The Houston Dash will begin their ninth year in the National Women’s Soccer League at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 20 at PNC Stadium by hosting the Chicago Red Stars. This is the first competitive match of the year for both teams as they compete in the Central Region of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Sunday’s match marks the fifth time in club history that Houston host Chicago in the club’s first official NWSL match of the year and is 2-0-2 all-time in-home openers against the Red Stars.
Houston opens the year with key additions throughout the roster, including forward María Sánchez, who joined the Dash from Tigres UANL from Liga MX Femenil in January. Sánchez scored 14 goals in 48 matches played in one year with Tigres. Houston also added depth to the middle of the field with the acquisitions of midfielders Kelcie Hedge, Elizabeth Eddy and Marisa Viggiano.
Chicago is coming off a strong 2021 performance that saw the Red Stars make the NWSL Championship final. The Red Stars are also looking to score its first Challenge Cup goal since the 2020 tournament in Utah. Chicago was one of three teams to fail to score in the Challenge Cup last season along with Louisville and Kansas City. For the time in club history, the Red Stars will have a new head coach in Chris Petrucelli who joined the Red Stars on Feb. 18. Prior to the NWSL, Petrucelli 35 years coaching collegiate soccer at various universities including the University of Texas in Austin.
The Dash will take on Racing Louisville FC in the first road trip of the 2022 competition calendar on March 25. Houston will return home to PNC Stadium on Wed. March 30 to host the Kansas City Current. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDash.com
WHO: Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars
WHEN: Sunday, March 20 – 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: Paramount+/Twitch (International)
Here are three key points ahead of Sunday’s match:
- NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES: The Dash have added several new faces to its team during the offseason most notably forward María Sánchez, who played for the Dash for a month while on loan last summer. Sánchez scored her first NWSL goal against Orlando on June 27 – the final game of a three-game loan from Tigres. The Dash also acquired midfielder Kelcie Hedge from OL Reign this offseason. Hedge and Sánchez played two seasons together at Santa Clara University in California. Other additions to the Dash include midfielders Marissa Viggiano and Elizabeth Eddy and NWSL rookies Ryan Gareis, Joelle Anderson and Paulina Gramaglia.
- FINDING SUCCESS AGAINST THE RED STARS: Historically the Dash have struggled to beat the Red Stars (4 wins, 10 losses and 8 draws across all competitions) However since the 2-0 victory over Chicago in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup in Utah, the Dash have found themselves on equal footing, especially in 2021 with a 1-1-2 record. Dash co-captain Rachel Daly has also had some notable performances against the Red Stars. She made her professional debut and scored her first pro goal against Chicago in 2016. A year later, Daly scored a goal on Opening Day that was the No. 1 play on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10.
- CHICAGO LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK: The Red Stars head into 2022 looking to try and make it back to the NWSL championship match after losing to the Washington Spirit 2-1. Chicago is returning with the core of their team that features United States Women’s National Team forward Mallory Pugh and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Chicago is looking to win a Challenge Cup match after going winless in the tournament last year. The Red Stars will be without former Dash forward Kealia Watt on Sunday, who tore her ACL in Chicago’s semifinal win over Portland in 2021.
