July 7, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Houston Dash News Release
Theâ¯Houston Dash travel to Florida to face the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium on Friday, July 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT and the match will be streamed live on Twitch.
Friday’s match will be the second meeting between both teams this season with Houston earning a 5-0 victory over the Pride on June 3 at PNC Stadium. The victory extended Houston’s unbeaten run against Orlando to 10 games spanning four years.
The Dash jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first half and forward Nichelle Prince led the way for Houston with two goals before the break. Prince completed the first hat trick in club history five minutes into the second half after midfielder Shea Groom found Prince on the left side of the box. Prince then took the cross body shot and hit the upper right side of the goal. Forward Michelle Alozie scored her first professional goal in the 87th minute and the fifth of the night for the Dash. Alozie found the back of the net after beating the defender in a foot race where she was able to find the space to take the shot sneaking it in between the goalkeeper and the near post.
The Dash are looking to bounce back after a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current on July 1. Dash forward Ryan Gareis forced an error in the 90+10 minute that led to a botched clearance from Kansas City’s Elizabeth Ball for an own goal. Several players reached notable milestones against the Current, including defender Haley Hanson, who played her 75th career game for the Dash, becoming only the fifth player to reach that milestone for Houston. Rookie forward Joelle Anderson made her first career start and forward Ebony Salmon made her Dash debut after joining the team in a trade from Racing Louisville FC earlier in the week.
Orlando played to a 2-2 draw with Racing Louisville FC at home on July 3. The Pride came back to earn a point after trailing by two goals early in the second half. Orlando cut the lead in half in the 59th minute after Kylie Strom found the back of the net. Ten minutes later the Pride forward Darian Jenkins scored the equalizer to force a tie.
The Dash return to PNC Stadium on July 16 to take on the Chicago Red Stars for the first time this regular season. Both teams previously met earlier this season during Challenge Cup play.
Here are three key points ahead of Friday’s match:
SALMON’S IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Forward Ebony Salmon made an instant impact on the field in her Dash…