Houston Dash at San Diego Wave FC: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash opened the 2026 season with a 1-0 win on the road against the San Diego Wave on Saturday night.
MATCH SUMMARY
San Diego Wave FC 0-1 Houston Dash
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium - San Diego, California
Referee: Muhammad Hassan
Assistants: Jennifer Garner, Fernando Fierro
Fourth Official: Abdu Razzaq Juma
VAR: Brad Jensen
Attendance: 14,078
Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
HOU: Makenzy Robbe (Maggie Graham) 45+7’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Clarissa Larisey (caution; foul) 80’
HOU: Kiki Van Zanten (caution; foul) 88’
LINEUPS & STATS
San Diego Wave FC: DiDi Haracic: Perle Morroni (Tatum Waynalda 87’), Kristen McNabb, Kennedy Wesley, Mimi Van Zanten (Kiki Pickett 45’); Kenza Dali (c), Laurina Fazer (Kimmi Ascanio 64’), Gia Corley; Dudinha (Melanie Barcenas 76’), Ludmila, Gabi Portilho (Lia Godfrey 64’)
Unused substitutes: Leah Freeman, Nya Harrison, Jordan Fusco, Daniel Arias
Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 9
Fouls: 11
Offside: 0
Corner kicks: 14
Saves: 1
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell (c); Leah Klenke, Malia Berkely, Paige Nielsen, Avery Patterson; Danny Colaprico (Sarah Puntigam 83’), Maggie Graham, Kat Rader (Kiki Van Zanten 83’), Makenzy Robbe (Allysha Chapman 83’) Linda Ullmark (Yazmeen Ryan 57’); Kate Faasse (Clarissa Larisey 57’)
Unused Substitutes: Caroline DeLisle, Delanie Sheehan, Christen Westphal, Cate Hardin
Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 10
Offside: 2
Corner kicks: 2
Saves: 9
HOUSTON DASH HEAD COACH FABRICE GAUTRAT
On the match:
"Overall, a resilient win. Coming out here to get a clean sheet against a very good team, a very good roster and a team that likes to have the ball a lot. I thought, given the circumstances we defended extremely well and came out with three points."
On Kate Faasse’s injury:
"We unfortunately don't have an update on Kate (Faasse) yet, so we're definitely wishing for positive news. So, we'll hear more hopefully soon."
On four rookies in the starting lineup:
"They (Leah Klenke, Kat Rader, Linda Ullmar, and Kate Faasse) had a good performance. I'm sure there were jitters. If you look at the one of our big chances before the goal was scored, all four rookies touched the ball right as we created those chances. I'm really pleased. It's a huge cap for them and now we can continue hitting the ground running."
On the performance of goalkeeper Jane Campbell:
"It's great. Last year there some ups and downs and for her (Jane Cambell) to start the season the way she has, it's huge. We need her and she was outstanding today. The thing for me, that I'm most pleased with Jane is how much she's also just grown in how she leads, not only by example, but she's really a bridge between the staff and team. Really proud of her and her performance today was outstanding."
On Makenzy Robbe’s goal:
"If you look at last year, I don't think we threatened the last line enough. Obviously, to score goals you need to threaten the last line. That was a great run (by Maggie Graham), week side nine making the run for that ball in behind. I'm really pleased from an execution standpoint and for Mak (Makenzey Robbe) to score in her debut, she's been a real glue-type of player. She has a lot of respect from the players in the locker room. She's come in, in such a short time but has had a huge amount of influence. I've been really pleased with obviously she scores a goal against her old club, but she's been really instrumental in pre-season and with what we're doing so far."
On the message to the team after the win:
"We've talked about making history and we made history tonight. Winning the season opener away, first time it's ever been done for our club. That's the motto that we keep moving forward."
On getting a result in the first game of the season:
"It's huge, if you look at last year, I thought we had a slow start to the season. We talk about starting on the front foot and being a team of two halves not just if you look at historically, even last year, we were much better in the second half, both in the season and in games. For us to start on the front foot in the first game of the season away, against the opponent that we played (San Diego Wave FC), I think speaks volumes. So, a huge team win all around."
