The Houston Dash took down the Rice University women's soccer team by a score of 4-0 in the team's first match of the 2014 preseason on Wednesday night at Houston Sports Park.
The Dash, taking the field as a team for the first time since their founding in December 2013, set the tone early against the local NCAA Division I side by scoring in just the second minute. Trialist Sara Campbell took the ball down the right flank and into the box and hit a low cross across the face of goal. The ball deflected off a Rice defender at the back post and into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Houston, playing mostly with trialists in the first half, found the net again less than 10 minutes later. Jordan Jackson, a fourth-round pick in the NWSL College Draft, saved a ball on RIce's endline and pulled a pass back to the middle of the box and into the path of midfielder Dominique Richardson. Richardson had little left to do but hit it first-time into the goal.
The duo reversed roles just before the halftime for the third goal. Richardson, who had moved to right back, found space on the wing and floated a cross to the back post. Jackson rose above the Rice defenders and headed it back across goal and inside the opposite post.
The Dash trotted out a new squad for the second half, and it immediately paid dividends. Second overall NWSL College Draft pick Kealia Ohai worked her way past a Rice defender into the left side of the box with some tricky footwork and put a low cross through the area to find Teresa Noyola, who finished off the chance.
The Rice second half goalkeeper, Kara Dugall, recovered from the goal to start the half and made several key saves to keep the scoreline the same. In the 74th minute, forward Stephanie Ochs played a hard cross from the right side that found Tiffany McCarty, who looked to have an open net to shoot on until Dugall recovered from the front post to make a diving save. The Dash continued to control play throughout the second half, but the Rice defense broke up the resulting attacks to stop the scoring.
Houston continues their preseason campaign this Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. CT against Texas A&M University at Houston Sports Park. The scrimmage is free and open to the public.
Houston Dash vs. Rice University
March 19, 2014—Houston Sports Park, Houston, TX
NWSL Preseason
Scoring Summary:
Houston: Own Goal 2
Houston: Dominique Richardson 1 (Jordan Jackson 1) 11
Houston: Jordan Jackson 1 (Dominique Richardson 1) 43
Houston: Teresa Noyola 1 (Kealia Ohai 1) 48
Houston Dash:
First half: Megan Kinneman; Arianna Romero (Diana Redman 22), Holly Hein, Emilee O’Neill, Katie Kelly; Dominique Richardson, Ella Masar (Jordan Jackson 40), Jordan Jackson (Tori McCombs* 22); Sara Campbell, Anisa Guajardo, Lindsay Elston
Second half: Bianca Henninger; Nikki Washington (Jordan Jackson 70), Marissa Diggs, Kika Toulouse, Arianna Romero (Tori McCombs 70); Becky Edwards (Ella Masar 70), Brittany Bock, Teresa Noyola; Stephanie Ochs, Kealia Ohai, Tiffany McCarty
*Trialist
Rice University:
Starters: Amy Czyz; Jenny Fichera, Ashton Geisendorff, Jasmine Isokpunwu, Lauren Busansky; Bella Hernandez, Ruth Seleznick, Quinny Truong, Gabriela Iribarne; Lauren Hughes, Holly Hargreaves
Substitutes: Kara Dugall, Suzie Meling, Caroline Scruggs, Gen Grundy, Danielle Spriggs, Mia Schmolze, Ruth Seleznick
Disciplinary Summary:
RICE: Gen Gundry (caution) 40
