A second-half surge from midfielder Kristie Mewis and forward Sofia Huerta gave the Houston Dash a 2-2 draw with the Orlando Pride Saturday evening at BBVA Stadium.
Orlando struck first after Dash defender Ally Prisock conceded a free kick just outside the box. Pride defender Joanna Boyles took the free kick, netting the goal with a low shot to the far post.
Huerta found the back of the net early into the second half to level the score for Houston. Dash forward Kealia Ohai beat a Pride defender on the left flank and dribbled the ball into the box to find Huerta near the back-post. The ball went past Orlando goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer and fell to Huerta, who tapped the ball in for her third goal of the season. Huerta’s goal was also the 30th tally of her NWSL career.
Houston extended their longest regular season game-scoring streak in club history with nine goals in eight games. The club also continued their longest home scoring streak with goals in 14 straight games at BBVA Stadium.
Mewis scored her first goal of the season at the 67th minute when she fired a low ball past the Pride defense and into the right-corner of the far post.
Orlando equalized four minutes later when Boyles found Danica Evans outside the six yard box. Evans controlled the ball and her second touch beat the Dash goalkeeper for the final goal of the game.
Houston responded shortly after Orlando took the lead in the first half when Huerta fired a left-footed ball from inside the box that went inches above the crossbar.
Huerta’s efforts tonight found her multiple chances near the Pride goal. The forward continued to press, taking her chance on a free-kick at the 30th minute that she tried to tap in but missed just outside the goal.
The Dash will travel to the East Coast to take on the Washington Spirit at 6:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 22 at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The match will be streamed live on Yahoo! Sports.
Houston Dash (3-2-3; 12 pts) 2-2 Orlando Pride (0-7-2; 2 pts.)
NWSL Regular Season, Week 9
Saturday, June 15, 2019 – BBVA Stadium – Houston, Texas
Attendance: 3,776
SCORING SUMMARY:
ORL: Joanna Boyles 1 (unassisted) 20
HOU: Sofia Huerta 3 (Kealia Ohai 1) 47
HOU: Kristie Mewis 1 (unassisted) 67
ORL: Danica Evans 1 (Joanna Boyles) 71
LINEUPS:
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell; Arianna Romero, Ally Prisock, Amber Brooks, Satara Murray; Christine Nairn (Jamia Fields 81), Kristie Mewis, Haley Hanson; Sofia Huerta, Kealia Ohai ©, Cece Kizer (Ariana Calderon 57)
Unused Substitutes: Bianca Henninger, Devon Kerr, Riley Smith, Betsy Brandon, Kyah Simon
Total shots: 21 (Sofia Huerta 8); Shots on goal: 8 (Amber Brooks, Ari Calderon, Sofia Huerta and Kristie Mewis tied with 2); Fouls: 9 (Ari Romero 3); Offside: 3 (Kealia Ohai 2); Corner kicks: 3 (Sofia Huerta 2); Saves: 2 (Jane Campbell 2)
Orlando Pride: Haley Kopmeyer; Joanna Boyles, Morgan Reid, Erin Greening, Carson Pickett; Dani Weatherholt ©, Toni Pressley, Bridget Callahan (Danica Evans 70); Rachel Hill, Chioma Ubogagu (Caitlin Farrell 90), Abby Elinsky (Marisa Viggiano 60)
Unused substitutes: Lainey Burdett, Hana Kerner, Taylor Porter, Alika Keen
Total shots: 8 (Rachel Hill 3); Shots on goal: 4 (Danica Evans 2); Fouls: 9 (Erin Greening, Bridget Callahan and Rachel Hill tied with 2); Offside: 2 (Rachel Hill and Abby Elinsky tied with 1); Corner kicks: 3 (Joanna Boyles, Bridget Callahan and Carson Pickett tied with 1); Saves: 6 (Haley Kopmeyer 6)
DISCIPLINE:
HOU: Amber Brooks (caution; unsporting behavior) 11
ORL: Morgan Reid (caution; unsporting behavior) 29
ORL: Marisa Viggiano (caution; unsporting behavior) 66
ORL: Erin Greening (caution; unsporting behavior) 84
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Samantha Martinez
Assistant Referee 1: Maggie Short
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Gonzalez
Fourth Official: Wilfredo Mejia
Weather: Clear, 89 degrees
