Houston Dash vs San Diego Wave FC: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash lost 3-2 to the San Diego Wave on Friday night at Shell Energy Stadium.
MATCH SUMMARY
Houston Dash 2-3 San Diego Wave FC
Friday, June 13, 2025
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium - Houston, Texas
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistants: Ethan Buege, Brian Marshall
Fourth Official: Kaitlyn Trowbridge
VAR: Servando Berna
Attendance: 6,241
Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SD: Kenza Dali (unassisted) 17’
SD: Adriana Leon (Hanna Lundkvist) 36’
SD: Maria Sanchez (Delphine Cascarino) 51’
HOU: Barbara Olivieri (unassisted) 61’
HOU: Yazmeen Ryan (Maggie Graham) 68’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
SD: Perle Morroni (caution; foul) 60’
SD: Savannah McCaskill (caution; foul) 87’
HOU: Ryan Gareis (caution; foul) 90+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Houston Dash: Abby Smith; Paige Nielsen, Katie Lind (c), Natalie Jacobs (Christen Westphal 86’), Maggie Graham; Ryan Gareis, Danielle Colaprico, Delanie Sheehan; Bárbara Olivieri, Yazmeen Ryan, Kiki Van Zanten (Messiah Bright 61’)
Unused substitutes: Jane Campbell, Zoe Matthews, Sophie Schmidt, Sarah Puntigam, Belle Briede, Michelle Alozie, Rebeca
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner kicks: 0
Saves: 7
San Diego Wave FC: Kailen Sheridan (c); Perle Morroni (Quincy McMahon 90+3), Kristen McNabb, Trinity Armstrong, Hanna Lundkvist; Kenza Dali, Gia Corley (María Sánchez 45’), Kimmi Ascanio (Melanie Barcenas, 69’), Delphine Cascarino; Adriana Leon (Makenzy Robbe 69’)
Unused Substitutes: Kennedy Wesley, Kyra Carusa, Jordan Fusco, Daniela Arias, DiDi Haracic
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 10
Fouls: 13
Offside: 2
Corner kicks: 12
Saves: 1
HOUSTON DASH HEAD COACH FABRICE GAUTRAT
On the match:
“The positives were in the second half, the response of getting a more pressure higher up the field helped us. In the first half, we weren't able to get to their (San Diego Wave) fullbacks quick enough or aggressively, which allowed them more momentum. If you look at the second goal, that's just us building momentum. I’m disappointed, but we also played a very good team, but in the second half we were definitely the better team and just a few minutes short from trying to create an equalizer goal.”
On the goals scored:
“This was Bárbara Olivieri’s second goal of the season and she's coming into form. I’m pleased with her. Yazmeen Ryan now has her first goal under her belt. Now she can go full swing. I know she's been out with some injuries here and there, now using her at the nine she's been a bright spot for us. We're going to keep the momentum going. Creating and scoring goals is a difficult thing. So, to get two tonight is a positive.”
On Barbara Olivieri’s performance:
“Her positioning has been much improved. She's a player that always wants to gravitate towards the ball, which is a good thing, but she has improved her positional discipline, which allows her to be creative between the lines. I am pleased with her. She's extremely fit and able to cover the ground for long distances and in this league, you need those types of players. She's getting into form, and we're really excited for her and her future with us.”
On Abby Smith’s performance:
“Abby Smith’s first save, where she flicks it off the post was a world-class save. Abby has been consistent. She's been great for us. I'm a little bit disappointed that we conceded the goals that we did because it wasn't a reflection of her performance.”
On maintaining positivity as the team heads into the break:
“It's always looking at where we are and what progress we are making. We are objective in that. Not just ‘hey, you're doing great’ but looking at the progress. That's in every game, whether you lose or win, there's always something to take from it. For us It is identifying what the problems were and what the solutions are. If you can do that every game, you continually instill hope and belief in what we're doing.”
HOUSTON DASH DEFENDER KATIE LIND
On the game:
"We're a bit frustrated with the result. We dug ourselves into a hole in the first half, but we responded well after they scored their last goal. We flipped the script, had the ball in their half, and played some good soccer. We'll definitely look back on those moments in the game when we let up and gave away some easy goals, but there are some positives to build on for sure. We just have to start locking things down and making sure we're not giving those opportunities away."
On the team’s resilience:
“We thought ‘one goal at a time.’ We had the belief that we were still in the game even before that point (FW Bárbara Olivieri goal), but that was just the catalyst for us to start pushing forward. We started to feel the rhythm of the game after that moment. You could see it in the way that we were possessing and building up the field, that it was more positive, and we were on their end more. We can't wait for those kinds of goals or moments to happen in a game to feel like that. We need to instill that belief earlier on in the game from ourselves, even if we're not scoring, but getting good chances on goal.”
On the defensive performance:
“We had a really strong performance in Orlando, and we just needed to build off that. Unfortunately, we gave up some soft goals that just let them into the game. I know we're better than that, so that's something that we have to start priding ourselves on more, start honing in on in training, and make sure that we hold ourselves to the highest standard possible.”
On the team’s growth:
“We have a strong culture that we're working to cultivate here. We're trying to play a good brand of soccer as well, and the fans are starting to see it in moments, which is really exciting. We just have to put more full performances together, and then it will really start to click. That’s when we’ll finally see some of the results we've been chasing. There’s definitely a positive light overall within the environment and the club. After last season, we're looking up and trying to be better in every aspect, and we're starting to chip away at that, which is exciting. Going into the break, we really want to put in a solid, strong performance leading into that and end on a high note at the halfway mark of the season.”
HOUSTON DASH FORWARD YAZMEEN RYAN
On the game:
“Once we got our press together and won the ball, it was just a matter of finishing. I feel that is the story for us. We constantly get in good positions to punish teams and it's just taking our chances more often. The second half was better and I feel we had great momentum in the first 20 minutes.”
On her goal:
“I honestly don’t remember what happened before the lead up to Maggie (Graham) getting the ball. But when it got wide, I knew her only option was to go down the line, until I got it, and got a touch on it, and it stayed in, which was great. Then it was just about the willingness to keep going and I knew that we still needed a goal. There was a chance earlier where I found Barbara (Olivieri) on top of the box. So, for this goal, I really wanted to shoot. I was really excited to finally get the ball in the back of the net and was very hopeful that we were going to come back.”
On the contact at midfield prior to her goal:
“I knew once I had her beat, I did not want to go down. If I were to go down and take that foul, it was just an out for them. It would have been a tactical foul, so I knew I really needed to push and not let that one go.”
On how the team can build on this performance:
“Defensively, we just have to get organized quicker and stick with that. Our defenders do such a great job – game in and game out – of being aggressive, like Abby (smith) making amazing saves. Sometimes it just doesn’t go our way and I think it starts with up top and how we can stay compact and defend as a team.”
On the chemistry with Barbara Olivieri and the second half of the season:
“I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season. This first half, we figured out a lot about who we are and who we want to be in moments of brilliance as a team. In the second half of the season, we’re going to put it all together. With the game against North Carolina coming up, I think we’re slowly putting all the pieces together; it’s in the adjustments and it is always small things that could be better. I think we’re honing in on the details. Playing with Barbara (Olivieri) is always great, she's a great player and so good on the ball. We have a strong connection up top. It won’t matter if we’re down 3-0, because we can score four to five goals with the chances that we create because we have a really good front line and front press. When it’s on, it's on. I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season, we’re not necessarily going to be a whole different team – because I do like what we are doing now – but just a more refined team.”
