enough to get the ball in the back of the net. With three
additional minutes of stoppage time, the score ended 0-0. The Dash will take on
the Portland Thorns next Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.
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