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HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 20, 2022) The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup defending champion Houston Dash took to the pitch at PNC Stadium against the Chicago Red Stars on Sunday afternoon in the 2022 edition of the Challenge Cup. After ninety minutes-plus of intense play, the Dash fell to the Red Stars by the score of 3-1.
Defender Katie Naughton (Strongsville, Ohio) scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute. The Norte Dame alumni right-footed the ball to the bottom right corner, past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Bridgeport, Connecticut) to put the Dash up 1-0. The Red Stars responded eight minutes later when forward Mallory Pugh (Littleton, Colorado) right-footed the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, from the center of the box, to even the score in the 26th minute. After spirited play for the remainder of the first half, the score remained tied at one at the half.
Naughton stated in the post-game press conference:
"I think for the first half we came out pretty strong, I think we were trying to find some pockets of space and play and build out of the back. Maybe stretch their line, I think it came off quite a few times which is good and exciting. I think in the second half some calls maybe didn't go our way and that is something we need to work on and bounce back from those adversities that we’re going face throughout the year. And honestly, I do think we were in their line for the first 20 or 25 minutes. We just have to be more clinical in the final third and finish off chances we create. Obviously, it is not the result we want but it is the first game of the Challenge Cup. It is a good litmus test to see what we need to work on and what we can build off."
After 12 minutes of play in the second half, Dash defender Sophie Schmidt (Abbotsford, British Colombia, Canada) committed a foul in the penalty area, giving the Red Stars a penalty kick. Defender Arin Wright (Lexington, Kentucky) converted the penalty with a successful lick to the bottom left corner, to give Chicago a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.
The Red Stars added a third goal two minutes later when Pugh shot from outside the box and found the top right corner of the goal, on a pass from midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Freehold, New Jersey). After many attempts by the Dash to overcome the Chicago lead, the game ended with the 3-1 loss for Houston.
The Dash will face Racing Louisville FC on Friday, March 25 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville before returning home on Wednesday, March 30 for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Kansas City Current.
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