The Houston Dash defeated FC Dallas 3-0 in a friendly this evening as part of a doubleheader at Toyota Soccer Center. This was Houston’s first game since the club postponed its match against the Washington Spirit on May 27 due to sustained rain and lightning around BBVA Compass Stadium.
Garland, Texas nativeMelissa Henderson participated in a match for the first time since she sprained the MCL in her right knee on March 19 in a friendly against Baylor University. The forward scored the first goal of the game in the 14th minute after Kealia Ohai made a run into the 18-yard box and her final touch went beyond Dallas Kelsey Davonshire. Henderson made a run into the six-yard box and slid in to knock the ball past a lunging Davonshire.
Ohai doubled Houston’s lead in the 54th minute after she dribbled towards the penalty box and beat a rushing Davonshire at the near post.
Dash defender Stephanie Ochs scored the final goal of the game in the 71st minute after her shot outside the 18-yard box beat the Dallas goalkeeper at the far post.
With future international commitments on the horizon and limited time on the field, Dash head coach Randy Waldrum made six substitutions in the second half to give amateur players time on the pitch. These players were Bianca Brinson, Haley Carter, Tessa Gavilsky, Jen LaPonte, Chestley Strother and Caroline Van Slambrouck. Brinson, Gavilsky, Strother and Van Slambrouck played with FC Dallas in their 8-0 victory over the Texas Titans on May 21.
Chioma Ubogagu, a native of the surrounding Coppell, Texas, forced a save in the 18th minute after she dribbled past two defenders and shot 15 yards away from goal. The Stanford product tested Davonshire again in the 58th minute with a shot outside the 18-yard box but the keeper was well positioned to handle the ball. Two minutes later the forward’s final shot of the game went wide of the far post.
The Houston Dash return to NWSL play next weekend when they travel to the Pacific Northwest for a match against Seattle Reign FC. The Dash return to BBVA Compass Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 19 to host the reigning two-time NWSL Champion FC Kansas City. Ticket for that match and every game at BBVA Compass Stadium are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com/tickets.
