Match offers chance to move up
Victory against Pride would vault club into playoff position and fourth-place tie in NWSL
As the Dash continue their quest for their first playoff appearance with a critical road test Sunday afternoon, they would love to embrace the idea that they will play on national television.
But the NWSL rarely seems to get anything all the way right, and this weekend’s game that will air live on CBS is no exception.
The Dash and the Orlando Pride will kick off at 3 p.m. at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., one of the hottest and most humid locations in the United States — especially at that time of the day.
The always steamy weather is the reason why most games in Houston and Orlando begin later in the evening.
“I think we’re all a bit surprised that it’s at 4 p.m. (ET) considering it’s going to be in Orlando,” Dash centerback Katie Naughton said. “But it’s great for the league and for our team to have that kind of exposure. We’re used to that weather here in Houston, so there really shouldn’t be that much of a difference for us.”
The result of the game could make a major difference for both teams. The Dash (6-7-3, 21 points) sit in eighth place in the standings. A win would vault them above the playoff line and into a tie with Orlando (6-5-6, 24 points).
The Pride began the weekend tied for fourth place with the Chicago Red Stars. The standings are so packed that there is a combination of results this weekend that would leave five teams tied for fourth place. Six teams ultimately will qualify for the postseason.
A win on Sunday would do more than jump the Dash up the standings. It would give them the tiebreaker over Orlando should the teams end the regular season tied.
“Just a massive game,” Dash coach James Clarkson said. “This is a direct opponent to getting into playoffs so this is potentially like a really big six-point game for us. It’s arguably the biggest game of the season, and they’re obviously going to keep getting bigger as we go through this stretch. Certainly this one against Orlando, there’s a lot on it.”
One important factor will be whether Houston can right the ship when it comes to conceding early goals. After giving up a goal to OL Reign in the seventh minute Wednesday night, the Dash have now conceded a goal inside the first seven minutes five times this season.
Orlando does its share of pressing with its front four, and Clarkson said he wouldn’t be surprised if Orlando ramps up its aggression on Sunday.
“Those first 20-30 minutes are going to be vitally important, and if they have watched us we have given some goals away,” Clarkson said. “I would probably expect them to want to pick up the tempo and put us under a bit of pressure.”
Playing from behind is a tough task by itself, but it will be especially difficult Sunday afternoon as the second half wears on in the searing Florida heat.
Legs will get heavier. Runs will get slower. Qualify will suffer.
For the executives running the league, however, the nationally televised show must go on whenever possible.
“The more NWSL games we get on national TV the better,” Clarkson said. “I think it’s fabulous for the league and shows that the growth and everything is going in the right direction. So that side of things is exciting. It is what it is, and we’ve got to deal with it. It’s the same for both teams. And I know that the team will be ready.”