The Houston Dash will look to pick up their second consecutive win, and their third in the last four games, as they take on Reign FC this evening at 6 p.m. CDT at BBVA Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNNEWS as part of the NWSL’s new broadcast agreement with ESPN, which was announced last month. A win tonight could put Houston as high as fourth in the NWSL table, and would give the Dash their first victory against the Reign after tying them twice earlier this season.
<strong>WHO:</strong> |
<p>Houston Dash (5-6-4; 19 pts.) vs. Reign FC (5-3-5; 20 pts.) </p> |
<strong>WHEN:</strong> |
<p>Friday, August 2 – 6:00 p.m. CDT </p> |
<strong>WHERE:</strong> |
<p>BBVA Stadium – 2200 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77003</p> |
<strong>STREAM:</strong> |
<p>ESPNNEWS</p> |
Here are three key points ahead of tonight’s game:
- EYES ON THE PRIZE – Earlier this year, the Dash held a playoff spot for more than two consecutive weeks for the first time in club history. A tough run of games over the summer knocked them out of the top four, but tonight the Dash will look to reclaim the fourth spot in the table and set themselves up for a strong playoff push over the last few weeks of the season.
- WINNING THIS SEASON’S SERIES – This season, the Dash and the Reign have faced each other twice, both walking away with a point in the two occasions. Forward Nichelle Prince scored the first goal against the Reign during Houston’s season opener ten minutes into the game before Reign FC forward Darian Jenkins leveled the game in the second half. The two clubs squared off again on June 2 in Tacoma, where forward Bethany Balcer gave the Reign the lead in the 30th minute. Dash midfielder Christine Nairn helped Houston steal a point in the last minute of the game when she fired a shot from outside the box to help the Dash walk away with a point.
- KEYS TO ATTACK – With forward Rachel Daly back, the Dash will enjoy the luxury of having all of their attacking pieces, including midfielderKristie Mewis and midfielder Sofia Huerta, who both have three goals this season, and forward Kyah Simon who has two goals on the year. In Houston’s victory two weeks ago at Washington, Daly and Huerta combined on a play to assist Mewis in scoring the first goal of the game. Daly continued to play a vital role for the team when she scored the game-winning goal against Sky Blue FC last weekend. Tonight, Daly and the Dash will look to earn their first victory against the Reign in this regular-season to put themselves above the playoff line this late in the season for the first time in club history.
