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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC Return to League Play

September 15, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dash travel to the Bourbon State to take on Racing Louisville FC before the international break. After having a weekend off due to the September FIFA window, Houston Dynamo FC host St. Louis CITY for the first time at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston Dynamo 2 close out the home slate of the regular season on Sunday hosting North Texas SC.

WHO: Houston Dash at Racing Louisville FC Houston Dynamo FC vs St. Louis CITY Houston Dynamo 2 vs North Texas SC

WHEN: Friday, September 15 - 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, September 16 - 7:30 p.m. CT Sunday, September 17 - 5:30 p.m. CT

STREAM/TV: STREAM: Paramount+

Play-by-play: Michael Watts

Color Commentary: Jill Loyden MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

English: Mark Rogodini and Heath Pearce

Spanish: Raul Guzman and Sonny Guadarrama MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Play-by-play: Eric Duick

RADIO: ENGLISH: ESPN 97.5 FM (Glenn Davis and Bobby Boswell)

SPANISH: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Daniel Mejia and Cesar Procel)

DASH AIM TO BRIDGE THE PLAYOFF GAP BEFORE FIFA INTERNATIONAL WINDOW

Houston Dash will hit the road for the first of two road matches on Friday, Sept. 15 to take on Racing Louisville FC for the fourth and final time this year. The match at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT.

The Dash, who enter Friday's match in 10th place in the league table are looking to close the point gap in an effort to move closer into playoff contention. Six points sit between Houston and Washington, who currently holds the final playoff position.

Several of Houston's players will join their respective national teams for the September FIFA window which begins next week. Forward Nichelle Prince, who made her first start of the 2023 regular season on Sept. 3 against San Diego Wave FC, will join the Canadian Women's National Team to play in a two-match winner-takes-all Concacaf W Olympic play-in series against Jamaica. Midfielder Sarah Puntingam is expected to join the Austrian Women's National Team for a pair of UEFA Women's Nation's League matches against Norway on Sept. 22 and France on Sept. 26. Midfielder Bárbara Olivieri is expected to join the Venezuelan Women's National Team for a pair of matches against Uruguay on Sept. 21 and Sept. 25. Forwards Diana Ordóñez and María Sánchez will join the Mexican Women's National Team for Women's Gold Cup qualification matches against Puerto Rico on Sept. 22 and against Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 26. Forward Michelle Alozie is expected to join Nigeria for a pair of matches against São Tomé and Príncipe in qualifying matches for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Sept. 22 and Sept. 26.

Houston and Louisville opened the 2023 NWSL regular season at Shell Energy Stadium on March 26. The match ended in a scoreless draw and that was the first of seven clean sheets across all competitions for Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell. The Dash maintained possession for 54 percent of the game and had seven of its 15 shots on target. Both teams met twice during the Challenge Cup group stage with Racing taking the first match 3-0 at Lynn Family Stadium on July 14. Nearly two weeks later, the Dash beat Louisville 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium.

Racing enters Friday's match after traveling for almost a week straight. Louisville fell to North Carolina Courage 2-0 in the 2023 UKG Challenge Cup Final on Saturday, Sept. 9. Racing advanced to the Challenge Cup final after beating OL Reign 1-0 on the road in Seattle on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Houston will be back in action on Sunday, October 1 as the team travels to New Jersey to face NJ/NY Gotham FC at 5:30 p.m. CT. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Oct. 8 to host Angel City FC.

DYNAMO HOST EXPANSION TEAM ST. LOUIS CITY SC FOR THE FIRST TIME

The Houston Dynamo will face St. Louis CITY SC for the second time this season on Saturday, as the team looks to solidify a playoff berth in the extremely congested Western Conference.

Houston dropped the first meeting between both clubs earlier this year and is in better form coming into this matchup, remaining undefeated in its last five matches in all competitions since competitive play restarted after Leagues Cup on Aug. 20. The Dynamo currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference with seven matches remaining in the regular season.

Houston has found its rhythm at both ends of the pitch in those five matches, outscoring opponents 13-1 in all competitions. Ten different players found the back of the net in that stretch, with 11 of those 13 goals being assisted. On the defensive end, the Dynamo shut out four Western Conference rivals as well as the Columbus Crew, while not conceding a goal in 453 minutes of league play.

Houston and St. Louis enter this matchup after both earning draws at LA Galaxy earlier this month. The Dynamo earned a scoreless result, while CITY's match ended 2-2 with Sam Adeniran and João Klauss each scoring a first-half goal for the visitors.

