NWSL Houston Dash

Houston Dash Fall 3-2 to Seattle Reign FC in Final NWSL Regular Season Match

Published on September 25, 2016 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Houston Dash News Release


HOUSTON- The Houston Dash concluded their 2016 NWSL campaign with a 3-2 loss to Seattle Reign FC tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Dash F Kealia Ohai scored her 11th goal of the season, placing her in a tie for the NWSL goalscoring lead with Western New York Flash F Lynn Williams. Ohai finished second in the Golden Boot race by virtue of the first tiebreaker, assists. Williams finished the year with 11 goals and five assists to Ohai's 11 goals and four assists. All 11 of Ohai's goals came in Houston's final 10 games.

It was a tale of two halves, as Houston controlled play throughout the first half and went into the break with a 2-0 lead. Seattle broke through in the 61st minute when F Manon Melis beat Dash D Becca Moros to a long ball down Houston's left flank. Dash GK Lydia Williams came out to challenge for the ball at the top of her own penalty area, but Melis got there first and lofted the ball over Williams and into the net. Two more goals in the next 20 minutes pulled Seattle even and then ahead.

Seattle netted the winner in the 81st minute when F Beverly Yanez was the first player to reach a cross from D Carson Pickett and her first-touch shot beat Williams to the far post. The Reign's equalizer came in the 76th minute off a goal from MF Kim Little. The 2014 NWSL MVP collected a pass near the penalty spot and beat Williams with a low shot that went between the keeper's legs.

Ohai opened the scoring with a left-footed shot from the left flank that beat Seattle GK Haley Kopmeyer to the upper right corner of the net.

MF Carli Lloyd doubled Houston's lead three minutes later when she finished off a brilliant 90-yard counterattack by the Dash. After D Ellie Brush won a tackle at the top of the Dash penalty area, the ball made its way to MF Andressa at midfield. The Brazilian drew two defenders before releasing MF Denise O'Sullivan in space behind the Seattle defense. O'Sullivan played a low cross to Lloyd in front of the goal, where the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year controlled the ball and rifled a shot into the top left corner of the goal.

Lloyd's goal moved her into the top five of the NWSL's all-time scoring list with 25 career goals in league play.

With the loss, Houston ends the season at 6-10-4 with 22 points, which places them seventh in the league table. Seattle, who were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday by virtue of the Western New York Flash's win over the Boston Breakers, ended the year in fifth place with an 8-6-6 record and 30 points.

Although the 2016 regular season is over, Houston will host the NWSL Championship on Sunday, October 9 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets for the NWSL Championship are available online at NWSLChampionship.com, by phone at 713-276-GOAL or at the BBVA Compass Stadium box office.

OTHER SCORING CHANCES

* Fourth minute: MF Andressa took a square pass from MF Carli Lloyd and curled a shot toward the upper right corner of the net from the top of the penalty area, but the effort went just wide.

* Fifth minute: Seattle MF Kim Little used a nifty flick to create space for herself at the top of the Dash penalty area, but her left-footed volley sailed over the crossbar.

* 14th minute: MF Carli Lloyd took a direct free kick from 30 yards, but her driven shot missed wide of the right post.

* 15th minute: Seattle F Megan Rapinoe had a shot from 20 yards on the right side of the penalty area, but GK Lydia Williams was well-positioned for the save.

* 21st minute: Seattle MF Megan Rapinoe played a cross to the far post which MF Beverly Yanez got a foot on, forcing GK Lydia Williams to make a diving save at her

* 22nd minute: Seattle GK Haley Kopmeyer made a pair of spectacular saves, stopping a point-blank shot from Dash MF Denise O'Sullivan on a loose ball after a cross, and a moment later scrambling to deny MF Morgan Brian on the rebound.

* 29th minute: Seattle MF Beverly Yanez sent in a cross that ended up on target, but GK Lydia Williams was able to easily collect the high ball.

* 32nd minute: Seattle F Manon Melis got free inside the Dash penalty area and fired a low left-footed shot aimed at the far post, but GK Lydia Williams went low to smother the shot.

* 37th minute: F Janine Beckie played a low cross in front of the Seattle goal to MF Denise O'Sullivan, but her first-touch shot was blocked by Seattle MF Merritt Mathias.

* 48th minute: MF Denise O'Sullivan tried a right-footed volley from the top of the Seattle penalty area but her shot went wide of the left post.

* 54th minute: MF Carli Lloyd's right-footed volley from the six-yard box sailed just high of the crossbar. Lloyd was set up by a cross from F Kealia Ohai.

* 56th minute: F Kealia Ohai worked herself open in the Seattle penalty area for a shot, but Seattle D Merritt Mathias stepped in to head the shot away.

* 63rd minute: D Poliana got off a left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area, but Seattle GK Haley Kopmeyer was able to stop the low shot.

* 80th minute: Seattle F Manon Melis worked free down Houston's left flank and played a cross in front of the Dash goal, but GK Lydia Williams came off her line to snare the waist-high ball.

* 89th minute: F Kealia Ohai worked free inside the penalty area, but her shot missed the goal wide of the left post.

