Houston Dash vs NJ/NY Gotham FC player ratings

(image via Aldo Canale)

The Houston Dash earned a hard-fought clean sheet against NJ/NY Gotham FC last night, settling for a point in a tightly contested match. Let’s break down the individual performances.

Starters

Jane Campbell-7

Campbell had a relatively stress-free night thanks to the strong defensive organization in front of her. However, when called upon, she made a couple of tough saves to preserve the clean sheet and help secure the point.

Natalie Jacobs-9 (Player of the Match)

Jacobs was the standout performer, dominating defensively and nearly doubling her teammates’ touches with 70 of her own. She completely neutralized Gotham’s attack, particularly Bruninha, who struggled to get past her all night. Winning all 10 of her ground duels, Jacobs put in a flawless display.

Katie Lind-7

Lind had a quiet but effective night. She didn’t put a foot wrong and played her role as a composed and commanding center-back. Her mere presence was enough to deter attackers, contributing to the team’s clean sheet.

Paige Nielsen-6

Much like Lind, Nielsen did her job without much fuss. She had a couple of well-timed clearances when Gotham tried to counter but was otherwise solid and unspectacular. No errors, no attacking contributions—just a steady defensive presence.

Avery Patterson-7

Patterson once again showcased why she’s on the USWNT radar. She controlled the right flank, knowing exactly when to push forward and when to hold her defensive line. Late in the match, she had a shot that many thought was a stunning goal—perhaps a sign of things to come if she keeps up her form.

Danielle Colaprico-7.5

Colaprico commanded the midfield with authority, covering a key area and ensuring Gotham never got comfortable in possession. She racked up numerous recoveries and defensive actions, proving to be the glue in Houston’s midfield.

Delanie Sheehan-7

Sheehan played a crucial role in disrupting Gotham’s rhythm. In her 60 minutes on the pitch, she worked tirelessly to shut down her former club’s advances. The question now is whether she can maintain that level of intensity for a full 90 minutes, as her presence makes a big difference.

Maggie Graham-7

Graham wasn’t able to extend her scoring streak, but she did well to maintain her influence in midfield. After taking a nasty knock early on, she powered through and completed five key passes into the final third.

Yazmeen Ryan-6.5

Ryan was everywhere on the pitch, clearly motivated against her former club. She read the game well and made herself available in key moments. With 39 touches and three inside the opposition box, she put in another hard-working shift, though she’s still searching for her first goal and assist in a Dash jersey.

Ryan Gareis-6.5

Gareis wasn’t as involved offensively as in previous matches, struggling against Gotham’s well-structured defense. Her numbers weren’t great in attack, but she made up for it with relentless work off the ball, closing down space and helping regain possession.

Barbara Olivieri-6.5

Olivieri had a difficult night, struggling to find dangerous positions in front of goal. With just one touch inside the opposition’s box, more is expected from her in the No. 10 role. On the bright side, she played without a mask, signaling her full recovery from her broken nose.

Substitutes

Evelina Duljan-6

Duljan seemed a bit lost after Sheehan was subbed out, as the two have developed good chemistry. Without Sheehan’s quick interplay, she found it difficult to break Gotham down. She also took a hard knock that halted play for a few minutes, but she was able to continue.

Messiah Bright-5.5

Brought in to stretch the field and exploit gaps, Bright had minimal impact in her 14 minutes on the pitch, managing only three touches. With Gotham pressing for a win, Houston prioritized defensive stability over attacking transitions.

Ramona Bachmann-5.5

Bachmann missed almost all of preseason after a late arrival to the squad, and it showed. While rusty, she displayed glimpses of her technical brilliance, delivering a few quality passes to push the team forward. Once fully fit, she could be a game-changer.

Head Coach

Fabrice Gautrat-7.5

Gautrat was eager to secure his first home win of the season and stuck with the core of the lineup that had worked in previous matches. However, starting usual super subs Maggie Graham and Delanie Sheehan limited his ability to introduce fresh legs in the second half. His frustration was evident at times, but in the end, he was pleased with the clean sheet and the point.