The Houston Dash return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday to kick off a three-game homestretch beginning with the 2014 NWSL Champions, Portland Thorns FC. Houston returns home after earning back-to-back road victories and splitting points with the Boston Breakers in midweek action. The Dash picked up seven points on the week and climbed from 10th to 7th place in the NWSL standings. The unbeaten streak brings the Dash to within six points of the final playoff position at the halfway point of the season.
Rachel Daly’s equalizer in Sunday’s match was her third goal of the season and rookie Nichelle Prince scored the game-winning goal off a free kick from Amber Brooks. Sunday’s victory over FC Kansas City was Houston’s third on the road this season and interim head coach Omar Morales’ second with the club. Last Sunday’s victory also marked the third consecutive start for rookie goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who has posted two shutouts since taking over in Orlando on June 24. Campbell’s goals against average since taking over is 0.33 per game. She improved her record to 2-1-1 on the season. Sunday’s match also saw the return of defender Bruna Benites, who suffered an injury against Sky Blue FC in May. The Brazilian came on in the second half to help Houston secure seven points from their last three games.
Portland enter Week 12 five points ahead of Houston with a 5-4-3 record and one victory in their last four games. The Thorns travel to Houston after falling to Seattle Reign FC 2-0 at Memorial Stadium in Washington. Forwards Christine Sinclair and Nadia Nadim are tied for the team lead with four goals apiece; and Portland features U.S. Women’s National Team midfielders Allie Long, Lindsey Horan and defenders Megan Klingenberg and Emily Sonnet. The club from the Pacific Northwest will be without USWNT midfielder Tobin Heath due to injury and Amandine Henry, Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Nadim due to the 2017 European Championships in the Netherlands. Midfielders Haley Raso and Meleana Shim will be tasked to fill in the void.
This will be the first of three meetings between the two clubs. Houston travels to Oregon twice in August to wrap up the regular season series. Tickets for the match and a special Dash Summer Pass, which offers tickets to games in July and August beginning at $75 dollars, are available at HoustonDashSoccer.com.
