Houston Dash at NJ/NY Gotham FC: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash scored a stoppage time winner for the second week in a row, this time to pick up a big three points on the road in a 2-1 win over Gotham FC.
MATCH SUMMARY
NJ/NY Gotham FC 1-2 Houston Dash
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Venue: Sports Illustrated Stadium - Harrison, New Jersey
Referee: Eliijo Arreguin
Assistants: Art Arustamyan, Amilcar Sicaju
Fourth Official: Kyle Averill
VAR: Abdou Ndiaye
Attendance: 7,519
Weather: 93 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
NJ/NY: Esther González (Gabi Portilho) 8’
HOU: Emily Sonnet (own goal) 51’
HOU: Michelle Alozie (Sarah Puntigam) 90’+3’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Allysha Chapman (caution; foul) 72’
LINEUPS & STATS
NJ/NY Gotham FC: Ann-Katrin Berger, Lilly Reale, Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Mandy Freeman (Kayla Duran 88’), Sarah Schupansky (Taryn Torres 77’), Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle (Sofia Cook 63’), Katie Stengel (Khyah Harper 63’), Esther González, Gabi Portilho (Bruninha 88’)
Unused substitutes: Shelby Hogan, Josefine Hasbo, Nealy Martin, Mckenna Whitham
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 14
Offside: 0
Corner kicks: 6
Saves: 0
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell, Allysha Chapman (Michelle Alozie 84’), Paige Nielsen, Natalie Jacobs, Avery Patterson, Danielle Colaprico (Sophie Schmidt 88’), Maggie Graham, Kiki van Zanten, Delanie Sheehan (Sarah Puntigam 88’), Evelina Duljan (Messiah Bright 45’), Yazmeen Ryan
Unused Substitutes: Abby Smith, Clarissa Larisey, Belle Briede, Christen Westphal, Katie Lind
Total shots: 2
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 21
Offside: 2
Corner kicks: 0
Saves: 4
HOUSTON DASH HEAD COACH FABRICE GAUTRAT
On the match:
“A very gritty performance. Gotham had a lot of the ball, but they didn’t create much, and we didn’t create much either. It was one of those games. I thought we came out quite flat, but as the second half progressed, we were able to press a little higher and push our line up. There was a real response after the weather delay to take one and come out of here with three points.”
On the impact of the weather delay:
“During the delay, we looked at a couple of clips, both in possession and out of possession, that we needed to improve on. We felt the space between our backline and midfield was getting too big, so we focused on condensing that space to prevent them from picking up balls in front of our backline and running at us. We talked about that and our mentality. We were on the losing end of duels and aerial battles, and as simple as that sounds, we had to pick it up.”
On mentality going into the next matches:
“The one thing that we learned in the beginning of the year is always having a response in the second half. As you keep developing that mentality, even when you're on the losing end, a goal doesn’t affect you as much. We’re building that kind of mental resilience as the season progresses.”
On pressure throughout the match:
“At halftime, we felt that we were defending too low at times, so we made some small adjustments to press a little higher. Kiki (Van Zanten) stepped away from her outside back to press the center back, and then there was obviously a miscommunication between the center back and the goalkeeper (on the own goal). We’ve had a couple of games on the road now where we’ve scored off high-pressing situations. Really pleased with that.”
On Allysha Chapman’s performance:
“I love watching her play. She’s so gritty. She has elevated our backline as a whole. When you play with someone like that, you start raising your game in different areas. Overall, our entire backline has really improved.”
On Michelle Alozie’s goal:
“It was a second ball, and then Sarah (Puntigam) picked it up and played a phenomenal final ball. Michelle (Alozie) made a great, optimal run wide. Sometimes wide players just stay wide, but she made a really good run to receive the ball, and her finish was so calm. Before the break, we said we have people who are going to change the game, so we just said to make sure to start on the front foot and be ready. Everyone who started after the weather delay did really well. We were actually going to bring those guys on a little earlier, but because everyone was on the front foot, we felt that we didn’t need to. Then we made those changes, and we knew they were going to change the game. Michelle did it and Sarah did it as well. I am really proud of the players.”
