![]() ![]() But the Dash found plenty of talent to replace their former star. ![]() The club, helmed by second-year head coach James Clarkson, went through a roster overhaul in the offseason with a focus on fitness, efficiency in the attack and sturdier defense.įorward Kealia Watt was traded upon her request after spending the previous six seasons with the Dash, three as the team’s captain. In the first two matches of the Cup, Houston defended better, pressed higher and was newly creative in ways it wasn’t in 2019. “We’re ready to make Houston home and Houston a team that is to be feared and someone you don’t want to play against.” Many of the players “have been traded around, four to five teams now,” said Groom, who is on her fourth NWSL team since joining the league in 2015. They felt disrespected: The team doesn’t have a USWNT roster player, it hasn’t made the playoffs in its history and it had a reputation for organizational drama. The Dash players say they have “a chip on their shoulder,” a phrase they use often to describe the mindset with which they entered the tournament. “We brought on this whole new style, a completely new team full of new players and we took this identity of just absolute grittiness, and I think we’re taking that to the field.” “I think we have that perception and this stigma about us that no one really likes us, and I think we came out and we took that to heart,” said defender Erin Simon. And they knew a lot of people would be surprised. The proof was even in the celebrations.Īfter finishing 7-12-5 last season, the Dash started this year’s tournament as the most exciting team to watch. It was clear in Rachel Daly’s brace and goal-line save, in Shea Groom’s superhero-like, flying header or her back-heel assist on Kristie Mewis’s goal against the Utah Royals. The Houston Dash opened the NWSL Challenge Cup with a bang. ![]()
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