The Houston Dash wrap-up a three-game week tonight by hosting Carli Lloyd and Sky Blue FC for Fan Appreciation Night presented by BBVA Compass.
Houston will seek its ninth victory of the season and third over Sky Blue this season as they seek to close the gap for the final playoff spot prior to the international break. Houston split its first two games during this nine-day stretch by defeating the Washington Spirit 4-0 on Friday, Aug. 17 and falling 2-0 to Seattle Reign FC last Tuesday in the Emerald City.
Rachel Daly will seek to close the gap in the race for the Golden Boot as she sits three goals shy of the league leader, Sam Kerr who has 12 goals this season. Daly is one of six Dash players reporting for international duty next week as she joins England for two 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Jane Campbell and Haley Hanson will join the U-23 United States Women’s National Team for the Nordic Tournament in Norway. Canadian defenders Lindsey Agnew, Allysha Chapman and forward Nichelle Prince will join Canada’s Women’s National Team for a friendly against Brazil on Sept. 2.
Sky Blue enters this match winless through 20 games and sit at the bottom of the table with five points. The New Jersey side earned their last point in a 2-2 draw with Utah Royals FC last Saturday and fell 2-0 to Portland Thorns FC last Wednesday in the Pacific Northwest.
The New Jersey club will look to the Week 21 NWSL Player of the Week, Katie Johnson to spark an offense that has scored the second-fewest goals in the league this season. Sky Blue will also look to MF Carli Lloyd for leadership as she returns to Houston for her first league game since being traded to her local club last January.
Houston will finish the regular season on Sept. 8 as they travel to Cary, North Carolina to face the back-to-back NWSL Shield winners – the North Carolina Courage at 6 p.m. CT.
