Win streak ends at 3 after shutout
Just when the Dash thought they had a great chance to add precious distance between them and the chasers in the race for the playoffs, the parity-filled NWSL snatched them back to the pack.
Houston started slowly and never accelerated en route to a 3-0 road loss to last-place Kansas City on Wednesday night at Legends Field.
The result came one week after the Dash (9-8-5, 32 points) scored a road win over first-place Portland that served as their second win in a three-game winning streak that lifted them into third place in the standings.
Now they’re in a threeway tie for fourth place with two games left in the regular season. Six teams qualify for the playoffs.
“Very disappointed; the team was unrecognizable tonight,” Dash coach James Clarkson said. “Credit to Kansas. They worked incredibly hard. They won every first ball. They won every second ball and made it incredibly difficult for us.
“These final two games are now incredibly important. We’ve missed a big chance tonight.”
Kansas City (3-12-6, 15 points) hadn’t scored more than two goals in a game this season but had that many in the first 36 minutes Wednesday.
The first came in the 18th minute on an incredible shot by Darian Jenkins from the top left corner of the penalty area to the top corner at the far post. The second came in the 36th minute on a header by Elizabeth Ball.
The third goal came in the 92nd minute on a penalty kick by Lo'eau LaBonta.
The first two goals provided plenty of cushion against the Dash, who centerback Abby Dahlkemper said had gotten too high after Sunday’s big win over North Carolina and were looking ahead to Sunday’s rematch against Portland at PNC Stadium.
“(We have to) get back to being that blue-collar, hardworking team,” Dahlkemper said. “The first half it was not there. The second half was better but still not good enough. We need to all individually look in the mirror and see what we could have done better and reflect on that.”
Dahlkemper and Dash teammates Kristie Mewis and Jane Campbell have been named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster that will play two friendlies against Korea Republic on Oct. 21 and Oct. 26.