HOUSTON DASH GOALKEEPER JANE CAMPBELL
On the match:
"Great game, definitely an interesting one. San Diego (Wave FC) has always historically been very good. So, playing here has always been a challenge and Snapdragon (Stadium) is beautiful. We knew that it was going to be a hard game coming in because of how good San Diego is and it is the first game of the season, and we are still piecing thing together. We have made a lot of strides this preseason over the past six weeks. I thought it was a good step in the right direction. One game down and plenty more to go. Really, really great to get three points on the road and we are ready to get back home and play at Shell Energy Stadium."
On the play of the backline:
"The team did amazing, Fabrice (Guatrat) always said that the games are won in the boxes and that is both offensively and defensively. I thought everybody really, really dug it out. Again, it wasn't the prettiest, but people sliding everywhere, putting their bodies on the line, blocking shots and crosses, that is what it is all about. Malia (Berkely) having my back a few times in the first half. So, it was a huge, huge performance defensively. Even the substitutes coming on, I thought they did really, really great. It is not just a me thing. It is all of us. So, a great team shutout."
On getting the Dash’s first ever season-opening win on the road:
"It is really cool. I did not know that stat, so it is always fun to learn a piece of history after the game. I know we have had a few ties on during home openers, season openers, but it is great to get a win. It just builds momentum for us. It is a long season, we don't need to read too much into it, but again Fabrice's (Gautrat) big thing for us this year is to make history this year, and there are little milestones along the way. This is one that we achieved tonight and that is awesome. We can check that off our goal chart and move on to the next, get ready for Boston."
On how the veterans can help the young players this season:
"They have performed really, really well this preseason. Coming into preseason we knew they were going to have a chip on their shoulder, and they are going to have to make an impact very quickly. They have stepped up to the plate with ease. They are going to learn a ton of lessons this season. I am sure if they reflect on their game, they would say it wasn't the prettiest either, but that is the whole journey of it and the fun of it. I thought they did really, really well for their first game. It is up to us as veterans to help lead them and make it easy for them and less stressful. I am really, really proud of them. I think all of them have really, really bright futures and high hopes for their career. I am excited to see what they do this season. They are going to make a big impact for us this season, whatever their role is. Whether they are starting or not, whatever the lineup coach Fabrice (Gautrat) puts out. We know our bench is so deep that we will rely and trust anyone."
On the home opener this Saturday:
"We are celebrating the win (tonight). We will fly home tomorrow and re-group, have a day off, and the season is rolling now. No more summer camp of preseason, type of thing. We have to start studying them tomorrow. A quick turnaround, a big win, we will celebrate that today and be thankful for the three points. On to the next one."
HOUSTON DASH FORWARD MAKENZY ROBBE
On the match:
"It was such a hard-fought win. Not the prettiest at times, but sometimes that's what these games are. I think our team showed a lot of grit in this first game, and we have a lot to build on. It was a good first game and I am excited for the rest of the season."
On the emotions going into the match:
"It was definitely a bit of an emotional game for me. Coming back and playing here (at Snapdragon) on a new team, a new adventure for me and a lot of emotions, but I really tried to stay levelheaded. That was a goal of mine coming into this game, trying to put my emotions away and just play soccer and really enjoying this team."
On her goal:
"As a forward, always being threatening, always being on that back line, ready to ready to be the outlet for the team and any chance can be a good chance if you make it. That was in my head going into that. I don't know if that ball was necessarily for me, but, this whole preseason we have really been working on capitalizing on those runs in behind and the ball in behind. It was a great ball and I'm just happy that I was able to be composed and finish it."
On four rookies starting and being a veteran presence:
"I knew going into the match I was going to have to be a leader presence out there for them (Leah Klenke, Kat Rader, Linda Ullmark, and Kate Faasse). I think they did great. It's such a hard environment to come into and to start in an NWSL game let alone the first of the season. I thought they did really well and rose to the occasion. I think it just shows their potential. I'm excited to keep working with them moving forward."
On Jane Campbell and the defense:
"The defense as a whole did absolutely amazing. I think tonight we won both boxes. Sometimes that's what it takes to win a game and our defense really made some great tackles. They're in great positions and really gritted out this win for us. To have that clean sheet against a great side is awesome. Jane (Campbell) really led that. It was a great game for them."
On the message moving forward:
"Sticking together continuing, what we're doing well and working on what we still need to work on. We're still looking at our performance and how do we build off that. Something we showed tonight was grit. Now we just need to really work on our execution and keeping the ball a little bit more, possessing the ball a little bit more, that's in our hands and moving forward we're excited to keep working. This was a great game to build off."
