Dash look to “develop the team” with Racing Louisville in town: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash are back at Shell Energy Stadium to face Racing Louisville in the fifth match of the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup. The Dash are third in the group table, recovering from a 3-1 loss to Kansas City Current last weekend. Racing Louisville are top of the table with a perfect record after a win against the Chicago Red Stars last time out.
When: Saturday, July 29 | 7:30 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Paramount +
New faces in the team
With six Dash players out at the World Cup and the possibility of them doing a long run in the tournament, the Dash needed a roster boost, especially after injuries to Joelle Anderson and Sophie Hirst. Within two weeks the club has signed Hope Broslin, Susanna Freidrichs, and most notably Sarah Puntigam. Head coach Sam Laity highly rates Puntigam. “Right now, she'll come into the six,” Laity said talking about the void the team currently has in midfield. “She's an international player. She's 29 years old. She's the captain of her country. She's played at the highest level in Europe. She will offer quality and she'll also offer experience which is valuable right now. You can never have enough too much quality and we also need a little bit more experience in the middle of the pack.” Interestingly, Puntigam is a player that plays in the 6 as well as at center back and occasionally as a full back. Puntigam is truly a player that can boost the squad right away.
Time to regroup
The Dash aren’t mathematically out of the Challenge Cup, but the results will really have to fall in their favor. Laity sees the final two matches as the opportunity to regroup and get the team in the right rhythm. “We knew that we were going to use the Challenge Cup as an opportunity to develop some younger players, but also to develop the team,” Laity said speaking about how the competition can help the team. “The intention is to win games and we're never ever going to put a team out that we don't think can be successful. We're never going to put a team out that we don't think partnerships will work out. I need to reiterate that irrespective of it being a "preseason game" it's a game that we want to win. It is a game that we can win. If we do the right things, it's a game that we should win." While league play is round the corner, Laity and the Dash will need to rely on the players they have now and hope the World Cup players can come back with a boost on the tail end of the season.
Keep the vibes high
Many can be disappointed with the Dash season to this point, especially with making it to the playoffs for the first time ever last year. Even with highs and lows this season, there are more highs than lows. There has been the discovery of talented rookies that will step up in time and six players that are taking part in in the Women’s World Cup. Laity spoke about Michelle Alozie’s recent performance for Nigeria at the World Cup, “It only takes one thing; you do something special in one game that can transform your career. She's vibing and hopefully when she comes back, she's still vibing and we can all vibe together because it's good energy." The high energy and vibes can have a positive impact towards the end of the season.
Availability Report
Houston Dash - Out: Ella Dederick (right knee - season-ending injury), Emily Curran (left knee - season-ending injury), Makamae Gomera-Stevens (left knee - season-ending injury), Shea Groom (Knee – Season-Ending Injury), Devon Kerr (excused absence); Questionable: Emily Alvarado (thigh), Sophie Hirst (thigh), Barbara Olivieri (hip); International Duty: Michelle Alozie (Nigeria), Andressa Alves (Brazil), Allysha Chapman (Canada), Nichelle Prince (Canada), Sophie Schmidt (Canada), Havana Solaun (Jamaica)
Racing Louisville - Out: Jordyn Bloomer (back - D45), Jess McDonald (maternity leave); Questionable: Abby Erceg (knee); International Duty: Ary Borges (Brazil), Alex Chidiac (Australia), Savannah DeMelo (USA), Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa), Wang Shuang (China)
Predicted Lineup
