May 11, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Houston Dash News Release
The Dash return to Shell Energy Stadium for the first of two back-to-back home matches. Houston hosts the Portland Thorns on Friday, May 12 at 7:30 pm. The Dash are coming off a 2-0 loss on the road against OL Reign, who sit on top of the NWSL standings.
Houston will honor Dash captain Sophie Schmidt before the match after the midfielder hit 100 career regular-season NWSL appearances on Friday, April 28 in the match against North Carolina Courage. Schmidt has appeared in every match this season for the Dash. At an international level, Schmidt won the 2020 Olympic Gold medal with the Canadian Women’s National Team. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada native has more than 220 career appearances for Canada and is the third player in Canadian Women’s Football history to reach that milestone.
Friday’s match will mark the first regular season rematch for the Dash. On Saturday, April 14 the Dash traveled to the Pacific Northwest for the first meeting between Houston and Portland. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and Houston became the first team to score at Providence Park this season. Forward María Sánchez scored the equalizer in the 24th minute of the match.
Houston’s defense has played a key role in stopping several dynamic opposing front lines, many of which feature USWNT stars. In Houston’s 0-0 draw against the Washington Spirit on Saturday, April 22, defender Allysha Chapman was 7-for-7 in attempted tackles and primarily guarded Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. In Houston’s first road match of the season, Chapman made a key goal line save off a corner kick in the 89th minute to help preserve a 2-1 lead.
Portland enters Friday’s match after a 3-3 draw on the road against North Carolina Courage. The Thorns, who are in second place in the league, stole a point from the Courage after 17-year-old Olivia Moultrie scored the equalizer in the 83rd minute of regulation. NWSL and USWNT veteran Crystal Dunn scored a brace in the match against North Carolina. Dunn scored in the ninth minute of the first game between the Dash and Portland.
The Houston Dash will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month during their Saturday, May 20 match against San Diego Wave FC at Shell Energy Stadium.
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