The Houston Dash earned its second win of the young National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season after defeating the Washington Spirit, 1-0, at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. The Dash move to 2-1-0 on the season while the Spirit fall to 0-2-1.
Lydia Williams was back in goal for the Dash and Janine van Wyk returned to the lineup. The Dash pressed early, looking to dispossess and attack and almost scored in the 8th minute when Rachel Daly was played into the box from a Janine Beckie ball but her shot far post missed just wide.
Washington’s Steph Labbé was called into action in the 20th minute and finished the evening with five saves.
Labbé. pic.twitter.com/qUuDQeWSDO
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) April 29, 2017
The Dash goal came in the 28th minute. It was Kealia Ohai who found space on the left and took on Estelle Johnson and got off a right-footed shot from the top of the circle that beat Labbé to the far post corner.
Ohai puts Houston up, 1-0. #WASvHOU pic.twitter.com/K0CXOo3I8a
— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) April 29, 2017
Houston continue to press while Washington weathered the storm after a formation change to a 4-3-3 but still didn’t get much going forward.
Washington hosts Sky Blue next weekend while Houston travels to Chicago to face a Red Stars team coming off a 0-1 loss to the Portland Thorns FC.
Attendance: 3,154
Lineups
Washington Spirit
1-Stephanie Labbé; 4-Shelina Zadorsky; 5-Whitney Church; 24-Estelle Johnson; 6-Kassey Kallman; 7-Line Sigvardsen Jensen (29-Meggie Dougherty Howard, 74′); 23-Tori Huster; 22- Alyssa Kleiner (2-Arielle Ship, 46′); 9-Havana Solaun; 8-Lindsay Agnew (13-Crystal Thomas, 65′); 14-Francisca Ordega
Houston Dash
18-Lydia Williams; 22-Camille Levin; 55-Janine van Wyk; 4-Bruna Benites; 5-Cari Roccaro; 13-Denise O’Sullivan; 12-Amber Brooks; 16-Janine Beckie (23-Cami Privett, 89′); 7-Kealia Ohai (2-Poliana, 91′); 9-Sarah Hagen (14-Nichelle Prince, 75′); 3-Rachel Daly
Discipline
Houston Dash
Yellow Cards:
Bruna Benites, 59′