Three First Half Goals Power Houston Dash to Victory
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash returned to Shell Energy Stadium for a midweek match against the Chicago Stars, looking to keep the momentum going from Sunday night’s win in North Carolina. Chicago came into the match in last place in the NWSL table, making this a game the Dash really need to earn three points in.
Head coach Fabrice Gautrat made some changes to the lineup. After her brace on Sunday, Clarissa Larisey got the start up front and rookie Natalie Hammond earned the first start of her career, slotting in at center back.
Houston got off to a flying start, taking the lead in just the 5th minute. Leah Klenke played a great long ball over the top, into the path of Avery Patterson. The right back collected the pass in the box and squared it. Kat Rader was there to slam the shot home and put the Dash in front 1-0.
The Dash doubled the lead in the 42 minute and it was Rader again providing the finish. Another long ball down the right side found Larisey and like the first goal, she played the ball central. Rader took a touch to flick the ball over the Chicago defender then smashed a volley into the top of the net for her 9th goal of the season to put Houston ahead 2-0.
Just when it looked like the Dash would take their two-goal lead into half time, they added a third in first half stoppage time. This time it was Houston working down the left side as Rader played Kiki Van Zanten into space. She played the ball across to Linda Ullmark. The rookie’s shot was deflected by Stars goalkeeper Katie Atkinson but had enough power on it to find the back of the net and give the Dash a 3-0 lead.
With a comfortable lead, Gautrat was able to take his front line off and rest them for Sunday’s match against Bay FC. Miljana Ivanovic, Kate Faasse, and Khyah Harper all came into the game. The Dash found goal number four in the 79th minute and Faasse became the third rookie to score for Houston in the match.
As they did all night, the Dash broke down the wings. This time it was Ivanovic, in her home debut, flying into space on the left. She laced a nicely weighted ball into the box and Faasse timed her run perfectly, getting her right foot on the ball and placing her shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-0.
The Dash had two chances late to make it five goals but Atkinson came up big for Chicago. She first denied Harper on a one-on-one break. Then on the ensuing corner, she was able to get her left hand up to knock away Sarah Puntigam’s shot.
Houston did find their fifth in second half stoppage time. Puntigam played the ball wide to Ivanovic who one-timed a ball into the path of Lisa Boattin. The Italian clipped the ball perfectly over Atkinson to make it 5-0.
The full time whistle blew on a dominant win for the Dash. Houston won their second straight match and the three points move them to 9th place, just one point behind Seattle in the final playoff spot.
The Dash will return to the road this weekend, this time with a trip to the West Coast. Houston will take on Bay FC on Sunday evening with kickoff scheduled for 5 PM from PayPal Park in San Jose.
