Dash out Flashed, fall 4-1 to Western New York

The Dash had flown to New Jersey earlier this week expecting to play Sky Blue FC, but the game was eventually postponed due to lightening on Wednesday night. In their attempts to get home they encounter delay after delay that included the team be re-routed to Austin. Now back home the Dash hoped to be ready to take on the Abby Wambach-less Western New York Flash.

After a back and forth first 13 minutes the Flash would jump out to grab a 1-0 lead. Samatha Kerr created a turnover from the Dash, passing it up field to Jasmyne Spencer. Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod came out of the net and Spencer chipped the ball over her and into the net.

Three minutes later Carli Lloyd put the ball in the back of the net but luckily for the Dash it was ruled offside. The Dash's best chance of the first half came in the 20th as Kealia Ohai went streaking down the right side. Ohai crossed the ball into the box, but Kaylyn Kyle was unable to reach the ball before Flash goalkeeper Lydia Williams got ahold of it.

Lloyd sent a beautiful pass down the middle of the field to Samantha Kerr. Defender Osi Ohale was unable to keep up as Kerr got behind her. Kerr then sent the ball right past McLeod and into the net putting the Dash down 2-0. Tiffany McCarty tried to answer for the Dash a minute later but Williams was able to stretch out just enough to get her hands on the ball.

Ohale tried to stop Lloyd with a sliding tackle, but she got around it and found herself 1v1 with McLeod. After the two players danced for moment McLeod was able to come up with a huge stop for the Dash.

The second half started off with Kerr sending the ball off the crossbar. She would prove to be a thorn in the sides of the Dash defense throughout the second half. Kerr continued to get behind the defense forcing McLeod to come out of goal repeatedly to stop the ball.

The Flash dominated the second half doing a good job to keep the ball away from the Dash. With control of the match New York slowed things down happy to sit on their lead.

Generating a little offence Jordan Jackson sent the ball to Ohai who then crossed the ball back to her. Jackson headed the ball toward the net, but Williams was able to grab it before it made its way in.

Once again McLeod came out of the net to try and stop Bermudez as she near the goal with the ball. This time McLeod fell down as Bermudez danced around her and put the ball easily into the net. Not a single Dash defender to be seen. Moments later the Dash were able to answer. Ohai split the defense as she crossed the ball into the box. Jordan Jackson got her toe on it to sending it into goal narrowing the Flash lead back down  to 3-1.

The Flash were able to make it 4-1 on what appeared to be an own goal from Becky Edwards. Edmunds played a cross into Kerr. She and Becky Edwards both went down going for the ball and it appears that Edwards touched the ball last as it went past McLeod and into the net.

Jackson had a good shot at the goal late into stoppage time, but it bounced off the post. A single goal would be all that the Dash would be able to put back on the evening. With a defense that was MIA for large portions of the evening it was far from the Dash's best game this season. They generated very little in terms of attack and had few chances with the ball. The Flash were easily able to generate turnovers every time the Dash got ahold of the ball as the Dash struggle to break up the Flash attack.

The team has almost a week to get things back together before they play again. The Dash's next game will be on Friday, July 11 against the Boston Breakers.

Houston Dash: McLeod ©; Klingenberg (67' Elston), Ohale, Engen, Ochs; Kyle, Masar (66' Jackson), Edwards; Ohai, Burger (46' Romero), McCarty

Western New York Flash: Williams; Reynolds, Taylor, Williamson (46' Barczuk), Allen; Salem, Zerboni, Vicky (86' Edmonds), Lloyd; Kerr, Spencer (74' Bermudez)