Three things we learned: Houston Dash vs Utah Royals

(image via Houston Dash)

The Houston Dash beat the Utah Royals 1-0 Friday at Shell Energy Stadium. After each game this season, we’ll bring you three key takeaways from the match. Here is our next edition, following the Dash's home victory.

Delanie Sheehan is complete

Sheehan’s banger from outside the box will still the headlines, but the 26-year-old put in a complete performance on Friday night. She had 4 take-ons (and completed them all), 3 progressive passes, 3 tackles, and 2 clearances. Sheehan is a rock in this Dash midfield and this team will lean on her all season to keep delivering the goods.

It was good to have Avery Patterson back

Patterson returned to the lineup after missing the last two matches with an eye injury she suffered while on international duty with the US Women’s National Team. Avery played the full 90 minutes on the right side of the Dash’s new look three-back formation. Getting Patterson back into the lineup is big, of course, but even bigger because she fits the wing back position perfectly.

You can always count on Jane Campbell

Campbell made five saves in posting her second clean sheet of the season. As much as things have changed over the years with the Houston Dash, and even this season with players and formations changing, Campbell is the one steady. You know exactly what you are going to get when Jane puts the gloves on, and we saw it again on Friday night.