Dash return to league play with trip to nation’s capital: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash return to league play on the road again, this time to Washington D.C. to face undefeated Washington Spirt at Audi Field. The Spirit sits second in the league and with a rested squad after rotating their lineup in the midweek. Meanwhile, the Dash suffered their first defeat of 2023 in the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup, also with a heavily rotated squad.
When: Saturday, April 22 | 6:00 PM CT kickoff
Where: Audi Field; Washington, D.C.
TV/Stream: Paramount +
Who will stay undefeated?
Both teams come in with a loss in the Challenge Cup midweek, even though both sides heavily rotated their squads. There is no doubt both teams will want to come in and shake that loss off. “They're pretty pragmatic,” Dash head coach Sam Laity said this week. :They play to win, as we do -- there's no doubt about it. It doesn't make a difference how you win, but winning is the key thing. The directness, we've talked about it, dealing with the long ball. Prevention is better than a cure, so trying to prevent certain people from trying to getting on the ball and playing long on the field.” Both teams would love to keep the undefeated streak in league play going!
Defense the key to victory
Letting your opponents score will not help you win games, obviously. Lately we have seen in this Dash side, they love to attack with their full backs. Caprice Dydasco, Allysha Chapman, and on the occasion Courtney Petersen are pushed higher up to get the ball and make a quick transition. This leaves a lot of space, especially for a Spirit team that has quick and dangerous players that can attack that space. Laity spoke about these tactics recently. “I think (the solution on is) reading the trigger and the cue and individual player making better decisions,” the first year Dash head coach said. “There is no pressure on the ball. We’re following a player who is trying to create space by checking back towards the ball. We need to recognize that and hold the line, hold the space and then I think we’d have been alright. That’s the second game it’s happened, different players and it’s something we’re going to have to address very quick.” This will be the difference in winning or getting a point against a Spirit side who can catch the opponent off guard.
The D Maria Factor
The main focus coming into this season was how to get Diana Ordóñez and Ebony Salmon on the field at the same time. The Dash have played a 4-3-3 with Salmon on the right wing, and have even showed some 3-5-2 with the two up front together. At the moment, they have produced very little between them. This is where Maria Sanchez is the glue of the offense. Maria has produced two goals so far this season. Her involvement in the attack has been the key to catch opponents on the wrong foot. Her connection with Diana has been more than evident on the field. Laity gave them the nickname “D Maria”. On the field, they link up and they have a huge understanding when to pick up their runs. Just like we saw in the Portland game, they can quickly get the team back in any game.
Availability Report
Houston Dash - Out: Emily Alvarado (concussion protocol), Emily Curran (left knee - season-ending injury), Ella Dederick (right knee - season-ending injury), Makame Gomera-Stevens (left knee - season-ending injury), Shea Groom (right knee), Devon Kerr (illness), Nichelle Prince (Achilles - season-ending injury), Annika Creel (right knee - season-ending injury)
Questionable: Joelle Anderson (thigh), Ryan Gareis (hip), Kelcie Hedge (thigh)
Washington Spirit: Out: Bailey Feist (lower leg), Anna Heilferty (season-ending injury - knee), Tori Huster (season-ending injury - lower leg)
Predicted lineup:
