The Houston Dash defeated the Houston Baptist University Huskies 6-0 in their first preseason scrimmage this evening at Sorrells Field. The scrimmage was played over three 30-minute periods on the HBU campus.
The Dash took control in the fifth minute off a corner kick from Jamia Fields that fell to Kayla McCoy inside the box. The Jamaican international held off a defender and the Husky goalkeeper to play CeCe Kizer inside the box for her first goal of the preseason.
Dash midfielder Haley Hanson doubled Houston’s lead five minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box that dipped under the crossbar at the far post.
Houston took a 3-0 lead in the 15th minute off a cross from Fields that found Grace Cutler at the far post. Cutler headed the ball across goal for McCoy who finished from short distance for the final goal of the third period.
The Dash made wholesale changes in the second period which initially featured a mix of non-roster invitees. Crystal Thomas gave Houston a 4-0 lead in the 22nd minute of the second period off a loose ball inside the box. Austin native Satara Murray entered halfway through the second period and forced a diving save with a shot from outside the box. The rebound fell to Thomas who capitalized on the loose ball for the only goal of the second period.
Kizer finished the scrimmage with a brace after she capitalized on a last-ditch clearance inside the box during the third period. The ball fell to Kizer who finished on the volley for the fifth goal of the scrimmage.
The sixth and final goal of the scrimmage came off a corner kick that found Ally Prisock in the box.
Dash goalkeeper Cosette Morche preserved the clean sheet with two key saves in the final 15 minutes of the third period.
Houston will continue their preparation for the 2019 NWSL season on Saturday, March 9 as they host the University of Texas women’s soccer team at 3 p.m. at Houston Sports Park in a scrimmage that is free and open to the public.
