THE BASICS
Houston Dash vs. Sky Blue FC
Friday, August 7, 7:30 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: FOXSportsGO.com or FOX Sports GO app (mobile and tablet) – 7:30 p.m.
REFEREE: Christopher Spivey. Assistant Referees: Benjamin Wooten, Francisco Bermudez. 4th Official: Michael Lavergne.
PREVIEW
The Houston Dash (5-5-5, 20 points) welcome Sky Blue FC (3-7-5, 14 points) to BBVA Compass Stadium for the third and final meeting between the two clubs. The Dash finished a stretch of four games in 12 days on Saturday with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Spirit. Sky Blue played host to the Western New York Flash on Saturday, but conceded a goal in the 90th minute to fall 2-1.
INJURY REPORT (as of Thursday, August 6)
HOUSTON DASH -- OUT: Stephanie Ochs (right knee ACL surgery); Brittany Bock (abdominal injury); Allysha Chapman (abdominal strain); Lauren Sesselmann (left meniscus injury); QUESTIONABLE: Erin McLeod (right shin laceration)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL TIME (5 meetings): Dash 1 win, 6 goals … SBFC 2 wins, 4 goals … Ties 2
- AT HOUSTON (1 meeting): Dash 0 wins, 1 goal … SBFC 1 win, 3 goals … Ties 0
- 2015 MEETINGS: 4/18: SBFC 1, HOU 1 (Freels 14—McDonald 52) … 5/31: SBFC 1, HOU 1 (Freels 11—Bailey 86)
- FUTURE MATCHES: None
SCOUTING SKY BLUE FC
Sky Blue FC was on a three-game unbeaten streak to close out July, but began the month of August with a 2-1 loss at home to the Western New York Flash. Sky Blue sits in eighth place in the league with just 14 points, and has scored only 15 goals in 15 games (last in the NWSL). They are led in scoring by Katy Freels (5 goals, 2 assists) and USWNT player Kelley O’Hara (3 goals, 3 assists). O’Hara has scored all three of her goals in the last two games.
DASH CONTROL THEIR DESTINY
The Dash begin the final month of the regular season with their playoff fate in their own hands. The team currently sits in fourth place in the standings; a point ahead of FC Kansas City and Portland Thorns FC and two points in front of the Western New York Flash. In the five remaining games, the Dash have three at home and two on the road, as well as three matches against the top two teams in the league: Seattle Reign FC and the Chicago Red Stars.
LLOYD VOTED PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Carli Lloyd was voted NWSL Player of the Month for the month of July by media members, it was announced this week. Lloyd scored in each of her three games available for the Dash in July as they went 2-0-1 in those matches to climb into fourth place. This is the first Player of the Month award for Lloyd, and the first Dash player to receive the award. Lloyd’s streak of seven consecutive matches scoring a goal was broken on August 1 against the Washington Spirit.
