After a three-hour severe weather delay, the Houston Dash fell to the Chicago Red Stars 1-0 at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.
Chicago Red Stars improved to 2-2-1 (7 points), recording their second win of the season while the Dash fell to 1-4-0 (3 points) for the season.
Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger held down the Houston defense with several diving saves until the 33rd minute, when a misplayed ball by Arianna Romero ended up at the feet of Chicago’s Jennifer Hoy, who chipped Henninger and found the back of the net. It was the first goal of the year for Hoy.
Under slick turf conditions, the Dash still managed to play the ball out of the back and work the flanks. The Dash were still outshot seven to one, but managed to keep their deficit to the single goal.
Houston worked to answer Chicago’s goal in the 40th minute when the Dash’s newest player, Austrian forward Nina Burger, dropped the ball to Romero for a cross into the box where Dash forwards were able to get a head on the ball, ultimately ending up in the keeper’s hands.
Henninger, starting in place of the injured Erin McLeod, came up big again for Houston in the 51st minute after coming out almost 35 yards to stop a Chicago counter attack after the Dash defense was split. Henninger kept the Dash in the match with several one on one stops throughout the match, making six saves on the night.
The Dash continued to fight to the end with a late shot in stoppage time coming from Tiffany McCarty, which barely missed the top right corner of the goal.
The Dash host Portland Thorns FC this Wednesday at BBVA Compass Stadium and travel to FC Kansas City for their third game in seven days on Saturday, May 18.
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars
May 11, 2014 – Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex
NWSL Regular Season
Attendance: 1,039
Scoring Summary:
Chicago: Jennifer Hoy 1 (unassisted) 33
Houston Dash: Bianca Henninger; Arianna Romero, Kaylyn Kyle, Holly Hein, Jordan Jackson; Kealia Ohai (Tiffany McCarty 68), Teresa Noyola, Becky Edwards, Kika Toulouse (Stephanie Ochs 46), Ella Masar © (Dominique Richardson 74), Nina Burger
Unused Substitutes: Erin McLeod, Lindsay Elston, Marissa Diggs
Chicago Red Stars: Karina LeBlanc Jennifer Hoy (Zakiya Bywaters 71, Alyssa Mautz 94), Julie Johnston, Vanessa DiBernardo, Rachel Quon, Michelle Wenino, Samantha Johnson, Lori Chalupny, Jackie Santacaterina, Adriana Leon, Hayley Brock (Melissa Tancredi 60)
Unused Substitutions: Taylor Vancil, Kecia Morway, Julianne Sitch
Disciplinary Summary:
CRS: Adriana Leon (caution) 59
HOU: Ella Masar (caution) 64
HOU: Bianca Henninger (caution) 75
Referee: Miguel Panduro
Referee Assistants: Adrienne McDonald, Janessa Gunn
Fourth Official: Greg Dopka
