The Houston Dash travel to Florida on Wednesday to face the Orlando Pride for the second time this season.
Houston will look to rebound after falling 3-1 to Portland Thorns FC last Friday at home, ending a three-game unbeaten streak for the Dash. Defender Taylor Comeau and midfielders Sofia Huerta and Clare Polkinghorne each made their Dash debut after joining the team earlier that week. Huerta scored her fourth goal of the season and first for the Dash on Friday night.
Houston will rely on Huerta and forward Rachel Daly to spark an offense that scored six goals in the three games prior to facing Portland. Defensively, goalkeeper Jane Campbell will aim for her second shutout of the season and add to her save tally of 35 while going for her 10th career victory in goal.
Orlando enters the match on a four-game unbeaten streak after defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0 last Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex, earning their fourth shutout in their last six away games. The defense is anchored by U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who is second in the league in saves with 39.
Offensively, the Pride have three players with four goals to their credit in Rachel Hill, Sydney Leroux and Chioma Ubogagu, who scored the game-winning goal in Orlando's 1-0 victory over Houston earlier this year. Christine Nairn is one of three players tied for the league lead in assists this season with four. Those four players have played a role in 16 of the 20 goals Orlando has scored this season, the second-most scored this season.
This will be the second of three meetings between Houston and Orlando. The final match between both clubs will take place on July 11 as Houston hosts Orlando for its inaugural 70's Night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets for that match start at $19 and are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com.
