Here are three key points ahead of the match:
- FIRST VICTORY IN ALL-TIME SERIES – The Dash will look to earn their first win against the Royals as they trail in the all-time series, 0-2-1. In the last encounter between the two at BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston fell to Utah in a 2-1 defeat. The Dash struck first when midfielder Sofia Huerta drove a free kick that found forward Veronica Latsko at the far post. Latsko headed the shot that found the back of the net beating Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. The Royals came back during the second half, when forwards Christen Press and Katie Stengel scored to get their second victory over the Dash.
- BEST START IN CLUB HISTORY – Houston will look to continue earning points under head coach James Clarkson, who has led the team to the best start under a first-year coach in club history. The Dash goes into Utah with seven points in only four games, having scored a goal in every match by four different players this season. With a win this afternoon, Clarkson and the Dash could move to 3-1-1 and 2-0-0 on the road.
- COUNTDOWN TO THE WORLD CUP – As the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup approaches, the Dash will look to maximize in the games left with the club’s world cup players. CanWNT players Lindsay Agnew, Allysha Chapman, Nichelle Prince and Sophie Schmidt left this week to join Canada as they compete in Group E against Cameroon, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The four Canadians played in the first four games of the season, the last one being in the past weekend's victory against Orlando Pride. The Dash are projected to miss up to eight players this summer during the FIFA Women's World Cup. 2018 Team MVP Rachel Daly and England will compete in Group D against Argentina, Japan and Scotland. Kyah Simon will join Clare Polkinghorne and Australia as they face Brazil, Italy and Kayla McCoy and Jamaica in Group C play.
