Dash beat Reign, move into second place
HERRIMAN, Utah — Kristie Mewis and Shea Groom scored to give the Houston Dash a 2-0 victory over OL Reign on Saturday night in the group stage of the NWSL’s Challenge Cup tournament.
With five goals through two matches, the Dash are the top-scoring team in the NWSL so far, ahead of defending league champion North Carolina Courage who have scored four times. The win was Houston’s first over OL Reign since 2018 and just the team’s third all-time win over the Reign.
Mewis scored in the 12th minute, taking a sweet back heel pass from Groom and blasting the ball from just inside the penalty area.
Groom scored on a precisely executed leaping header in the 54th minute. It was her second goal of the tournament.
Rachel Daly scored two goals in Houston’s opening game, a 3-3 draw with the Utah Royals. She was listed as questionable for the game against the Reign, but started.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell and the Dash back line recorded their first clean sheet of the tournament, holding OL Reign without a shot on goal through 90 minutes.
After conceding two goals in the final 10 minutes on Tuesday night, the Dash defense closed out the match with defenders blocking two Reign shots in the final 11 minutes before they could even reach Campbell.
With the win, the Dash moved up to second in the NWSL Challenge Cup table with four points through two matches. Houston will take on Sky
Blue FC in their third group-stage match at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
COURAGE 1, RED STARS 0
Defender Abby Erceg’s header in the 81st minute gave North Carolina a victory over Chicago.
The Courage have won all three of their games in Utah to sit atop the standings.
Erceg’s goal decided a match that was marked by strong goalkeeping on both sides.
Katelyn Rowland started in goal and blocked a shot from Kealia Watt in the 21st minute.
SPIRIT 1, THORNS 1
Sam Staab scored in the 77th minute for Washington, which played Portland to a draw.
Lindsey Horan scored in the 69th minute for the Thorns (1-0-2), who are in fifth in the standings. The Spirit (1-1-1) are in fourth place.