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NWSL Houston Dash

Three Points: Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo FC Host Home Regular Season Finales

October 6, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Houston Dash News Release


HOUSTON - After clinching a berth in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, Houston Dynamo FC host the Colorado Rapids at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. The Houston Dash also return to Shell Energy Stadium to host Angel City FC on Sunday, Oct. 8, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Both teams will celebrate Fan Appreciation Night in their respective home regular season finales.

DASH RETURN HOME FOR PLAYOFF PUSH

Two games remain in the 2023 NWSL regular season and the Houston Dash are two points below the playoff line in the league standings. Houston will look to keep its winning streak and playoff hopes alive as the team hosts Angel City FC at Shell Energy Stadium for the final regular season home game this season on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT.

Houston is coming off a huge road win over NJ/NY Gotham FC on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Red Bull Arena. The Dash took the lead in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time after forwards Nichelle Prince and Michelle Alozie combined to score the opening goal of the match. Prince played a perfectly timed ball to Alozie who was making the run toward goal and the striker was able to finish her chance despite fighting off a defender in the penalty area.

Alozie completed her first career brace in the 67th minute after forward Maria Sanchez made completed a long pass to Alozie, who was battling for the ball with a Gotham defender. The Nigerian international created space to chip the ball into the goal prior to colliding with both the keeper and defender. The two-goal performance earned Alozie NWSL Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career. Alozie also became the first Dash player to earn the honor this season.

The Dash sit in eighth place with Angel City FC right behind them in ninth place. The last time the two teams met was on June 25 at BMO Stadium with the teams playing to a 0-0 draw. Houston played 32 minutes of regulation with 10 players after defender Katie Lind was shown a red card after denying a goal scoring opportunity.

Angel City travels to Houston after a 1-0 loss on Monday evening to the Orlando Pride at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Angel City FC sits in eighth place in the NWSL standings and are a point behind Houston in the standings.

Houston will close the regular season on the road at Exploria Stadium against Orlando on Sunday, Sept. 15. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. CT.

DYNAMO HOST COLORADO IN HOME REGULAR SEASON FINALE

The Dynamo enter Saturday's match after clinching their first MLS playoff berth since 2017 after earning a 1-1 draw at Montreal on Wednesday. Houston's postseason spot was confirmed later that evening after Minnesota lost 5-1 on the road to LAFC. During Houston's match, midfielder Artur opened scoring in the 10th minute after forward Aliyu Ibrahim passed the ball to midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk, who laid the ball off to the Brazilian. The play was Artur's first goal for Houston, as well as Kowalczyk's first assist with the Dynamo.

Houston currently sits sixth in the Western Conference standings, boasting a 6-1-4 (WLD) record in all competitions since returning to MLS play after Leagues Cup on Aug. 20, while outscoring opponents 22-7 during that stretch.

Colorado enter Saturday's match sitting last in the Western Conference and are already eliminated from playoff contention. The Rapids were scheduled to play FC Dallas on Wednesday, however, the match in Frisco, Texas was postponed to Saturday, Oct. 14 due to inclement weather. In its most recent fixture, Colorado defeated Austin FC 1-0 on Saturday, Sept. 30 at home thanks to Andreas Maxsø's 41st-minute goal.

The Dynamo and Rapids have split all 18 regular season matchups in Houston, both holding a 6-6-6- (WLD) record. Houston boasts a 14-3-5 (WLD) record in all competitions at Shell Energy Stadium this year. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw in their most recent meeting on July 15 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado.

After the October FIFA window, the Dynamo close out the regular season in the Pacific Northwest, traveling to face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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

PLAYOFFS CLINCHED: For the first time since 2017, Houston Dynamo FC will feature in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Houston earned a point on Wednesday after playing CF Montreal to a 1-1 draw, while its spot in the postseason was confirmed after Minnesota United FC's 5-1 defeat at LAFC. The Dynamo have now amassed 45 points through 32 matches in the Western Conference standings this season, which already surpasses every season total since the Dynamo last made the playoffs in 2017, when the team totaled 50 points. In that postseason, Houston defeated Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers on a run to the Conference Final before falling to the Seattle Sounders. Houston needs to win its final two matches to surpass that 2017 total and will now look to push for the highest possible seed heading into the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

CLEAN SHEET HISTORY: Goalkeeper Steve Clark, who is tied for the most clean sheets in MLS this season, will look to break the Houston Dynamo all-time single-season clean sheet record on Saturday after recording his 12th shutout of the season versus FC Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 30. Clark's previous season-high total was eight clean sheets in 2014 and 2016 with the Columbus Crew. Earlier this season, Houston went 540 minutes without conceding a goal, the second-longest streak in club history (longest: 727 minutes between June and July in 2007). The veteran shot stopper has recorded 80 saves in 31 matches this season. Houston leads MLS with 13 total clean sheets, as fellow goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who started every match of the Dynamo's U.S. Open Cup campaign, helped the team earn a scoreless draw at LA Galaxy last month. Clark will look to deliver another key performance versus Colorado on Saturday after already earning a clean sheet at the Rapids on July 15.

BRICKWALL CAMPBELL: Goalkeeper Jane Campbell and the Houston backline allowed only 15 goals through Houston's first 20 matches. Campbell and the Dash are in position to potentially break the record for fewest goals allowed in a season, as the Courage allowed just 17 goals in 2018, matched by Portland Thorns FC in 2021. Both teams reached this milestone in a 24-game season, as opposed to this year's 22-game season. In addition, Campbell's next win will be her 45th triumph with the Dash, the second most wins by a keeper with a single club, trailing only Alyssa Naeher who has 48 with Chicago. Campbell also has the lowest goals against average in the NWSL this season.

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