Daly provides one memory as season winds to a close
It will go down as a footnote to another disappointing season for the Dash, but at least Rachel Daly left the home fans something they will talk about for weeks.
Already known for her flair for the dramatic, the second-year forward added to her collection of stunning goals with a brilliant and brave diving header in the closing moments of Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Red Stars at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Daly stepped in front of a defender about 15 yards from the goal to reach Kristie Mewis’ long cross first in the 86th minute. Daly jumped head-first to the ball, sending it to the far post. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher barely got a hand to it before it went in.
But when the excitement of Daly’s goal dies down, the Dash (7-13-2) will be left to think about another lost season.
The offseason will feature plenty of changes as the Dash try to reach the ranks of the National Women’s Soccer League’s contenders, but they’ll always wonder what could have been had two key players remained healthy.
Last year’s leading scorer, Kealia Ohai, and two-time reigning FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Carli Lloyd have missed extended time.
Both watched Saturday’s game from the bench.
“There were times in the game we played really well,” Dash interim coach Omar Morales said. “There were times in the game we didn’t play very well. There is an old Western movie ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.’ There was a lot of that.”
Defender Amber Brooks provided the Dash an early highlight Saturday when she converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute. It was her first this season and second in two years with the Dash.
It also broke the Dash’s three-game scoreless streak.
The goal cut the Dash’s deficit in half and gave them life for the remainder of the first half.
Chicago (11-6-6) scored all three of its goals in the first half and did not wait long for the opener.
Jennifer Hoy knocked in the rebound of her own shot past Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell in the 12th minute.
Casey Short gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the 20th minute on a shot from a short angle. She was open after a corner kick slipped through Campbell’s hands.
Christen Press scored the third when she converted a penalty kick.
The Red Stars were awarded that opportunity when Brooks was whistled for a handball.