Daly’s precise passing unleashes offensive outburst

A week after her third two-goal performance of the season, Dash forward Rachel Daly was hungry for more goals.

Daly pursued them early and often, firing five first-half shots Friday night. But it was a timely pass for her first assist of the year that elevated the Dash to a 4-0 win over the Washington Spirit at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“Tonight I feel like I did everything but score, but you can’t win them all,” Daly said. “Overall, a good team performance.”

Daly’s first shot veered wide in the seventh minute. Another, a header just three minutes later, drifted inches above the crossbar on top of the goal netting. A later effort was struck with too much power.

But in the 41st minute, she connected with midfielder Linda Motlhalo on a sweet one-two pass. She kissed the ball to the South African, who shipped it back to Daly darting down the left side of the field.

It gave Daly plenty of space to attack from the flank, break into the box, then square a pass to Kealia Ohai to slot the goal into the left corner of the net — her fifth goal of the season.

The Dash’s victory over Washington (2-15-4; 10 points) sets a new team high for wins in a season. And after alternating wins and losses in the previous eight games, Friday’s result draws the Dash (8-8-5; 29 points) within a point of the National Women’s Soccer League’s final playoff spot entering the weekend.

The Dash have now defeated the league’s bottom two teams in back-to-back games.

But two of their final three games are against the NWSL’s top two clubs — North Carolina and Seattle.

“We just have to keep going … if we lose, we’re out for sure,” forward Sofia Huerta said of the Dash’s playoff push. “We still mathematically are in, so that’s our motivation.”

Daly was a constant presence, but she wasn’t the only one creating chances.

On the attack, defender Taylor Comeau was looking for Huerta in the 58th minute.

The former Chicago Red Stars duo opened the floodgates when Comeau delivered a pass for Huerta to smash into the top corner beyond the fingertips of the outstretched keeper.

Hammering the nail in the coffin, Daly registered her second assist on a pass to Huerta in the 76th minute. The goal was Huerta’s fourth with the Dash and tied a personal season high at seven.

Daly nearly found herself involved in yet another goal when rookie forward Veronica Latsko’s pass skipped through her legs for Kyah Simon’s score in the 84th minute.

“That’s the kind of thing we need, and that’s the kind of commitment we need to push to win these last few games,” Daly said of Huerta’s two-goal performance. “We have to win out, and that’s our mindset. We can’t settle for a draw or any losses on the way.”