The Houston Dash opened the 2017 preseason with a 2-0 victory over the Baylor Bears at Prestonwood Lions Stadium this evening.
Kealia Ohai scored the first goal of the game seconds before the halftime whistle as she beat two defenders for a ball served from Melissa Henderson. The team captain beat the Baylor goalkeeper in one-on-one battle with a shot to the bottom corner of the far post.
The final goal of the game came in the 50th minute when Nichelle Prince served a ball going against her momentum to Amber Munerlyn inside the box. The UCLA product’s first touch beat the Baylor goalkeeper for her first goal this preseason.
Houston controlled much of the first half and two long-range strikes in the first 10 minutes from Rachel Daly and Amber Brooks resulted in corner kicks.
The second corner kick found Bruna Benites but her header in the seventh minute was inches away from hitting the inside of the near post.
Baylor also tested their luck from outside the box and in the 18th minute the Bears forced a save from Lydia Williams.
In the 24th minute, Ohai forced a save after she beat a defender outside the six yard box. The forward was onside as she got on the end of a cross from Daly.
Nine minutes later Ohai found Stephanie Ochs at the top of the box but her shot was stuffed by two Baylor defenders.
Munerlyn sparked Houston’s second best opportunity of the second half in the 71st minute when her cross found Janine Beckie making a run into the box. The Texas Tech product vollied the ball on target but a split-second reaction from the Baylor goalkeeper redirected the ball to the crossbar for a corner kick.
The Dash return to Houston on Monday to prepare for a three-game tournament in the Pacific Northwest. After the tournament the Dash open the 2017 season at 1 p.m. on April 15 against Christen Press, Julie Johnson and the Chicago Red Stars. The game will be part of a doubleheader on that day with the Houston Dynamo vs. Minnesota United FC game kicking off at 7:30 p.m.
Dash Season Memberships, beginning at $174, are still available and offer the best prices per game. Season memberships also include merchandise discounts, a Meet the Team night and access to the Orange Rewards loyalty program. For more information, visit HoustonDashSoccer.com/2017 or call 713-276-GOAL.
