Monday, July 06, 2020

Houston Dash down OL Reign 2-0 to remain unbeaten in 2020 Challenge Cup

Photo courtesy of
Wikipedia Commons 
By Jennifer Edwards
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HERIMANN, UTAH (July 6, 2020) The Houston Dash beat the OL Reign 2-0 in their second match in the pool play of the NWSL Challenge Cup. Kristie Mewis opened the game in the 12th minute on a pass from Shea Groom. Mewis has been let loose in the midfield and is being seen as a threat during any Dash game. Shea Groom, (shown right playing in high school) an acquisition from OL Reign in the offseason, showed that she has come to play. Her rough and tumble play made her look like a punching bag at times, but she showed her grit in scoring a goal off a pass from Rachel Daly. Looking at the replay, that header goal could be used as clinic footage for future soccer players. 

This game also showed a new face for the Dash. Midfielder and free agent Brianna Visalli started the game and gave amazing support to the midfield and offensive push by the Dash. She received the only Dash yellow card of the game. The game was textbook for second year coach James Clarkson. He has to be happy with the team he built in the offseason and comradery he has created in the players. He thought outside the box by hosting Zoom team meetings and game nights to bond the team as best as possible while dealing with quarantine times. That sisterhood could be seen in this game. They looked like a solid unit and the subs that were used pushed forward to complete the full pitch press and win the game. 

The next match for the Dash will be Wednesday, June 8, 2020 at 9pm Houston time on CBS All Access. All NWSL Challenge Cup matches are played in Rio Tinto Stadium, home of the Utah Royals.

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