Houston Dash: Proving Our Worth

If you know much about the Houston Dash, you know that we are a team with quite a bit to prove.  Never mind that we are the National Women’s Soccer League’s first expansion team—and never mind that this is the third iteration of professional women’s soccer in the United States.  As individual players, we are all battling expectations, past and present, and each of us take to the field every single day with the intent to prove our worth and silence the naysayers, the haters, and the doubters (See @CurseoftheDash).

Many of us were taken in the NWSL Expansion Draft because our former organizations didn’t feel we were worth protecting.  Others of us came straight out of the College Draft with a long line of critical comments on our youth and vast inexperience.  A few of us weren’t even picked up in the College Draft but managed to make our way here through personal invitations and open tryouts.  My fellow Reserve Goalkeeper, Megan Kinneman, for instance came from Louisiana State via open tryouts and consistently shows that although she may be of a small stature she is easily one of the fiercest goalkeepers I have ever trained with and to be quite frank, is one step away from breaking out as a super star at this level.

Bottom line, we all have our battles—and while last night’s 4-0 loss to FC Kansas City was a bit of a gut check and a step backwards for us, I can state unequivocally that our team’s response will be one of steadfast determination and unwavering resolve.  I would also mention that while I have been a part of many teams in my life—winning teams, losing teams, teams facing life or death situations—I have never been a member of a team with more character, more fight, and more faith in and commitment to one another than this team.  We will come back from this and we will do it with style, grace, and a whole lot of W’s.

So, to the fans of Houston, let me be the first to apologize for last night’s performance.  You deserve better—much better—and your continued support despite the result is a testament to your personal dedication to our team.  Moving forward we will do everything in our power (and pray for the things that aren’t) to prove our worth to you and to this great city, to make the playoffs, and to hopefully bring back a championship trophy.

I woke up this morning to a handful of texts from my teammates encouraging one another to enjoy the day, remember the feeling of last night’s loss, and be ready to get after it tomorrow.  And that’s exactly what we are going to do.  See you guys back home when we take on the Portland Thorns (again) at BBVA Compass Stadium on the 14^th—bring your best and we will too!  For now, on to Chicago…