NEED TO KNOW:
· Dash defender Katie Naughton scored the first goal of the year for Houston and her fifth for the team
· Dash GK Jane Campbell has five saves against Chicago in the loss
· Houston travel to Kentucky on Friday for their first road game of the tournament and face Racing Louisville FC at 6:30 p.m. CT
HOUSTON – The Houston Dash fell 3-1 to the Chicago Red Stars at PNC Stadium earlier this evening to open the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Houston took the lead in the 19th minute off a set piece from forward Rachel Daly. The set piece floated into the box toward the far post for an oncoming Katie Naughton to tap the ball in for the first goal of the year.
Chicago scored the equalizer in the 27th minute after Mallory Pugh forced a save near the penalty spot. The rebound fell to the forward for Chicago’s first goal of the game.
The Red Stars were awarded a penalty kick in the 57th minute after referee Joshua Encarnacion whistled for a foul inside the box. Arin Wright converted from the penalty spot to give Chicago the 2-1 lead. Chicago scored their third goal minutes later off a shot from Pugh that deflected off a Dash defender into the back of the net.
Daly had the first warning shot of the evening off a corner kick from forward María Sánchez. Daly’s header went wide of the far post in the eighth minute of the game.
Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell was called into action in the 52nd minute when she saved a shot from Ava Cook. She was called into action again four minutes later to deny Wright from close range. The Dash shot stopper finished with five saves against the Red Stars.
Daly nearly pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute with a shot from outside the six-yard box that was punched away by the Chicago goalkeeper.
The Dash travel to Kentucky next week for their first road trip of the tournament. Houston will face Racing Louisville FC at 6:30 p.m. CT and fans can watch the stream live on Paramount +. The Dash return to PNC Stadium on Wednesday, March 30 to host Sam Mewis and Kansas City Current at 7:30 p.m. CT. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDash.com.
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Houston Dash (0-1-0; 0 pts.) 1-3 Chicago Red Stars (1-0-0; 3 pts.)
2022 NWSL Challenge Cup – Game 1
PNC Stadium – Houston, Texas
Attendance: 4,087
SCORING SUMMARY
| TEAM | 1H | 2H | FT |
| Houston Dash | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chicago Red Stars | 1 | 2 | 3 |
HOU: Katie Naughton 1 (unassisted) 19′
CHI: Mallory Pugh 1 (unassisted) 27′
CHI: Arin Wright 1 (penalty kick) 58′
CHI: Mallory Pugh 2 (Danielle Colaprico 1) 60′
LINEUPS:
Houston Dash: Jane Campbell; Haley Hanson (Elizabeth Eddy 78′), Katy Naughton, Sophie Schmidt, Allysha Chapman, Marisa Viggiano (Makamae Gomera-Stevens 78′), Kelcie Hedge (Bri Visalli 63), Shea Groom (Ryan Gareis 63), Nichelle Prince, Rachel Daly ©, María Sánchez
Unused substitutes: Michaela Abam, Joelle Anderson, Julia Ashley, Cali Farquharson, Lindsey Harris
Total shots: 14 (Rachel Daly 6); Shots on goal: 5 (Rachel Daly 2, Nichelle Prince 2, Katie Naughton 1); Fouls: 14; Offside: 3 (Rachel Daly 2); Corner kicks: 5 (María Sánchez 5); Saves: 5 (Jane Campbell 5)
Chicago Red Stars: Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davison, Tatumn Milazzo, Zoe Morse (Jill Aguilera 77′), Arin Wright, Ella Stevens (Ava Cook 46′), Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo © (Sarah Griffith 46′), Bianca St. Georges (Alyssa Mautz 72′), Yuki Nagasato, Mallory Pugh (Channing Foster 69′)
Unused substitutes: Sam Fisher, Mikenna McManus, Emily Boyd
Total shots: 11 (Mallory Pugh 6); Shots on goal: 8 (Mallory Pugh 4); Fouls: 15; Offside: 2 (Arin Wright, Ella Stevens); Corner kicks: 1; Saves: 5 (Alyssa Naeher)
DISCIPLINE:
CHI: Bianca St. Georges (caution; tactical foul) 18′
CHI: Zoe Morse (caution; tactical foul) 47′
HOU: Bri Visalli (caution; tactical foul) 65′
HOU: Sophie Schmidt (caution; foul) 88′
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
Assistant Referee: Ricardo Ocampo
Assistant Referee: Rebecca Luther
Fourth Official: Alexandra Theriot
Weather: 72 degrees, sunny
