Dash suffer first regular season loss after match is called due to weather
(image via Houston Dash)
The Houston Dash suffered a 1-0 defeat to the North Carolina Courage at Shell Energy Stadium Friday night. The game was abandoned after a three hour delaydue to inclement weather. The result ends the undefeated start to the regular season for Houston.
Sam Laity made some changes to the lineup due to injuries to Joelle Anderson and Ally Prisock. Havana Solaun got her first start for the Dash in midfield and Katie Lind slotted back into the defense for Prisock. On paper, Laity was still sticking with a 3-4-1-2 formation, which the team can adapt from easily depending on the situation.
The North Carolina Courage came in with early pressure on the Dash. It seemed that the Courage had taken a lead with a goal by Kerolin in the 16th minute but it was ruled offside after discussion between the, VAR, the referee, and assistant referee. After that offside, both team started to get into the game and make some challenges. Maria Sanchez was shown a yellow card in the 20th minute for a dangerous tackle.
The Courage got their goal from a quick free kick from their defensive end. North Carolina sent the ball into the attacking third where Emily Fox was free on the left wing. She squared it across goal to Tyler Lussi who put it in the back of the net to give the Courage a 1-0 in the 33rd minute. The Dash responded to get back in the game with chances coming from Ebony Salmon and notably Sophie Schmidt hitting the post in the 42nd minute.
At half time, the Courage lead 1-0 with 67% ball possession and 7 shots, 3 of them being on target. North Carolina seemed to be in full control and the Dash seemed to be waiting for the counter attack that never came. Houston only had 3 shots with just one of them being on target.
At the start of the second half, Laity made a substitution of Havana Solaun for Courtney Petersen. It seemed the Dash cpild turn the game around with a couple early chances. Then the storms came. Due to inclement weather in the area, the referee stopped the game in the 52nd minute.
After three hours of heavy rain and lightning, the NWSL applied the rules and protocol and concluded that the match was abandoned. The league statement read, “the first half was played in it’s entirety, the match is considered complete and will not be rescheduled.” The match will go down as a 1-0 win for North Carolina and a cruel way for the Dash to pick up their first loss of the regular season.
(image via Houston Dash)
The Dash will be back at home at Shell Energy Stadium for the second round of the UKG NWL Challenge Cup against the Chicago Red Stars on May 3rd. The game will kick off at 7:30 PM CT and it will be streamed on Paramount+. Hopefully the weather is much nicer for this one!