On momentum from road games:
“We have a lot more away games this part of the season, but that is actually to our benefit. We train in such high heat that wherever we go, we tend to have a lot more energy. Houston has been predominantly quite good in these months, so that just adds to our mentality going in with the belief that we can make the playoffs. We are really excited to host Seattle Reign FC, and we will be ready for those away games when they come.”
HOUSTON DASH FORWARD MICHELLE ALOZIE
On the victory:
"It was definitely a tough game. We know that Gotham is a really good team. The weather delay didn't help, but, thankfully, I feel like Houston is used to weather delays. It happens every other game. We were able to regroup and come away with something in the last 30 minutes, and we got a scrappy win. A win's a win when we are looking for a playoff push."
On the benfits of the weather delay:
“When weather delays happen, especially ones that are a little bit longer like that, we relax as a team, and I think that helps. Obviously, it was a really tense 60 or so minutes. So, to be able to kind of relax, look at film, see the areas and spaces that we need to grow in, and then come in for the remainder of the 30 minutes and execute, what we saw, was big. So, it was just a bigger timeout for us to kind of relax, regroup, and come away with the win."
On her goal:
"There's a couple layers to that play. First, I thought I was going to get a long ball from Natalie (Jacobs), and then it kind of bounced to Maggie (Graham). I thought I was going to get one from her, but when I didn't, I just knew I had to stay onside. I just tried to bend my run as best as I could to stay onside. Sarah (Puntigam) slipped a perfect ball. I just knew that my first touch needed to be towards goal, then I just had to smash it like it was going to go in by force or by fire. It was a good team goal at the end of the day.”
On her summer:
“Whenever I'm away with the Super Falcons, I come back so energized, with so much confidence. Whenever I come back from a big summer window and I am super grateful that we were able to complete mission X and get the 10th title and make history with the team. We were just fighting for so much more. So, to come with that fighting spirit that we had with the Super Falcons and implemented here with the Houston Dash, is what I'm about. So, it's good to be back with my girls and be able to make this playoff push."
HOUSTON DASH DEFENDER PAIGE NIELSEN
On the victory:
“To echo what (Michelle Alozie) said, our main goal was mentality this game. Even if the soccer wasn't that pretty. We brought it today; the field was tough to try and play. So, not our prettiest soccer, but we have been really working on mentality. We knew how important these three points were. So, we went after it, as a team, from top to bottom. Subs, starters, we needed everyone today. Again, super proud of this group."
On the response of the defense after conceding the first goal:
“We all locked in and started winning our individual battles. In the second half, it was hard for them to get in the box. We started marking up and being more defensively sound. We started communicating with each other because Esther (González) is really smart and she can pop in pockets, and Rose (Lavelle) is always in good pockets. The first 10, 20 minutes, they still kept getting it in the seams above our front line. We watched some video during the much-needed weather delay and really started condensing the field and pushing our backline up. It went down to the individual duels, sliding for crosses and really trying to keep the ball out of the box."
On the benefits of the weather delay:
“We knew we were pretty fortunate on that own goal. It kind of gave us a breath. It was back to, you know, zero-zero. We had an opportunity to come out with three points, which was our main goal this game, to close the gap on that table. Again, the relaxation. Some people are playing chess, and some people are playing heads up. It gave us like a bonding experience in the locker room. Honestly, I think we all did a good job, having heat packs, eating, fueling because we knew the last 30 minutes were going to be crazy. Both teams, long balls, the field was challenging, it was really chippy. A lot of fouls. We were going to fight till the end."
On the mentality of the team going into the next game:
“Keep going with what we're building. Again, we are taking it one game at a time. Kind of with the table in the back of our mind, but definitely focusing on energy, getting more chances on goal. That's going to be really important moving forward because maybe we got a little lucky today. That's what happens in the league, but you create your own luck. So, to create more chances and lock down defensively going forward and taking it game by game."