Three Dynamo players were called up to represent their countries during the September FIFA window. Captain Héctor Herrera joined Mexico for two international friendlies, starting and playing 77 minutes in El Tri's 2-2 draw versus Australia. Reigning Concacaf Gold Cup Player of the Tournament, Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla, started both of Panama's Concacaf Nation's League matches, leading his country to a 3-0 victory over Martinique and a 1-1 draw with Guatemala. Additionally, goalkeeper Xavier Valdez earned his second senior team start with the Dominican Republic, helping his country to a 3-0 victory over Montserrat.

The Dynamo next host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 20, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.

DYNAMO 2 HOST IN-STATE RIVAL NORTH TEXAS SC FOR FINAL HOME GAME OF 2023

Dynamo 2 enters Sunday's match with momentum following a massive victory over Timbers 2 last weekend. The team hosts North Texas SC for the final regular season home game of 2023 on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Entering this weekend's match, Dynamo Dos sits in sixth place in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference standings. With two games remaining, Houston is looking to close out the season with positive results to secure a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive campaign.

Dynamo Dos beat Timbers2 on Sunday evening in a match at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon. Houston took the lead in the fifth minute of the match after midfielder Diego Gonzalez struck gold from more than 20-yards out. Gonzalez, who has scored 10 times this season, was able to get the ball in the top left corner of the net past a diving effort from Portland's goalkeeper. The goal was one of four goals nominated for the Goal of Matchday 26.

Houston extended its lead 20 minutes later after defender Tate Lampman scored the first professional goal of his career. Midfielder Jacob Evans, who was surrounded by defenders at the far post, found Lampman open in front of the goal. Lampman was able to easily tap the ball into the net. Dynamo Dos defender Isaiah LeFlore extended the lead in the 54th minute of the game to give the visiting team the 3-0 advantage. Goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg saved a penalty in the 71st minute after Dynamo Dos conceded a foul in the box. The save ensured Houston kept its 3-1 lead through the end of the game and helped earn the team crucial points.

Houston and North Texas have faced off twice this season with the first meeting at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas on May 21. Dynamo Dos fought back from a deficit to send the game to a penalty shootout. Houston beat North Texas 6-5 to take the extra point back to Space City. The two teams met for the second time at SaberCats Stadium on July 16 with Gonzalez and LeFlore scoring in that victory.

North Texas SC enters Sunday's game already eliminated from MLS NEXT Pro postseason. NTSC is coming off a 3-2 loss to Colorado Rapids on Sept. 3, despite jumping to a 2-0 lead over the top ranked team in the Western Conference. Colorado rallied and scored three unanswered goals to take the win over North Texas.

Houston closes the regular season on the road in Carson, California against Galaxy II on Sunday, Sept. 24 at Dignity Health Sports Park with kickoff set for 4 p.m. CT.

Here are three key points ahead of the three fixtures: ‚ ‚ ‚

FAMILAR FACE LEADING CHARGE: Last week, the Houston Dash announced Sarah Lowdon would serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season after parting ways with Sam Laity. Lowdon served as the acting head coach for nearly three months in 2022 (May 1-July 8, 2022) and led the team to a six-game unbeaten run at the start of the season. Lowdon holds the USSF A and B licenses plus holds the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and received her certification as a Professional Athlete Development Specialist in 2019. Lowdon is also currently a candidate for the 2023 USSF Pro License. She is tasked with navigating the next four matches of the regular season as the team pushes for a playoff berth.

DEFENSIVE DOMINCANCE: The Dynamo defense has been impenetrable over the last five games, shutting out four Western Conference rivals as well as the Columbus Crew, who rank second in MLS with 54 goals scored this season. It's been 453 minutes since the Dynamo last conceded a goal, and a first-half shutout against St. Louis CITY SC this weekend would make their current run the second-longest in club history (Longest: 727 minutes between June and July in 2007). The spine of Houston's defense this season is made up of a mix of youthful exuberance and veteran experience, as well as veteran goalkeeper Steve Clark, whose 11 clean sheets on the season are tied for most in MLS. St. Louis will pose a difficult test for the trio, though, as they lead the league with 55 goals and have only been shutout once in regular season play since June 7.

VALDEZ RETURNS: Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez rejoined the team after being called up by the Dominican Republic National Team during the September FIFA window. Valdez was available off the bench in the Dominican Republic match against Niagara for the first of two Concacaf Nations League matches. Valdez earned the start in the 3-0 victory against Monserrat on Sept. 11. Valdez made a crucial save in the 19th minute to keep Monserat from equalizing early in the match.

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