Houston Dash vs Denver Summit FC: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash were beaten again, losing 4-1 to Denver Summit FC on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium.
MATCH SUMMARY
Houston Dash 1-4 Denver Summit FC
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium - Houston, Texas
Referee: Laadi Issaka
Assistants: Matthew Rodman, Ben Rigel
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Anya Voigt
Attendance: 7,111
Weather: 78 degrees, thunderstorms
SCORING SUMMARY
DEN: Janine Sonis (Yazmeen Ryan) 15’
DEN: Natasha Flint (unassisted) 34’
HOU: Maggie Graham (penalty kick) 44’
DEN: Delanie Sheehan (Ayo Oke) 49’
DEN: Janine Sonis (Yazmeen Ryan) 72’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Danielle Colaprico (caution; foul) 51’
HOU: Linda Ullmark (caution; foul) 74’
LINEUPS & STATS
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell (c); Leah Klenke (Lisa Boattin 78’), Malia Berkely, Paige Nielsen, Avery Patterson; Danielle Colaprico (Sarah Puntigam 62’), Maggie Graham; Kat Rader, Linda Ullmark (Emina Ekić 78’); Kate Faasse (Messiah Bright 84’), Clarissa Larisey (Cate Hardin 46’)
Unused substitutes: Caroline DeLisle, Allysha Chapman, Evelina Duljan, Sophie Schmidt
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 5
Offside: 7
Corner kicks: 3
Saves: 3
Denver Summit FC: Abby Smith; Natalie Means (Carson Pickett 60’), Kaleigh Kurtz, Eva Gaetino, Janine Sonis (c); Devin Lynch, Delanie Sheehan, Yazmeen Ryan, Natasha Flint (Emma Regan 90’); Ayo Oke (Yuna McCormack 59’) Melissa Kössler (Olivia Thomas 82’)
Unused Substitutes: Megan Reid, Ally Brazier, Yuna McCormack, Yuzuki Yamamoto, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Nahikari Garcia
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner kicks: 8
Saves: 2
HOUSTON DASH HEAD COACH FABRICE GAUTRAT
On the match:
“First off, hats off to Denver (Summit FC). I thought they played a good game. I think we looked a little bit leggy, if I am being honest. Our distances on the press defensively, I thought the gaps were getting a little bit bigger. Those are a few things that come to mind. Obviously disappointed. It's been a long stretch. I think right now, having two days off, resetting, getting the group back together (on Tuesday) and we'll hit the ground running next week.”
On the team’s offense:
“You've got to look at what has transpired, right? If you look at the beginning of the year, Makenzy Robbe, who was playing phenomenally, got (hurt) for the year. You now have a Kiki Van Zanten that's out. So, players have to grow and step up. I think today, at some point, we had five rookies on the field. Let's just pause there for a second. These players are doing a fantastic job. I think today they were a bit leggy, but I praise this group. We'll hit the ground running from that standpoint. As the game progressed, as they got lower, because they were up by one or two, the spaces were a lot tighter to play through. A lot of the issues were originally in our build to be able to break their first line of pressure, to then create those spaces and create chances on goal.”
On Jane Campbell and her leadership:
“Her (Jane Campbell) value is immense. I think there's no better leader in place to help steer us through this time. Can't say enough good things about her. She is one of the most loyal people that you'll probably meet. I really appreciate her. We were even talking a little bit on the field. I think the biggest thing is regrouping. I know she'll help lead us in a good direction as well.”
On how the team is navigating this stretch:
“If you zoom out for a second, actually look at the season and you look at teams. There are teams right now that, let's say, are on a three-game winning streak, where maybe they won one game in the first five games that they played. So, what's happening isn't necessarily an anomaly. These things happen, and teams go on streaks. The biggest thing is just really being clear on what we need to regroup on to move forward. We definitely need to go back to the basics. We need to get back to our defensive identity. That's just from a tactical standpoint. There are a few things from a leadership standpoint that we need to keep growing in. I feel very good about the group right now and where they're at.”
