With a 2-0 clean sheet win over the Kansas City Current on Friday, May 26 at Children’s Mercy Park, the Dash return home to Shell Energy Stadium for the first of two back-to-back regular season home games. Since the beginning of 2021, Houston is unbeaten in the regular season when scoring multiple goals (W19 D3), joining OL Reign as the only undefeated teams in that time frame.
Houston secured the win over its Derby-Q rival following goals from forward Diana Ordóñez and defender Ally Prisock. Ordóñez opened the scoring in the 42nd minute of the match. Forwards Michelle Alozie and María Sánchez combined to move the ball into the Kansas City half. Sánchez then found Ordóñez who was battling a defender for position in the penalty area. The Prosper, Texas native turned toward goal and took a shot as she fell to the ground. Ordóñez’s shot went just past the extended hands of Kansas City goalkeeper Cassie Miller. Prisock, who returned to the starting lineup after being out due to injury, added to the lead in the 54th minute following a set piece. The second half goal was the University of Southern California product’s second career goal and the first regular season goal of her career.
During the 2022 season the Dash and Orlando split the series with both teams taking a win. The last time Houston hosted Orlando was exactly one year prior to Saturday’s matchup with the Dash earning a 5-0 win on June 3, 2022. That victory was the largest shutout win in Dash team history. Houston took a commanding win after forward Nichelle Prince completed her career-first hat trick. Alozie and former Dash forward Rachel Daly each scored in the win.
Orlando enters the match after a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride conceded the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute of the game for what would be game winner. Orlando had multiple chances to equalize and take the lead after totaling 19 shots with six on target compared to Chicago’s two shots with two on target and outshot the Red Stars 11-0 in the second half. Orlando ranks third in the league with 94 shots taken. Prior to the loss in Chicago, Orlando was on a four-game winning streak.
