The Houston Dash dropped a 2-1 result to the Kansas City Current this evening at PNC Stadium.
The visitors took the lead through a penalty kick when referee Elton Garcia whistled a Dash player for a handball inside the penalty area. Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta stepped to the spot and put her penalty into the back of the net to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Kansas City extended its lead early in the second half after Halie Mace found the back of the net from atop of the 18-yard box in the 46th minute. Mace ran onto a centering pass at the top of the penalty area and slid a low shot into the corner of the net.
Houston pulled a goal back in the tenth minute of second-half stoppage after an own goal from defender Elizabeth Ball. Forward Ryan Gareis drove down the left flank and sent in a low centering pass, and Ball’s attempted clearance caromed off her foot and into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for the Dash, Garcia blew his whistle for full time moments after the goal, ending the match 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
Prior to the goal, Houston’s most dangerous scoring chance came in the 88th minute when midfielder Emily Ogle sent in a cross that was deflected, forcing Current goalkeeper Adrianna Franch into a diving save. The rebound fell to forward Cali Farquharson inside the six-yard box, but Franch was able to recover quickly to stop the follow-up shot at close range.
Forward Ebony Salmon, making her Dash debut after joining the team in a trade earlier in the week, had a chance in the 27th minute but was denied by Franch who stopped Salmon’s shot at the top of the 18-yard box with her foot to keep the score even.
In addition to Salmon’s debut, a pair of other Dash players achieved milestones in the game this evening. Rookie Joelle Anderson made her first career regular season start tonight, while defender Haley Hanson made her 75th career NWSL match for the Houston Dash, becoming the fifth player in club history to reach that milestone.
The Dash are back in action on Saturday, July 8 at 6 p.m. CDT when they visit Orlando to take on the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium. That match will be streamed live on Twitch.