HOUSTON DASH MIDFIELDER MAGGIE GRAHAM
On the match:
"It was definitely a frustrating game. We wanted to show ourselves better than we did today, but we're early on in the season, and we can use today as a learning game. That's what we're going to try to do."
On the offense in the last few games:
"There's probably a couple things you could point to, but I think moving forward, we kind of need to get back to the basics. We have a lot of youth on our team. Its learning, growing and playing together. Learning what people are good at and what they're not. If we can get back to just playing one and two touches around the box and try to keep the ball on the other team's half, that could really help us hopefully get into the team's box a couple times and hopefully score goals. If we continue to learn and grow and keep playing together, that'll come."
On the team’s defense:
"I think it's (the team’s defense) another thing that's kind of back to the basics. We need to work on defending in transition and kind of being down a player, whether it's 3v2 or 2v1, but getting more pressure on the ball in the box. We were a little bit soft tonight when it came to that. Moving forward, we need to be a little bit grittier, get in on tackles and mark in the box, we'll be able to move forward. I know we're capable of it because we've done it in the past, but I think tonight it just kind of fell short."
HOUSTON DASH GOALKEEPER JANE CAMPBELL
On the match:
“A tough game. I thought we had a lot of confidence coming into the home stretch after Utah, very disappointing for us. I have to give credit to Denver, they played great. We need to regroup, we have a full week of training ahead, and I’m looking to get our momentum back and get those three points against Kansas City.”
On reaching 200 appearances for the Houston Dash:
“I have been here for a long time; I’m honored to have played every game with the Dash. For every veteran on the team, we think it is very important that we don’t separate from (the rookies). A lot of rookies in this league come with tons of confidence, they’ve either come from really successful college careers or maybe high school. I think they come into this league thinking everything is going to be sunshine and rainbows — I did that my rookie year coming in from Stanford and had a rude awakening. The great part about this league and what makes it so fun is that anyone can win on any given day, regardless of the table. It's just so competitive and so taxing at times that it's important for the veteran players to make sure that the rookies know that it's okay. It's like these tougher times, but the season is so long. It's not like a college season, we have tons of time to gain ground back. It's really important for all the veterans, including myself, to make sure we keep them on board and keep them motivated and make sure they're having fun, first and foremost.”
On Denver and Boston:
“On paper, they (Denver Summit FC) were very talented. Playing them, they put everything together. I thought what we scouted was what they showed. They have bright futures in this league, two amazing cities and two amazing fan bases. It was a great challenge for us today. It'll be another challenge for when we go to Denver than when we go to Boston and play them as well. I'm excited that the league is growing, and I'm ecstatic that they're doing so well.”
On the backline:
“Organization comes from me, and I could have missed the mark. Once one domino falls with the organization (of the defense), then the next, and then the next. I'll defend my backline through thick and thin. I think they're amazing. I'll throw my hand up and defend them and say that my organization wasn't as efficient as it should have.”
On playing against former teammates:
“It's obviously not fun to get scored on. They (Abby Smith, Delanie Sheehan and Yazmeen Ryan) are incredible players. They had their time here and did amazing. They left for different reasons, but I wish them all the best, and I'm so happy that they're successful in Denver and are doing great. Obviously, I don't want them to score on us ever again, but at the same time I'm always cheering for them. They were my teammates once, and I'll always be rooting for them.”
On being the vocal voice to the offense:
“They (the offense) need to have confidence in themselves. That's a huge part of anybody's game and in this sport. That could be a big role of mine, to help their self-belief. I know they can do it, they've shown it in training. We see it every day that they can put the ball in the back of the net. We need to have that same confidence in the game and not feel so much pressure to just perform for coach Fabrice (Gautrat). They do so well when they play freely and it's just like clockwork for them when they don't think. My role coming up will be huge and just giving them confidence. I don't want anyone to be battered, yelled at or anything like that. I have full faith in them. I know the group has full faith in them to get us some points and some goals on the board, and we're going to need it coming up.”
