The Houston Dash defeated the Boston Breakers 3-1 at Jordan Field this evening for their seventh victory of the season, a new club record. Houston is now just three points away from the final playoff spot with seven games left in the regular season.
Forward Sarah Hagen scored her first goal for the club in the 10th minute after she tapped in a cross from midfielder Janine Beckie that was initially disputed by forward Rachel Daly and Boston goalkeeper Abby Smith. Daly won the ball prior to colliding with Smith, allowing Hagen to tap in the ball for the first goal of the game.
Boston defender Margaret Purce beat a defender in the 26th minute and her cross found forward Natasha Dowie at the far post to equalize, sending the game into halftime tied at 1-1.
Beckie gave Houston a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute with a shot from outside the six-yard box. The play began when her Canadian Women’s National Team teammate, forward Nichelle Prince, dribbled into the box and slipped a pass between two defenders to find Beckie at the far post. Beckie collected the pass and coolly drilled a shot into the upper right corner of the net for the eventual game-winner.
Hagen scored the final goal of the game in the 79th minute after she buried a rebound near the penalty spot. Smith got a hand on Dash defender Poliana’s cross and the ball fell to Hagen, who tucked the ball in the bottom corner of the near post for her first brace with the team.
Houston returns to action on Saturday as the team travels across the country to the Pacific Northwest to meet Portland Thorns FC at 9 p.m. The match will be streamed live on the go90 App and NWSLSoccer.com.
