Houston Dash at Seattle Reign: Highlights, stats, and quotes

(image via Houston Dash)

The Houston Dash fell 2-1 on the road against the Seattle Reign on Friday night. Houston will return hom after the international break for their final match of the 2024 season.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Reign FC 2-1 Houston Dash

Friday, October 18, 2024

Venue: Lumen Field - Seattle, Washington

Referee: Brad Jensen

Assistants: Seaun Yinka-Kehinde, Eric Kruger

Fourth Official: Kelsey Harms

VAR: Alex Billeter

Attendance: 8,456

Weather: 52 degrees, partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA: Olivia Athens (unassisted) 22’

HOU: Barbara Olivieri (penalty kick) 25’

SEA: Nerilia Mondesir (unassisted) 65’

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

HOU: Allysha Chapman (caution; foul) 51’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Reign FC: Claudia Dickey, Tziarra King (Maddie Mercado 80’), Lauren Barnes (C) (Phoebe McClernon 81’), Jordyn Bugg, Hanna Glas (Shae Holmes 89’), Nérilia Mondésir, Olivia Athens, Emeri Adames (Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic 73’), Ji So-Yun (Nikki Stanton 81’), Veronica Latsko, Jordyn Huitema (Julia Lester 90+5’) 

Unused Substitutes: Laurel Ivory, Maia Perez 

Total shots: 12 (Emeri Adames 3)

Shots on goal: 5 (Nerilia Mondesir 2)

Fouls: 8 (Nerilia Mondesir 3)

Offside: 1 (Emeri Adames 1)

Corner kicks: 2

Saves: 3 (Claudia Dickey 3)

Houston Dash: Jane Campbell (C), Allysha Chapman (Natalie Jacobs 85’), Jyllissa Harris, Tarciane, Paige Nielsen, Sarah Puntigam (Zoe Matthews 85’), Sophie Schmidt, Ryan Gareis (Belle Briede 67’), Avery Patterson, Bárbara Olivieri, Yuki Nagasato (Amanda West 77’) 

Unused substitutes: Diana Ordonez, Heather Hinz, Madison Ayson, Erin McKinney 

Total shots: 10 (Barbara Olivieri and Yuki Nagasato tied with 2)

Shots on goal: 4 (Barbara Olivieri 2)

Fouls: 14 (Sarah Punitgam and Ryan Gareis tied with 2)

Offside: 9 (Barbara Olivieri 3)

Corner kicks: 2

Saves: 3 (Jane Campbell 3)

HOUSTON DASH ASSISTANT COACH RICKY CLARKE

On the match:

"Tough result. This is always a difficult environment to come into and we never quite got into the rhythm that we needed to get into. We created chances. We made it difficult for them at times, but we perhaps never executed in the areas where we wanted to execute. Jane Campbell, 150 starts and the first goalkeeper to do that in the NWSL for a single club is a special achievement. Zoe Matthews, youngest ever player to step on the field for the Houston Dash. For us, there are positive moments heading into the last game of the season." 

On the return of defender Natalie Jacobs:

"Really important, we've had a season where we've had (a lot of) injuries. When someone like Natalie Jacobs steps back into the team, that strengthens our roster. It's massive for the team. So, we're extremely happy to have her back. I'm sure she was happy to be back on the field."  

On the need for a response in the second half:

"The rhythm of the game changed. They broke it up really well. They managed the game extremely well and there was no rhythm to the game after they scored their second goal. There were a lot of substitutions, and the tempo of the game just completely changed. We just never found our tempo. At times we forced balls into areas where we perhaps had more time on the clock than we thought. We could have been perhaps a little bit more patient with the ball. We fought to the end. It's an example how this group never give up. They never back down or step away from a challenge." 

On his reflections with this being the final road game of the season:

"I genuinely believe this is a group who have stuck together. There could have been cracks. There could have been opportunities for people to make excuses and they haven't. They've leaned into the challenge. For me, it's been inspiring to stand alongside them. It's been inspiring to work with them. It's been inspiring to work with our staff, who have turned up every day and worked 24/7. I'm just proud to be associated with this group. It's not finishing the way we wanted it to finish. We've got winners in this group. One of the things you would say is you would look at this group and you would say, this is a Houston Dash team who are going to work incredibly hard and fight for each other. Throughout the season in different areas at different times, you've seen a group that stuck together and been incredibly resilient. I am proud to be a part of that." 

HOUSTON DASH DEFENDER NATALIE JACOBS

On team communication:

"Players are getting really good minutes here. It's really cool to see everybody prosper when their name is called. The communication piece is always a big part of our game. We've had this reputation of this defensive team and that comes with tons of communication. I'm just trying to be kind of a soundboard for everybody, someone to lean on. I don't think I have all the answers, but I think I have a good viewpoint back there. I can see the whole field and I can see every player. So, I try to just help everyone communicate as best they can and, you know, the big part about communication is you also have to listen. So, I think everybody does a really good job hearing each other out there and really, really just trying to stay organized and give San Diego a hard time." 

On the backline:

"They did incredible. Best on pitch by far, at least defensively. I'm sure Barbara (Olivieri) and Ramona (Bachmann) need to get their flowers as well offensively. I thought (the outside backs) were best on pitch. We all love Maria (Sanchez) to death, but I thought Paige (Nielsen) really just shut her down. I thought Chappy was going crazy out there on the left. Coming back from being a mom, and it's cool to see her kind of back in her own groove now. Now that she's got Tavish cheering on in the stands, it's really, something special to see. So, I think we're all really, really proud of her. I thought they did incredible. The whole defensive line did amazing. There's some shifting around. Jyllissa (Harris) filled in and Tarciane is back in and Paige had to move out wide instead of being central. I'm just really proud of everyone. They really stepped up tonight." 

HOUSTON DASH DEFENDER JYLLISSA HARRIS

On returning to the field:

"(Recovery has been) good. It's been a long one. I'm just so thankful to be back with this group. I love every single one of them and playing with them. So, it was great to be able to get back out there." 

On navigating her time away from the field during the injury:

"I always want to be the best supporter I can be to every single one of the players on this team. Whether that's on the field talking, whether that's off the field, supporting them in every way I can. I just want to be their number one fan every chance I can get, both when I'm healthy and when I'm not." 

On the final road trip for the team:

"There are amazing people on this team. We are super close. We all care about each other a lot. Having these trips helps build that. We all have bought into this team. We're building for something big. We feel that because of that cohesiveness we have when we're together." 

On Dash midfielder Zoe Matthews making her debut:

"I'm so excited for Zoe (Matthews). It was so fun for her to get on the field. She's a great player and we're happy to have her. It was definitely really exciting to see her get out there."