Dash self-destruct in late loss to North Carolina
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash fell 2-1 to the North Carolina Courage in their final match before the NWSL summer break.
Looking to secure three points ahead of the league’s pause, head coach Fabrice Gautrat made several adjustments to the starting lineup. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell returned between the posts after a long absence, replacing Abby Smith. Christen Westphal started in defense in place of longtime mainstay Katie Lind, while Sarah Puntigam earned her first start of the season, stepping in for rookie Maggie Graham.
The Dash came out flying, immediately pressing the Courage back line. Less than a minute into the match, Avery Patterson pounced on a poor clearance and slotted a low shot past Casey Murphy into the bottom-right corner to give Houston an early 1-0 lead.
That fast start gave the Dash the confidence to settle into the match, and they initially did well to contain North Carolina’s attack. However, as the first half progressed, the Courage began to grow into the game, increasing their intensity and putting Houston under more pressure.
Sensing the momentum shift, Gautrat brought on Michelle Alozie for Patterson to inject pace and defensive support on the wing. The move was timely, as the Courage continued to press forward relentlessly. Tyler Lussi caused problems for the Dash on the flank, but several key saves from Jane Campbell kept Houston ahead.
The turning point came in the 69th minute when Sarah Puntigam received a second yellow card for a challenge on Jaedyn Shaw, reducing the Dash to 10 players. Just two minutes later, Shaw found the equalizer, capitalizing on the numerical advantage.
Houston nearly retook the lead when Maggie Graham found herself in space, but her shot flew over the bar. The Courage responded immediately. A long throw-in led to Hannah Betfort breaking into the box and calmly finishing past Campbell to put North Carolina ahead 2-1 in the 81st minute.
Despite a promising start, Houston couldn’t maintain their edge as the Courage gained control. The Dash once again showed grit but lacked composure in key moments. The late-game desperation that has become a theme for this team led to poor decisions and another frustrating result.
Now, the Dash head into the summer break with time to regroup and refocus. They return to action on July 8, hosting Liga MX Femenil side Monterrey Rayadas in an international friendly at Shell Energy Stadium.
