Little’s hat trick delivers serious blow to playoff hopes
Three weeks ago, the Dash were flying higher than they ever had in their two-year existence. On the heels of the United States winning the World Cup, Carli Lloyd was scoring goals, and the Dash were beating teams ahead of them in the standings.
They were on their way to an National Women’s Soccer League postseason berth. But three matches — and three losses — after the Dash ascended to fourth place to occupy the final playoff spot, the magical run is virtually over.
The Dash lost 3-0 to the Seattle Reign on Friday night at BBVA Compass Stadium to fall even further behind in the NWSL standings.
The attendance of 9,530 was the second largest in Dash history. League MVP Kim Little scored all three goals for the Reign.
With only two matches
remaining, the Dash (5-85, 20 points) are five points behind FC Kansas City for the final playoff berth. The Dash could be eliminated as early as Saturday night when FC Kansas City faces last-place Boston. Making matters more difficult for the Dash is the fact they also have to climb past Portland, which is two points ahead of them.
Seattle (11-3-3, 36 points) already had clinched a playoff berth and on Friday moved to within two points of clinching the regularseason title.
“The key games for us, really, were when we lost on the road to Washington and then to turn around the next week and lose to Sky Blue at home,” Dash coach Randy Waldrum said. “Those games really hurt us because whether we had won those games and still been firmly in a playoff spot the remaining schedule was going to be tough.
“With the top two teams in three of the last four games, even if we had won those games I don’t know if it would have been enough. It certainly would have kept us in the hunt a little longer. Tonight pretty much put us out.”
Dash goalkeeper Erin McLeod made several big saves in the second half, but Seattle already had the goal it needed. It came in the 42nd minute when Little raced past the Dash back line and into space to corral a long pass before finishing past McLeod. Little also scored in the 74th and 90th minutes.
Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.