The Houston Dash will return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday for their only nationally-televised home match of the season.
Houston fell 1-0 to the Orlando Pride on Sunday to wrap up a two-game road trip that saw the return of Kealia Ohaifor the first time since she suffered a torn ACL in Florida last June. Ohai made her season debut in the second half when she entered the game in the 59th minute.
With Ohai back on the pitch, the Dash will get another infusion of talent this week as Kyah Simonwill be available for selection for the first time this year. Simon led Australia to a runner-up finish at the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Jordanearlier this month.The 26-year-old was selected by Houston with the sixth pick in the NWSL Dispersal Draft on Jan. 30. The Australian international spent the winter playing in her home country with Melbourne City FC where she scored two goals in 14 appearances and won the 2018 W-League Grand Final with Melbourne City on Feb. 18.
This is the third all-time meeting between the Dash and the Courage, with North Carolina leading the series 2-0-0 after winning both matches in 2017. The Courage return to BBVA Compass Stadium on June 3 and Houston will visit North Carolina on Sept. 8 to close the regular season.
North Carolina enters the game with a five-game unbeaten streak to start the season, including wins in each of their first four outings. The streak almost came to an end last Saturday, but the Courage salvaged a 2-2 draw with Utah Royals FC after forward Crystal Dunn capitalized on a loose ball outside the box in the 80th minute.
The Courage also feature forward Jessica McDonald,who has scored two goals this season, and Lynn Williams, who leads the league in shots with 21 and has scored one goal this season.
Head coach Paul Riley's squad will have a boost in midfield as Samantha Mewis continues to accumulate minutes after missing the first three games of the season due to injury. The midfielder made her second appearance of the season in the 2-2 draw last Saturday.