* 93rd minute: MF Carli Lloyd had a final opportunity to level the match for the Dash, but her left-footed shot from the top of the penalty area curved wide of the left post. The final whistle blew moments after the ensuing goal kick.

Houston Dash (6-10-4, 22 points) vs. Seattle Reign FC (8-6-6, 30 points) NWSL Regular Season September 25, 2016-BBVA Compass Stadium- Houston, Texas Attendance: 5,651 Scoring Summary: HOU: Kelia Ohai 11 (Unassisted) 39 HOU: Carli Lloyd 5 (Denise O'Sullivan 3) 42 SEA: Manon Melis 7 (Jessica Fishlock 3) 60 SEA: Kim Little 6 (Jessica Fishlock 4) 76 SEA: Beverly Yanez 3 (Carson Pickett 1) 81 1 2 F Houston Dash 2 0 2 Seattle Reign FC 0 3 3 Houston Dash: Lydia Williams; Polina, Ellie Brush, Cami Privett, Becca Moros (Amber Brooks 86); Andressa, Morgan Brian, Denise O'Sullivan, Carli Lloyd; Janine Becky (Rachel Daly 77), Kealia Ohai (C) Unused Substitutes: Bianca Henninger, Cari Roccaro, Chiloma Ubogagu, Allysha Chapman, Stephanie Ochs TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Kealia Ohai 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Kealia Ohai 3); FOULS: 3 (Cami Privett 2); OFFSIDES: 1 (Kealia Ohai 1); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Morgan Brian 4); SAVES: 5 Seattle Reign FC: Haley Kopmeyer; Meritt Mathias (Carson Pickett 73), Kendall Fletcher, Lauren Barnes, Rumi Utsugi; Jessica Fishlock, Keelin Winters (C), Kim Little; Megan Rapinoe (Nahomi Kawasumi 66), Manon Melis, Beverly Yanez (Lindsay Elston 85) Unused Substitutes: Elli Reed, Havana Solaun, Andi Tostanoki, Kiersten Dallstream, TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Manon Melis 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Manon Melis 3); FOULS: 6 (Megan Rapinoe 2); OFFSIDES: 3 (Rumi Utsugi, Merritt Mathias and Manon Melis tied with 1); CORNER KICKS: 0 (N/A); SAVES: 6 Misconduct Summary: SEA: Merritt Mathias (caution) 13

Referee: Farhad Dadkho Assistant Referees: Jeffrey Skinker, Jesus Moya Fourth Official: Ruben Campillo

Houston Dash Transcripts

Houston Dash 2-3 Seattle Reign FC

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Houston Dash Head Coach Randy Waldrum

(overall thoughts on the game) "We had a two goal lead going into halftime and I thought we really had a good handle on things in the first half. And the first twenty minutes of the second half, I thought we had multiple chances to get the third goal, but we didn't. And when they get that first goal with a lot of time left, they're a handful, we know. I think we made a couple of mistakes on the goals that were scored on us and it's very disappointing to give it away after the lead that we had and the way we played. I think that's probably the best we've played Seattle since I've been here. So to have a game that you feel like you had under control and to give it away at the end is disappointing. But that's been the Achilles' heel of late, defensively. So that's an area that we have to shore up."

(on Kealia Ohai's performance this season - breaking a franchise record tonight and coming close to winning the NWSL Golden Boot) "I'm proud of her, extremely, extremely proud of her. To finish at the top of the league with goals, that's great for her because she's had such a fantastic year this year and such growth in so many ways. That's what I told her after the game. I said we'll get this thing taken care of for next year because she really showed a lot of grace and class and growth, both on the field and in her leadership as far as her captainship goes. So, I was really proud of her to get that one right off the bat."

(on Denise O'Sullivan's performance against the Seattle midfield) "I thought Denise was great. Actually, I thought we were really good in midfield for the most part. They caused some problems in the second half when [Seattle Reign FC forward Beverly Yanez] Yanez started dropping off the front line and coming deep in the midfield, and always creating a free outlet in there. So I thought that was a problem for us in that regard. But, I thought Andressa, for the most part, I thought we kept that space pretty condensed in midfield and didn't give them a lot of room. [Seattle Reign FC midfielders Jessica Fishlock, Keelin Winters and Kim Little] Fishlock, and Winters, obviously, and Little are all fantastic players. But when you go back and look at it, outside the one time we let Little get free on the goal, we did a pretty good job on her tonight. The same with Fishlock and Winters. So I thought the midfield players had a pretty good game tonight."

(on if the way the team lost the game tonight impact any movements in the offseason) "No, I think six months from now, I don't think it's going to have any bearings on the way that we crank back up in March. I think it just shows us some things that we've got to get better at. You and I have talked quite a bit and that backline is one thing that you and I have talked about and addressing that a little bit. So I don't think the outcome of tonight is going to have any bearing on what will happen next season. I think they'll be disappointed, obviously, for the next few days, but [with] athletes, it's onwards and upwards to the next one and I think that's what you have to do and think about because I think that this team you're seeing tonight for Seattle is going to change quite a bit. I don't know. Winters is retiring and will Fishlock and Little be back? I mean it could be a completely different team the next time we step on the field with them. A completely different team the next time, so I don't think that it will have carry over."

