Dash return to league play for final playoff push: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash will be on the road tonight to face NY/NJ Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena. The Dash are sitting in 11th place in the table coming off a 1-0 win against Racing Louisville in their last match. NY/NJ Gotham FC are 3rd in the table, fighting for the NWSL Shield.
When: Sunday, October 1 | 5:30 PM CT kickoff
Where: Red Bull Arena; Harrison, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Paramount+
Crucial points
The Dash are currently in 11th place with only three games to go. They are four points behind 6th place OL Reign for the last playoff spot. A tie tonight will hurt their chances of making it into the playoffs, they need wins. The Dash can’t afford to drop points. Interim head coach Sarah Lowdon is taking the task at hand seriously, by preparing the team and getting to New York early for the players to adjust the setting and meet up with the players who were on international duty. This will be toughest test of their remaining games and there’s one objective: win.
Tactics coming together
After the recent win at Louisville, it looked like Lowdon made the needed changes to get the team going in the right direction. “We've had a lot of training days, which is always nice, especially when you're trying to implement new principles and new ideas,” Lowdon said on her preparation for tonight’s match. Lowdon will be matched up against Juan Carlos Amoros’ tactics, and someone who knows the team well. The current Dash interim head coach will need to get it right tonight to get the much-needed three points.
Old pals together again
Sarah Lowdon and Juan Carlos Amoros worked together last season in a memorable season for the Dash, clinching the club’s first playoff appearance. Now they are on opposite ends for the first time after Lowdon was Amoros’ assistant while the Spaniard was Houston’s interim head coach. “Juan's (Carlos Amoros) done a great job at Gotham,” Lowdon said about facing Amoros for the first time. “Obviously, I worked with him last season and it was a historic season for the club. We're in a completely different space now in terms of where we're at and we're just focused on getting three points tomorrow.” No doubt the team remembers what Amoros did for them last season, but now it’s time to put three aside and focus on the three points at stake.
Availability Report
Houston Dash - Out: Ella Dederick (right knee - season-ending injury), Emily Curran (left knee - season-ending injury), Shea Groom (left knee – season-ending injury), Devon Kerr (excused absence), Allysha Chapman (excused absense), Havana Solaun (left foot - 45DL), Diana Ordóñez (concussion)
NJ/NY Gotham FC - Out: Imani Dorsey (excused absence), Allie Long (lower leg), Kristie Mewis (lower leg), Abby Smith (lower leg - D45), Taylor Smith (thigh), Taryn Torres (knee - season-ending injury), McCall Zerboni (knee - season-ending injury)
Predicted Lineup
