THE BASICS
Houston Dash at Chicago Red Stars
Sunday, September 6, 4:00 p.m. CT
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
BROADCAST INFORMATION
HoustonDashSoccer.com/live - 4:00 p.m.
PREVIEW
The Houston Dash (6-8-5, 23 points) travel to face the Chicago Red Stars (8-3-8, 32 points in the final match of the NWSL regular season. Houston broke a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers last Sunday, while the Red Stars picked up a 2-0 road win against the Western New York Flash on Aug. 29.
INJURY REPORT (as of Friday, September 4)
HOUSTON DASH -- OUT: Stephanie Ochs (right knee ACL surgery); Brittany Bock (abdominal injury); Lauren Sesselmann (left meniscus injury); PROBABLE: Rachael Axon (left quad tightness); Ellie Brush (right ankle sprain)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL TIME (5 meetings): Dash 0 wins, 4 goals … Red Stars 3 wins, 8 goals … Ties 2
- AT CHICAGO (2 meeting): Dash 0 win, 0 goals … Red Stars 1 wins, 1 goal … Ties
- 2015 MEETINGS: 5/15: HOU 2, CRS 2 (Axon 28; Ohai 59;—Huerta 60, 81) … 7/12: HOU 1, CHI 2 (McCarty 57—DiBernardo 19; Hoy 62
- FUTURE MATCHES: None.
SCOUTING BOSTON BREAKERS
The Chicago Red Stars have clinched the second seed in the NWSL Playoffs thanks to an impressive run of form to begin the year. Chicago didn’t pick up its first loss until June, and has only three on the year. Forward Christen Press has scored nine goals in just 10 games played, and rookie Sofia Huerta has added six and three assists. Midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo ranks in the top five in the NWSL with five assists on the year.
DASH MISS PLAYOFFS
The Dash missed the playoffs for the second straight year, but have set club records in both wins (6) and points (23). They have also improved four spots over last year’s finish, having clinched fifth place in the NWSL standings. The Dash are tied on points with both Portland Thorns FC and the Western New York Flash, but hold the head-to-head tiebreakers (1-0-1 vs. Portland; 2-0-0 vs. WNY). Houston can take sole possession with either a win or a draw against the Red Stars.
