Dash End Losing Streak with 2-2 Draw
(image via Ricky Vega)
The Houston Dash were back at Shell Energy Stadium looking to turn their May form around. Houston came into the match winless in their last five with three straight losses. The Dash welcomed San Diego Wave to town, the top team in the NWSL standings coming into Wednesday night.
Head coach Fabrice Gautrat made two changes to the team that lost to Kansas City in their last match. Linda Ullmark moved to striker with Avery Patterson slotting into midfield, while Leah Klenke and Lisa Boattin were the fullbacks.
San Diego came out dominating the match in the first half. Brazilian winger Dudinha opened the scoring the 20th minute. She got space at the top of the box on the left side and chipped the ball toward the back post. Jane Campbell couldn’t get to it and the ball settled into the side netting to put the Wave ahead 1-0.
Campbell made a couple of key saves to keep the score at one. The biggest save, however, came from center back Malia Berkely. Campbell gave the ball away at the top of the box and saved the initial attempt. The ball rebounded to Mel Barcenas who one-timed it from distance. Berkely sprinted back and was able to clear the ball just before it went over the line and into the goal in the 40th minute.
San Diego took the 1-0 lead into half time and the Dash brought rookie Kate Faasse into the match to begin the second 45. Paige Nielsen picked up a knock in and had to be replaced by Sarah Punitgam in the 56th minute.
The Dash defense continued to make plays to keep the deficit at just one goal. Avery Patterson made a well-timed tackle in the 61st minute to end a Wave attack. Campbell and Puntigam stepped up to keep San Diego out in the 65th minute.
The defensive effort paid off as Houston found an equalizer in the 70th minute. The Dash countered and substitute Allysha Chapman laid the ball off to Faasse on the run, about 25 yards from goal. The rookie took a touch to set herself the laced a low drive that beat San Diego goalkeeper DiDi Haracic at the far post to tie the game at 1-1.
Houston lost its goalkeeper when San Diego’s Trinity Byars crashed into Campbell in the 75th minute. Campbell immediately started bleeding and referee Gerald Flores showed Byars a red card. Campbell was patched up by the medical team after several minutes and was carted off the field. Flores was called to the monitor by VAR and the red card to Byars was rescinded. Caroline Delisle replaced Campbell in goal, making her NWSL debut.
Rookie Kate Faasse gave the Dash the equalizer and she connected with another rookie to put Houston ahead late. Puntigam played a ball to the top of the box for Faasse, with her back to goal. She one-timed a flick into the path of Kat Rader. The Duke product unleashed a shot with her left foot that flew past Haracic and put the Dash ahead 2-1 in the 89th minute.
The game entered stoppage time and it looked like the Dash were on their way to three points. San Diego had other plans. Thirteen minutes were added to the second half after the lenghty treatment for Campbell. In the 5th minute of stoppage time, the Wave pulled level. Gia Corley shot from the top of the box, testing Delisle in goal. The debutant made the save but spilled the rebound. Byars reacted first and finished the rebound to make it 2-2.
Both teams looked for a winner. Byars had a golden chance in the final minute but skied her shot from the penalty spot. The final whistle blew shortly after on a 2-2 draw. The Dash have a quick turnaround as they will be back at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night to host Angel City FC.
