Players seek means to get back on track
The Dash missed out on three crucial points in a 2-1 loss to the Portland Thorns FC in National Women’s Soccer League play over the weekend.
A couple of second-half goals were just enough for the Thorns to overtake the Dash’s early lead.
“We’ve got to improve our home form,” Dash coach James Clarkson said. “The last two home games that we’ve been in the lead, we’ve been in control and the results haven’t turned out how they should have.”
A win could have put the seventh-place Dash (3-3-4, 13 points) in a three-way tie for fourth. Now, the Dash are looking to redeem themselves Friday night against the North Carolina Courage (4-2-4, 16 points).
Clarkson said the team has been tactically working on a number of things in preparation for the match to adjust the club’s playing style.
Defender Ari Romero said the biggest challenge facing the Dash this weekend will be themselves. The team is 0-2-3 in its last five matches.
“We have to get out of the funk that we’re in right now and work on the things that we can prevent,” Romero said. “First and foremost we just have to work on ourselves and our game plan and demand more from each other and hold each other accountable.”
It’s been a short week for the Dash, who have only a couple of days to train for the upcoming match, Clarkson said.
On the bright side, the team is strengthening by the minute, welcoming back its international players from the Women’s World Cup. Forward Nichelle Prince, who competed with Canada, is returning, but not to the field. Clarkson said Prince is out with an injury, and while it wasn’t specified, he described it as a loss for the team.
Forward Rachel Daly will be the last of the bunch to return. Daly and the England team will take on Sweden in a match for third place Saturday. Clarkson said Daly should be back on track by the time the team travels to Washington on July 20.