After back-to-back road games in Los Angeles and North Carolina, the Houston Dash return home to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday to host Chicago Red Stars for Hispanic Heritage Night. The match is slated to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Houston enters the match following a 1-0 loss to North Carolina at WakeMed Soccer Park last Saturday. The Dash enter the match without six players due to international duty as teams from around the globe continue to prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup later this month.
Houston defeated the Red Stars 2-0 in the last meeting between both teams on May 3 in the 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup. Midfielder and Katy native, Bárbara Olivieri, scored her first NWSL goal in the fifth minute to give Houston the early lead. Forward Diana Ordóñez added another goal from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute to extend Houston’s lead.
Houston will celebrate Hispanic Heritage night at Shell Energy Stadium tomorrow. Houston has six players with ties to the Hispanic community and that includes the Mexican trio of forward Diana Ordóñez, forward María Sánchez and goalkeeper Emily Alvarado. Additionally, Olivieri has represented Venezuela on the international stage at the youth and senior level. The list also includes Brazilian midfielder Andressa Alves and Jamaican midfielder Havana Solaun, who will be with their respective national teams.
The Dash have signed midfielder Hope Breslin to a National Team Replacement Player (NTRP) contract following the departure of six players who will represent the Dash at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this month. Breslin, who joined the Dash earlier this year as a non-roster invitee during Houston’s preseason training camp and played eight games with Angel City FC during the 2022 NWSL regular season, will be available for selection ahead of tomorrow’s match.
Chicago enters Friday’s match following a 1-0 win over San Diego Wave FC at home. Forward Ella Stevens scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of first half stoppage time. The Red Stars currently sit at the bottom of the NWSL standings with a 4-9-1 (WLD) overall record. Through 14 games this season, the Red Stars have allowed 33 goals.
Houston will travel to Kansas City on July 22 to take on the Current for the second game in 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup group play. The Dash return home to Shell Energy Stadium on July 29 to host Racing Louisville FC for the final home match of 2023 UKG NWSL Challenge Cup group play.
