August 5, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Houston Dash News Release
Theâ¯Houston Dash close a two-game road trip on Sunday when they face OL Reign for the first time this season. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. CT and the game will air locally on AT&T SportsNet Southwest. The match will also stream live on Paramount+ and Twitch (Intl.)
Houston is looking to take advantage of a two-game winning streak and climb the league table as the race to the playoffs begins to heat up in the second half of the season. Houston has scored eight goals in the last two matches, which is second most in the league. Their last two outings also boost the team’s goal differential to +8. The goal differential is the third highest in the standings behind San Diego who is +9 and Portland who is +20. Forward Maria Sanchez is tied for the most assists in the league with four so far this season. The Mexican international tallied an assist, won a penalty and created seven chances in the win over Gotham on July 31.
Sunday’s match marks the first time that the two teams will meet in 2022. The Reign and Dash met three times during the regular season and once during Challenge Cup play in 2021. Houston had a 1-2-1 record against the Reign last year in all competitions.
Houston is coming off its second consecutive game in which the team has scored four goals. The Dash overcame an early goal to defeat NJ/NY Gotham FC 4-2 on the road last Sunday. Gotham took the lead five minutes into the match. However, Houston’s forced Gotham to concede an own goal for the equalizer less than 15 minutes later. Midfielder Shea Groom scored her 25th career NWSL goal at the 30 minute mark and gave the Dash the lead heading into the half. Houston picked up where they left off in the second half. Midfielder Sophie Schmidt, who scored a goal against Costa Rica for Canada, during the Concacaf W Championship, scored her second goal of the year in the 70th minute. Midfielder Marisa Viggiano found Schmidt at the top of the 18-yard box and the Canadian international one-timed the ball past Gotham goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. Houston’s fourth goal of the night came three minutes later, after forward Maria Sanchez was awarded a penalty kick after she was fouled inside the box. Forward Ebony Salmon converted from the spot in her first ever NWSL penalty kick attempt for her fourth goal of the season.
OL Reign is coming off a thrilling comeback win of their own. Laura Harvey’s team earned three points on…