NWSL News

Houston Returns Home to Host 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup Champion North Carolina

Houston Dash Fall on the Road in Kansas City

May 28, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Houston Dash News Release

Houston returns home for the second home game of the regular season and the first in almost a month. The Dash enter Sunday’s match with a 2-1-1 record and are in fourth place in the league standings. Sunday’s match is the first meeting between the two teams in 2022. Last season the two teams met twice during the 2021 regular season, both of which were wins for Houston. The final match up came on Oct. 10, 2021 at PNC Stadium and was a 4-1 victory which featured a brace from forward Rachel Daly.

The Dash are coming off a 2-0 win over Portland Thorns on Saturday. Houston took the 1-0 lead in the 45+3 minute of the first half off the boot of Daly. Forward Nichelle Prince found Daly who was making a run down the left side, Daly made a few moves past the Portland defense in the six-yard box and beat the goalkeeper to give Houston the lead heading into the half. Midway through the second half midfielder Sophie Schmidt extended Houston’s lead after defender Haley Hanson set Schmidt up with a give and go pass into the penalty box. Schmidt snuck the ball just over the Thorns goalkeeper on the near post as she was falling after being bumped by a Portland defender.

North Carolina is coming off a 1-0 loss at home against San Diego Wave FC. Forward Alex Morgan scored, what ended up being the game winning goal, late in the first half to put the Wave ahead of the Courage 1-0. After winning the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, the Courage have gotten to a slow start in the regular season, dropping their first three games. Despite the result against the Wave, the Courage out shot San Diego 14-8 and led with 58 percent in possession.

The Dash host the Orlando Pride on June 3 for the second consecutive home game of the season. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT at PNC Stadium. Fans interested in attending the match can purchase tickets here.

Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s match:

RACHEL DALY 100:…

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