Mewis’ goal lifts team to 1st win of season
Kristie Mewis is known for her lethal left foot thanks to some powerful goals from distance.
On Saturday night, however, she only needed it for a tap-in to help the Dash end their homestand with three massive points.
Mewis touched in a cross from Sophie Schmidt in the 83rd minute to give Houston a come-frombehind 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars in front of 3,136 fans at BBVA Stadium.
The win comes at the end of a three-match week that featured a draw and a loss and had the Dash (1-2-1, 4 points) feeling like they had several aspects of their game they unexpectedly needed to clean up.
They were not disappointed with their overall performances, but they knew they needed to win to reinforce their idea that they are not far from being contenders.
Mewis said Saturday that getting their first victory felt like a weight off their shoulders.
“We really just needed this win and this team effort to just kind of prove, not to everybody (else), but just to prove to ourselves that we can still do this and we’re still a force to be reckoned with in this league,” she said.
The winning play began on a corner kick that Mewis served into a crowd in the heart of the penalty area. A Chicago player headed it toward the opposite side of the box.
Schmidt was first to it and touched it by a defender toward the post. With space created, Schmidt lofted a cross to the far post, where Mewis was standing all alone.
Mewis had an easy finish, which set off the first big Dash celebration of the season.
It was the opposite feeling from the one the Dash had just moments into the game.
Chicago wasted little time going in front with Mallory Pugh scoring in the fourth minute.
A play that began with a bad giveaway by the Dash in the midfield eventually saw Pugh chase down a rebound close to the end line. With Dash right back Ally Prisock marking her, Pugh used a big cut toward the penalty spot that fooled Prisock and took her out of the play.
With plenty of space, Pugh hit a shot to the far post that easily beat Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
Dash forward Nichelle Prince tied the game in the 18th minute.
It put Houston in a position to win the game late — a drastic difference from the feeling they felt in the last two games when they conceded late goals.
“I think the fight and the grit, the determination was back in abundance throughout the whole game,” Dash coach James Clarkson said. “I really liked the way that the players fought for one another and had each other’s backs and the chasing and scrapping and blocking. Some of those clearances from Chappie (Allysha Chapman) midway through that second half were phenomenal.
“And that’s exactly what we want from everybody, and you know we just need that attitude all the time, and that’s what makes a difference for us.”