Houston Dash draw 1-1 with Orlando Pride

NEED TO KNOW:

Dash forward Rachel Daly scored her fourth goal of the season and 33rd goal for Houston in all competitions

Dash finish regular-season series with 1-0-1 mark against Orlando, extend unbeaten run vs. Pride to nine games

Houston returns to BBVA Stadium on Friday, Sept. 10 to host Chicago Red Stars

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Houston Dash earned a point on the road this afternoon after they played to a 1-1 draw with the Orlando Pride at Exploria Stadium.

Today’s draw gave the Dash the win in the season series after a 2-1 victory in Houston on June 26 and extended Houston’s unbeaten run against Orlando to nine consecutive games in all competitions since April 22, 2018. Dash head coach James Clarkson holds a 5-0-2 record against Orlando since joining the team in 2019.

Houston took the lead in the 10th minute after Pride defender Ali Riley intercepted a ball intended for Nichelle Prince inside the box. The defender lost control of the ball after her first touch, which left an opening for Dash captain Rachel Daly to capitalize with a shot to the far post for her fourth goal of the season.

The goal was Daly’s 28th in NWSL regular-season play, tying her with Kealia Ohai Watt for the team regular-season scoring record. Daly already owns the scoring record for Houston in all competitions with 33 goals.

Defensively, Dash defender Katie Naughton made her 100th NWSL appearance. Naughton finished with four clearances and seven recoveries against the Pride.

Orlando equalized in the 79th minute off a corner kick from Meggie Dougherty Howard that found Taylor Kornieck inside the box. Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell got a hand on the headed shot, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and across the goal line.

Houston nearly doubled their lead in the 36th minute off a corner kick that dipped toward the crossbar at the back post. The ball was punched away by Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and it fell to midfielder Shea Groom, whose shot was blocked at goal line. The ball ricocheted off players inside the box and was ultimately cleared by Orlando. Defender Allysha Chapman controlled the ball outside the box and found midfielder Kristie Mewis inside the penalty area for a half volley that Harris saved at the near post.

Houston was denied again in the 60th minute off a corner kick from Mewis. Harris went up to catch the ball inside the six-yard box, but lost control after colliding with forward Jasmyne Spencer. The Pride cleared the ball out of play before Groom could get a toe to it. Harris would leave the match with a concussion following a collision in the scramble for the ball.

Houston’s final chance of the second half came in the first minute of stoppage time from a Mewis corner kick. The cross found Daly inside the box, but her header went just wide of the far post.

The Dash return to BBVA Stadium on Friday to host the Chicago Red Stars for the third and final meeting of the regular season. Houston and Chicago split the first two meetings of the season with Houston earning a 2-1 victory on May 29 at home. Tickets for the match start at $12 and additional information is available at HoustonDash.com.

Orlando Pride (6-5-7; 25 pts.) 1-1 Houston Dash (6-7-4; 22 pts.)

2021 NWSL Regular Season – Week 16

Exploria Stadium – Orlando, Florida

Attendance: 4,451

HOU: Rachel Daly 4 (unassisted) 10’

ORL: Taylor Kornieck 2 (Meggie Dougherty Howard 1) 79’

LINEUPS:

Orlando Pride: Ashlyn Harris (C), (Erin McLeod 67); Ali Riley, Amy Turner (Toni Pressley 73), Ali Krieger, Phoebe McClernon (Taylor Kornieck 74); Meggie Dougherty Howard, Gunny Jonsdottir; Sydney Leroux, Marta, Erika Tymrak (Marisa Viggiano 67); Jodie Taylor

Unused substitutes: Chelsee Washington, Crystal Thomas, Parker Roberts, Kylie Strom, Ally Haran

Total shots: 8 (Sydney Leroux 3); Shots on goal: 4 (Taylor Kornieck 2); Fouls: 6 (Maggie Dougherty Howard, Ali Krieger, Gunny Jonsdottir, Marta, Jordi Taylor and Amy Turner tied with 1); Offside: 2; Corner kicks: 5; Saves: 4 (Ashlyn Harris 3)

Houston Dash: Jane Campbell; Haley Hanson, Katie Naughton, Abby Dahlkemper, Allysha Chapman; Gabby Seiler (Makamae Gomera-Stevens 90+3), Shea Groom (Sophie Schmidt 71), Kristie Mewis; Nichelle Prince (Michaela Abam 89), Rachel Daly (C), Jasmyne Spencer (Bri Visalli 89)

Unused substitutes: Lindsey Harris, Megan Oyster, Veronica Latsko; Total shots: 11 (Rachel Daly 4); Shots on goal: 5 (Rachel Daly, Nichelle Prince, Kristie Mewis, Gabby Seiler and Shea Groom tied with 1); Fouls: 4 (Katie Naughton, Rachel Daly, Nichelle Prince and Gabby Seiler tied with 1); Offside: 4; Corner kicks: 7; Saves: 3 (Jane Campbell 3)

DISCIPLINE:

HOU: Rachel Daly (caution, foul) 53’

HOU: Gabby Seiler (caution, foul) 67’

ORL: Meggie Dougherty Howard (caution; foul) 70

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva

Assistant Referee: Tom Felice

Assistant Referee: Ashlee Varnson

Fourth Official: Sarieni Vasquez

Weather: 90 degrees, mostly cloudy