NEED TO KNOW:
Houston host Mallorie Pugh, Kealia Ohai Watt and the Chicago Red Stars on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Dash DF Abby Dahlkemper enters Friday’s game with 99 NWSL starts and appearances
Six Dash players to depart for national team duty after Friday’s game
HOUSTON – The Houston Dash return to BBVA Stadium on Friday to host the Chicago Red Stars at 7:30 p.m. CT. This is the final match prior to the September international window and Houston will return to league play on Sept. 26.
Houston and Chicago split the first two meetings of the season with Houston earning a 2-1 victory on May 29 at home. Houston has won two of their last four outings against Chicago, but trail in the all-time series with a 4-10-7 record against the Red Stars in all competitions.
The Red Stars enter with a 2-5-2 record away from Toyota Park after last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena. Chicago currently sits in fifth place just four points shy of the second spot in the table. The Red Stars are led by USWNT forward Mallory Pugh, who has scored three goals and adds three assists in 17 appearances this season.
Houston enters Friday’s match with a 4-2-3 record at home and look to capitalize on their final games at BBVA Stadium this season. The Dash return from the international break with a three-game road trip beginning with a trip to Louisville on Sept. 26. Houston returns to BBVA Stadium after a three-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 9 to host the North Carolina Courage.
Here are the three key points ahead of Friday’s game:
- DALY WITHIN REACH OF NEW CLUB RECORD: Dash captain Rachel Daly scored for Houston last Sunday against the Orlando Pride. 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. The 29-year-old made her debut in 2016 against the Red Stars and scored the opening goal in a 3-1 victory at BBVA Stadium. Daly has scored five goals against the Red Stars in her NWSL career and her next goal will give her sole ownership of the club regular-season scoring record.
- SIX DASH PLAYERS TO DEPART FOR NATIONAL TEAM DUTY: Five Houston Dash players will depart for international duty on Saturday for the September FIFA window. Jane Campbell, Abby Dahlkemper and Kristie Mewis will join the USWNT for a pair of friendlies against Paraguay in Ohio. Rachel Daly will join England for the opening round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Andrea Hauksdottir will join Iceland for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign against the Netherlands on Sept. 21 and Michelle Alozie will join Nigeria for the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup.
3. CHICAGO IN THE MIX FOR TOP SEED: The Red Stars close a two-game road trip in Houston on Friday and look to bounce back after a 0-0 draw with Gotham FC last Saturday. Chicago finished with 18 shots against Gotham but her held scoreless for the third time in their last five games. The Red Stars currently sit in fifth place and look to build a buffer as seven points separate the North Carolina Courage in second place and the Houston Dash in eighth place. Chicago returns to Toyota Park after the international break for a two-game homestand against the Portland Thorns and Orlando Pride.
