THE BASICS
Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FC
Saturday, May 23, 9:00 p.m. CT
Providence Park, Portland, OR
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: HoustonDashSoccer.com/live – 9:00 p.m.
REFEREE: Matthew Kreitzer. Assistant Referees: RSamantha Moos, Jason Perlewitz; 4th Official: Lucas Brooks
PREVIEW
The Houston Dash (1-2-2, 5 points) face Portland Thorns FC (2-1-2, 8 points) at Providence Park for the first of two consecutive road dates. The Dash drew the Chicago Red Stars 2-2 at home last weekend to end a two-match losing streak, but also extended a four-game winless streak. The Thorns, meanwhile, allowed a stoppage time goal against the Boston Breakers on the road in a 1-0 loss to put them in a three-game winless streak after back-to-back draws.
INJURY REPORT (as of Friday, May 22)
HOUSTON DASH -- OUT: Stephanie Ochs (right knee ACL surgery); PROBABLE: Brittany Bock (left knee ACL surgery)
PORTLAND THORNS FC -- QUESTIONABLE: Rachel Van Hollebeke (left hamstring strain) – Emily Menges (right hip pointer) – McCall Zerboni (rib contusion)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL TIME (3 meetings): Dash 0 wins, 0 goals … Thorns 3 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
- AT PORTLAND (1 meeting): Dash 0 wins, 0 goals … Thorns 1 win, 1 goal
- LAST YEAR: 4/12: HOU 0, PTFC 1 (Long 24) … 5/14: HOU 0, PTFC 1 (McDonald 57) … 8/3: PTFC 1, HOU 0 (Boquete 54)
- FUTURE MATCH: 6/6: Houston Dash vs. Portland Thorns FC, 7:30 p.m. CT
SCOUTING PORTLAND THORNS FC
Portland began the year at the top of the NWSL standings, going through the first four matches undefeated. Boston knocked off the Thorns for their first loss of the year, which came after a pair of draws to drop the Thorns down to fourth in the league standings. Allie Long and Mana Shim have led the charge for the Thorns in 2015, with Long among the league leaders with four goals and Shim adding three goals and three assists. Only two other players have contributed goals for Portland.
DASH ADD DEFENSIVE REINFORCEMENTS
The Dash have made recent moves to shore up a defense plagued by injuries and international call-ups. The team traded the Western New York Flash for central defender Toni Pressley, who made her Dash debut in the 2-2 draw against the Chicago Red Stars. Houston also announced the signing of two international defenders: Australian center back Ellie Brush and Brazilian outside back Camila. Brush joined the team in Portland in the hopes of being ready for Saturday’s match, while Camila is expected to join at a later date. To make room on the 20-player roster, the Dash waived forward Stephanie Roche and placed Stephanie Ochs on the season-ending injury list.
