A first half goal from Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman was enough to secure a victory over the Houston Dash at Maryland SoccerPlex.
On the winning goal Spirit midfielder Christine Nairn crossed the ball into the edge of the six-yard box in the 39th minute for her first assist of the season. Lohman was unmarked as she headed the ball inside the near post for her second goal of the season.
Dash defender Cari Roccaro made her first start of the season after making her Houston debut last week in Houston’s 2-1 victory at Kansas City. The Notre Dame product was tasked to mark Spirit and U.S. Women’s National Team forward Crystal Dunn who finished the night with two shots on goal.
The Dash surprised the home team as they won a corner kick in the first minute of the game. Morgan Brian played the ball short to Andressa but her cross into the box was too heavy for a Dash player to capitalize.
The heavy touches continued to plague the Dash as Kealia Ohai won the ball near the opposing third and found Rachel Daly. The Week 1 NWSL Player of the Week attempted to play the current NWSL Player of the Week, Chioma Ubogagu a pass near the sideline but the ball went out of play.
Andressa attempted to link up with Brian in the 22nd minute but the USWNT midfielder’s volley went over the crossbar.
Daly was a few inches away from scoring her second goal of the season in the 37th minute. Her header towards the near post missed the mark in one of Houston’s best opportunities to score in the first half.
Dash defender Allysha Chapman provided a dangerous cross in the 67th minute that fell to Daly. This was one of the best scoring opportunities for Houston in the second half but the forward’s volley went wide of the mark.
Dash goalkeeper Lydia Williams finished the night with three saves which came in a 15-minute sequence. The first save came in the 73rd minute when she denied Dunn after she dribbled into the 18 yard box and shot on goal. Dunn returned in the 75th minute to unload a shot from inside the six-yard box that Williams punched out of play.
Spirit forward Estefania Banini came on as a substitute in the 46th minute for Cali Farquharson and tested Williams in the 87th minute with a long-range shot that Williams palmed over the crossbar.
Houston Dash (2-2-1, 7 points) vs. Washington Spirit (4-0-1, 13 points)
NWSL Regular Season
May 14, 2016—Maryland SoccerPlex—Boyds, Maryland
Attendance: 3,545
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
Houston Dash 0 0 0
Sky Blue FC 1 0 1
Houston Dash Lineup: Lydia Williams; Poliana, Cari Roccaro, Becca Moros, Allysha Chapman; Morgan Brian (Cami Privett 75′), Amber Brooks, Andressa (Denise O’Sullivan 59′); Kealia Ohai, Chioma Ubogagu (Janine Beckie 71′), Rachel Daly
Subs not used: Bianca Henninger, Ellie Brush, Stephanie Ochs, Caity Heap
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Denise O’Sullivan 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Becca Moros, Chioma Ubogagu and Denise O’Sullivan tied with 1) FOULS: 9 (Poliana, Amber Brooks and Rachel Daly tied with 3); OFFSIDES: 6 (Kealia Ohai 5) CORNER KICKS: 2 (Morgan Brian 2); SAVES: 3 (Lydia Williams 3)
Washington Spirit Lineup: Stephanie Labbé; Ali Krieger, Megan Oyster, Shelina Zadorsky, Alyssa Kleiner; Joanna Lohman , Tori Huster, Diana Matheson (Katie Stengel 89′), Cali Farquharson (Estefania Banini 46′); Crystal Dunn, Christine Nairn (Whitney Church 84′)
Subs not used: Caprice Dydasco, Kelsey Wys, Estelle Johnson, Cheyna Williams
TOTAL SHOTS:10 (Crystal Dunn 4); SHOTS ON GOAL:4 (Crystal Dunn 2) ; FOULS: 8 (Joanna Lohman); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8 (Diana Matheson 5); SAVES: 3 (Stephanie Labbe 3)
Misconduct Summary:
WAS: Alyssa Kleiner (caution) 66’
WAS: Ali Krieger (caution) 89’
Referee: Elvis Mahmutovic
Assistant Referees: Deleana Quan, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Christopher Bymes
