The Houston Dash beat the Orlando Pride 2-0 with two first half goals Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston has now earned back-to-back clean sheet wins this season, becoming the only team to keep clean sheets in four of their 10 games this season.
Midfielder Sophie Hirst scored her first career goal in the sixth minute of the match. Houston earned a corner kick which was taken by forward María Sánchez. Orlando’s goalkeeper Anna Moorehouse punched the ball away from goal and fell to the feet of Hirst. The rookie then took an off balance shot for her career first.
Forward Michelle Alozie scored in the 41st minute to notch her first goal of the season and the second of the match. The ball was deflected by an Orlando defender and in the patch of a streaking Alozie. The Nigerian international then cut into the box and took the left-footed shot into the back of the net.
Defender Caprice Dydasco took a shot in the fourth minute that was wide outside of the goal and gave Houston’s one of its six shots in the first half.
Alozie dispossessed an Orlando defender in the 17th minute and nearly added to the lead. Alozie’s shot was slowed down by Orlando defender Megan Montefusco and handled by Moorhouse.
Two minutes later in the 19th minute, Houston nearly had another opportunity to add to the sheet when Alozie crossed the ball onto the box and was looking for forward Diana Ordóñez. The ball redirected and landed near Sánchez who was unable to get to it before the Orlando defense regrouped.
In the 28th minute, Sánchez and Ordóñez nearly combined for a goal after Sánchez found the North Texas native in the box. Ordóñez’s shot was blocked out for what would have been a corner kick, however the referee raised the offside flag.
Ordóñez almost added a third goal in the third minute of the first half stoppage time after Alozie was able to get the ball over to the Mexican international. Ordóñez then changed direction on three defenders and took the shot and went between the legs of a defender that forced Moorhouse to save.
Midfielder Joelle Anderson nearly kicked off the second half with a goal of her own after taking a shot in the 46th minute inside the 18-yard box that forced Moorhouse to make a diving save.
Midfielder Marisa Viggiano, who entered as a second-half substitute, came into the match and nearly scored her first goal of the season against her former club in the 60th minute.
Ordóñez forced Moorhouse to make another save in the 62nd minute after the forward flicked the ball toward the goal.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell made a key save in the 70th minute of the match to preserve the clean sheet for the Dash. Campbell made a season high six saves in the match to complete back-to-back clean sheet wins.
Forward Ebony Salmon nearly added another goal in the 86th minute of the match from about 10 yards out. Moorhouse made a fingertip save to keep the Dash from scoring a third goal in the match.
Houston is back in action next weekend on Sunday, June 11 against the NJ/NY Gotham FC at Shell Energy Stadium at 6:00pm CT. Houston will be celebrating its annual Pride Night. Fans can buy tickets to the game as well as an exclusive Pride themed shirt by using this specific link.
