Heat, nemesis add up to 0-9 all-time record
Daly succumbs as temperatures reach 90s, skid extends to four
The Dash cannot figure out Seattle Reign FC.
Their latest loss in the series stung a little more than the others. Seattle got one goal in each half Saturday on its way to a 2-0 victory at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The Dash, who have lost four in a row, are 0-9 alltime against Seattle, including a 5-1 setback this season.
Seattle (3-1-3) is the only NWSL team the Dash (2-50) never have beaten.
Rapid response
The match was played in 90-degree temperatures and ended on a somber note when Dash forward Rachel Daly collapsed on the field as the final whistle was blown.
Paramedics rushed to her aid and eventually put her on a stretcher.
Daly, 25, was treated for heat illness and given IV fluids at the stadium.
Her condition improved as she was taken to a hospital for monitoring. She was released Saturday evening.
“If it had been a Seattle player who had gone down the way (Daly) did we could say it was because we’re not used to the heat,” Seattle coach Laura Harvey said. “The fact those guys train in this every day and it still affects them proves it doesn’t matter. You can’t prepare for it.”
Most players were affected by the temperatures and humidity. Daly especially was laboring late in the match.
“I don’t remember a game I’ve ever played in that has been that hot,” Dash captain Kealia Ohai said.
The heat played a big role in the game itself as well. Once the Dash conceded the first goal in the 30th minute, they had to chase the game. That was tougher to do in the heat because Seattle was content to sit back.
The Dynamo could have been the team sitting back had forward Janine Beckie converted one or two of her chances in the first 10 minutes.
In the second minute, Ohai hustled to win a ball in the penalty area and then passed to Beckie on the other side of the box.
But Beckie hit her shot high.
In the 10th minute, Andressinha played a perfect through ball to Beckie. She dribbled to the left corner of the 6-yard box and coaxed goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer to come a step off her line.
That set up a great opportunity, but Beckie hit it wide of the far post.
“It has been a tough run,” Beckie said. “Losing is never easy for any team, especially when it’s a couple in a row.
“We’re disappointed in that. Obviously, I’m disappointed in myself for missing a few that needed to be put in the back of the net.”
Bad luck on own-goal
The Dynamo had more success hitting the ball into their net than Seattle’s.
In the 30th minute, Seattle’s Megan Rapinoe broke out on a counterattack down the left side. She centered a pass to Katie Johnson, who immediately returned the ball to Rapinoe.
From the left side of the penalty area, Rapinoe hit a shot to the far post. It deflected off Dash defender Cari Roccaro and into the goal at the near post. It was scored an own-goal.
The Dynamo outshot Seattle 26-8.
“I thought we were a bit unlucky not to get a result,” Dash coach Randy Waldrum said. “I thought we were really good in the first half. I thought if we had finished a couple of those chances it’s a different outcome.”