Sofia Huerta scores solo goal for Houston Dash in 3-1 loss to Portland Thorns

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 (June 22, 2018) It only took 12 minutes for newcomer Sofia Huerta (shown left) to make her presence known to the Houston Dash fans at BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday evening. The 26-year-old midfielder, who was acquired, via a trade, from the Chicago Red Stars four days ago,  scored her first goal as a member for the Dash in Houston's 3-1 loss to the Portland Thorns on Friday evening.

Huerta, who was traded along with Taylor Comeau to the Dash, scored 22 goals and tallied 11 assists in 74 appearances for the Red Stars since entering the league in 2015. The lone goal was not enough for Houston to down the Thorne, who scored the first goal of the match in the ninth minute by Tobin Heath. It was the second goal of the season for the 20-year-old, who has 133 caps for the United States Women's National Team. After the Dash tied the score in the twelfth minute on Huerta's score, and stoppage for a hydration break (30th minute), Ana Crongorcevic put the Thorns again up by one, in the 33rd minute, on a header inside the box. Her first attempt was rejected by Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell, but the second-try rebound header found the mark. Portland added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute on an assist by Tyler Lussi.

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

Head coach Vera Pauw (shown right), talked about the Dash coming off a 19-day break from competition, "Of course Portland had a game last week, but I don’t find that as an excuse because we had a scrimmage last week, apart from the three new players and the national team players coming back and they fell into a team who for two and a half weeks have been going with the game plan, but we know that and every team has that situation, so that is not an excuse.”

The game was the debut for Huerta, wearing the orange, sky blue and black of the Dash, who played three full seasons and 11 games in 2018 for the Red Stars. She earned her seventh cap for the USWNT on June 12 in a 2-1 win over China. She stated after the game, "I felt fine coming in, I just think that it was an unfortunate week with the rain and being unable to train some days, so I think that it messed with some stuff, but I think that we can only go forward from here. It’s a younger team and we’re just going to keep coming together as we keep having practices."

Houston is currently in seventh place in the nine-team league; with  three wins, five draws, and five loses (14 points). They will next face the Orlando Pride on Wednesday, June 27. The Pride are in a three-way tie for 2nd place in the league, with 19 points and posting a record of five wins, four draws, and three losses.