Beating Gotham FC could make statement

All the way back in the preseason, the Dash started to believe they had something to prove this year.

Feeling like they didn’t get the credit they deserved from winning the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, the Dash have approached this season as if they had never won anything at all.

That chip on their shoulders has led to some strong performances, and if this week’s training is any indication, goalkeeper Lindsey Harris said Houston fans can expect another one on Sunday night.

The Dash (5-5-1, 16 points) return to BBVA Stadium to face NJ/NY Gotham FC (51-4, 19 points). Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Houston is coming off a 1-0 home loss to first-place Portland in which it conceded a bad goal in the first minute. After taking some time to get over that, the Dash had to turn their attention to Gotham — a team they have lost three in a row to.

“Coming off a loss always kickstarts everybody’s engines because you don’t want it to happen two times in a row,” Harris said. “We’ve lost two of out of the last three games, and our record recently against Gotham has not been great. They’ve also only lost once this year, so I think we want to be the team that breaks that and shows we can be consistent winners.”

The most recent example of Houston feeling like it had something to prove was on July 17 when they beat North Carolina on the road. The Dash were coming off a 2-1 loss at Chicago, in which they scored two late own goals and had to turn their attention to a situation in which they had never won.

They responded with a 2-1 win against North Carolina to snap a 0-5 all-time record on the road against the Courage.

To have the same result on Sunday, the Dash will have to contend with an opponent that has allowed a league-low six goals and is unbeaten in its last seven games (4-0-3).

Gotham’s attack is led by Midge Purce, Ifeoma Onumonu and Capryce Dydasco. Purce scored in of Gotham’s 1-0 win over the Dash in the season opener.

Despite Gotham’s success, Sunday’s game provides the sixth-place Dash with an opportunity to pull even with it in the standings, in second place. A loss, on the other hand, would put significant distance between the Dash and the top of the standings.

That’s a situation, coach James Clarkson said the Dash desperately need to avoid.

“These next three games, while everybody’s away (at the Olympics), are going to be vitally important,” Clarkson said. “I think the league table will suddenly open up after these three games, and we have to make sure we’re staying in touch, which means we have to pick up points over these three games. Two of them are at home, so we would expect to be picking up points.”

The league’s summer full of games without the top players participating in league games because of the Olympics will last a few more weeks as players rest and return. Clarkson said he expects the Dash will be back to full strength for their home game against Racing Louisville on Aug. 29.

Houston will have 10 games left after that, which may not feel like a lot if it is behind in the standings. The Dash can do themselves a big favor by winning games against fellow playoff contenders like the one they have on Sunday night.

The best thing they have going for them, Clarkson said, is their strong team chemistry.

“The collective effort is something that helps us rally ourselves,” Harris said. I think it’s been really good, especially this week.”