The Western New York Flash grabbed their revenge for two previous losses to the Houston Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday night, as Samantha Kerr bagged a goal and an assist for the visitors en route to a 4-1 victory.
A failed clearance in the Dash’s defensive end bounced off of Kerr, who controlled the loose ball and chipped a pass to Jasmyne Spencer running into the box. Erin McLeod charged off her line to intercept the pass, but Spencer reached it first and sent a looping shot over the keeper’s head to open the scoring.
Western New York doubled their advantage 15 minutes later, as Carli Lloyd found Kerr running past the Dash back line. McLeod again came off her line to challenge the attacker, but Kerr got just enough height on her shot to clear the sliding keeper.
The Dash put the pressure on the offensive end despite conceding the early goals. Kealia Ohai beat two defenders to get a cross away in the 20th mintue, finding an unmarked Kaylyn Kyle running at the near post. Kyle got a flick towards goal, but Flash goalkeeper Lydia Williams had the angle covered for the stop. Tiffany McCarty got in behind the defense on a couple of occasions, but Williams easily caught both shot attempts.
Kerr nearly put the game out of reach two minutes into the second half, blasting a shot from just outside the box off the crossbar. Western New York did get the third goal in the 80th minute as McCall Zerboni played second half substitute Sonia Bermudez behind the defense, and the Spaniard danced around McLeod for an open net goal.
The Dash grabbed one back a minute later, as Ohai clipped in a cross from the left side and Jordan Jackson stretched to redirect it to the far post and past Williams.
The comeback bid was short-lived, however, as a low cross from Kristen Edmonds deflected off a sliding Becky Edwards and past McLeod at the near post as Edwards in the 89th minute. The result prevented a series sweep for the Flash, as Houston came out 2-1 victors in the two prior meetings this season.
The Dash will look to rebound next Friday, July 11, against the Boston Breakers at BBVA Compass Stadium. Western New York returns home next for a July 12 fixture against the Washington Spirit.
Houston Dash (4-10-1; 13 points) vs. Western New York Flash (7-8-2; 23 points)
NWSL regular season
July 5, 2014 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 3,693
Scoring Summary:
WNY Flash: Jasmyne Spencer 2 (Samantha Kerr 3) 13
WNY Flash: Samantha Kerr 6 (Carli Lloyd 2) 28
WNY Flash: Sonia Bermudez 2 (McCall Zerboni 2) 80
Houston: Jordan Jackson 2 (Kealia Ohai 1) 81
Houston: Becky Edwards (own goal) 89
Houston Dash: Erin McLeod; Meghan Klingenberg (Lindsay Elston 67), Osinachi Ohale, Whitney Engen, Stephanie Ochs; Kaylyn Kyle, Ella Masar (Jordan Jackson 66), Becky Edwards; Kealia Ohai, Nina Burger (Arianna Romero 46), Tiffany McCarty
Unused substitutes: Bianca Henninger, Rafaelle Souza, Kika Toulouse, Kelly McFarlane
WNY Flash: Lydia Williams; Katherine Reynolds, Brittany Taylor, Kathryn Williamson (Amy Barczuk 46), Teigan Allen; Angela Salem, McCall Zerboni, Vicky Losada (Kristen Edmunds 85), Carli Lloyd; Samantha Kerr, Jasmyne Spencer (Sonia Bermudez 74)
Unused Substitutes: Kelsey Wys
Misconduct Summary:
WNYF: Kathryn Williamson (caution) 21
WNYF: Carli Lloyd (caution) 54
WNYF: Teigen Allen (caution) 73
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Kathryn Nesbitt, Ramon Bermudez Jr.
Fourth Official: Greg Boles
