The Houston Dash will take on 2019 NWSL Champion North Carolina Courage for a Saturday showdown at 2:30 p.m. CT at WakeMed Soccer Park. Tomorrow’s game is the first of four for the Dash in the Verizon Community Shield. The match will be available live on KHOU 11.
Together with Verizon, the NWSL announced the creation of the Verizon Community Shield, a competition set to take place during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series. Each of the NWSL’s nine clubs will partner with small businesses or programs in their community, and the team with the most points at the end of the Fall Series will be awarded the Verizon Community Shield and the opportunity to present a grant of $25,000 to their community partner, made possible by Verizon. $15,000 and $10,000 will be presented to the second and third-place teams, respectively.
<strong>WHO:</strong> |
<p>Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage </p> |
<strong>WHAT:</strong> |
<p>First Dash game of fall series </p> |
<strong>WHEN:</strong> |
<p>Saturday, September 12 – 2:30 p.m. CDT </p> |
<strong>WATCH:</strong> |
<p>CBS </p> |
Dash head coach James Clarkson returns in his second year leading the club after joining last season as the fourth full-time head coach in club history on Dec. 11. Clarkson led the Dash to the first league title in club history earlier this summer when they won the NWSL Challenge Cup.
“The players just want to compete and push on to continue to improve and show progress from where we were at the tournament this summer,“ said Clarkson. “This is just another steppingstone as we progress into next season and hopefully some of them are going to make my life difficult in terms of putting the roster together to short-term and long-term.”
Here are three points ahead of Saturday's game:
- CHAMPIONS SHOWDOWN – The Dash captured the team’s first league title in club history on July 26 when they defeated Chicago Red Stars 2-0 in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. Saturday’s matchup will feature the league’s most recent champions as North Carolina also defeated Chicago in the 2019 NWSL Cup to earn the title a year ago.
- PLAYERS STEP UP FOR LEADERSHIP – Co-captain Jane Campbell will lead the team during the fall series as fellow captain Rachel Daly is on loan with West Ham FC. Clarkson mentioned that the fall series will be a good time to see other players step up to that leadership spot and see more playing time as well. “I think it's a huge opportunity for other players to step up, show leadership qualities and really get after it with the team – really put their mark on the group because if things go well for Rachel, she won't be here for part of the season next year,” Clarkson said.
- SEEKING FIRST VICTORY AGAINST THE COURAGE – The Courage have a record of seven victories and one draw against the Dash since joining the league in 2017. Coming out of the Challenge Cup, where they earned four shutouts and scored eight goals throughout the tournament, the Dash will go to North Carolina with a “chip on their shoulder,” itching to get the club’s first victory against the Courage.