Houston Dash FW Kealia Ohai

(overall thoughts on the game) "Definitely not happy with the result. Giving up a 2-0 lead is not what we should want to stand for. It's a mentality thing and to end like that - we're not happy with it, but I'm happy that I tied. I think she won, right? Because of the assists. So that sucks, but I'm happy with it."

(regarding the last 30 minutes of the game) "I think that we got a little sloppy. And they're such a good team. They have such good players, they're going to capitalize on that every time. I don't know if it was because we were tired, but we were winning the ball back and then giving it to them right away. Little things like that. When they got the ball, our transition to defense was not fast enough, and that's how they scored at least one of their goals. I also think we had some really great chances in front of the net and we didn't finish them. Also, we need to get better at our set pieces. We get so many corner kicks in games and we never finish them. If you look at other teams in the league, they're winning all their games on set pieces, so that's something that I think we really need to focus on next year. To me, that's just a mentality thing across the board and saying, 'I'm going to be the first person to this ball.' Once we start capitalizing on set pieces, we can start scoring more goals and it just helps."

(what the team needs to improve on most) "I think that we need to be defensively more connected with each other. All the way from the front line to the back line. There's such a disconnect I think, like I said on transitions and things like that. Again, I've said it all season, but it's a mentality thing. It's little mistakes that we make, and we get scored on over and over again. It's frustrating. It's really frustrating because it's laziness. It's really just frustrating. I think next year we want to come in tougher mentally and just harder, and just say, 'I'm not going to get scored on when we're winning two to zero, three times.' It's just not good enough."

(regarding the youth of the team and professionalism) "I definitely think we have a really young team. I remember when I was a rookie, it's difficult. It's difficult to come into this league and be professional all the time. It's just a different level of play, so I definitely think that just confidence wise, our rookies and our younger players are going to be so much better next year. I also think that if we can get people back that we have, we're going to be incredible from the start of the season. If we played the way we did the last 10 games all season, we're in the playoffs. Hopefully since there's no FIFA event that we can get that." (regarding the positives of the season) "I think that we're getting more comfortable with our midfield. Just having Carli back and the three playing in there. I think the rotations and everything, we're getting a lot more fluidity from that, and it's easier as a forward. I mean you have to play with each other to know your tendencies. I think if we can carry that into next season then we're going to be great because all of our midfielders are dangerous. Getting them all back from the Olympics has helped us. That's why we've scored so many goals is because of our midfield."

Houston Dash M Carli Lloyd

(on Kealia Ohai's goal that extended a franchise record and pulled her even for the league lead) "Yeah I mean, Kay's done well from the flank. I'm happy to see her get a goal, she was kind of laughing that it was a shot-cross, but a goal's a goal. I was pulling for her to seal up the Golden Boot for the league, but kind of a disappointing game."

(on Seattle's second half performance) "Going into the half up two-nil is kind of the worst lead you can have in a game of soccer, and I think we got too comfortable. We took our foot off the pedal. At that point, it's not really about tactics, it's about mentality. I think we let off a little too easily, we had some chances that we could have finished in the second half. Overall I'm really proud of the team this season, but it was a bit of a disappointing game to end on, to be up two-nil and lose three-two. I think we definitely have some takeaways for next season, but in this league you can't take plays off or it'll come back to bite you and that's what we saw today."

(on what the team can improve on for next season) "I think closing out games. There have been multiple games where we've been ahead and could have kept a clean sheet, and I think that's first and foremost. That starts with forwards, it's not only the defense's job, it's collectively a team effort. I think that, and continuing to have the mentality to compete. We have to compete every single day. I think we have to push each other in training. I think overall, just be a bit better. We have to win more games at home, and make the playoffs."

(on her goal tonight) "My touch was not out in front of me as much as a clean touch, it was kind of really controlled underneath my body. I knew that I didn't really have a window to shoot so I just kind of stayed patient, spun around a little bit and was able to hit it with my left foot."

(on the team making an effort to get Kealia chances in the second half to help her win the Golden Boot) "Yeah absolutely, I think she's had a heck of a season. You'd like to see her go out as Golden Boot winner, so we were trying to feed her. But again, there were some other opportunities we really should have put away, I had one, I think Janine (Beckie) had one ... Overall a good season, just would have liked to end on a win tonight."

(on returning to the field to thank the fans after the game) "Well the fans are tremendous. You know, they've been with us all season long, through the ups and downs, even the last couple of seasons, truly fantastic, we love their support. I've enjoyed my time in Houston, even though it's been a crazy couple of years, with injury and the World Cup and the Olympics, but overall I've just really enjoyed my time here, I thought I'd give away a couple of boots, I don't really need them for a bit as I go on my book tour. I'm looking forward to coming back for the NWSL Final, I wish it was us, but next year we'll be better."

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from September 25, 2016


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