Key defender missing for late push
After an inconsistent summer, the Dash have won two of their last three matches and are feeling additionally rejuvenated coming off an open week.
But a key defensive cog will be missing when they return to the field for Saturday’s home game against Sky Blue FC. On Wednesday, Clare Polkinghorne announced she was leaving the Dash to return to her native Austrailia for family reasons.
“It’s obviously really unfortunate to be missing Clare the rest of the season. But family is more important than anything,” defender Amber Brooks said. “I think it’s fortunate that (defender Ally Prisock) has been able to be in a lot of games with me already.
“She’s obviously a younger player. She’s a rookie, so she doesn’t have the experience that Polk has. But we’ve been going over a lot of film together, and she’s eager to learn.”
Said coach James Clarkson: “It’s unfortunate. It was quite emotional this week when (Polkinghorne) went home. We wish her the best, and we wish her
family the best. It is a big loss for us, but it gives other players a real opportunity, and we just have to deal with it.”
With seven games left in their season, the Dash (67-4, 22 points) are in sixth place, five points away from the playoff line.
Clarkson is looking for the team to cut down on mental lapses and generate more offense. The Dash are the third-lowest scoring team in the National Women’s Soccer League with 17 goals.
“All of the games remaining are must-win,” he said. “We’ve got three games left at home, and we really need to win the three games at home to give us any chance, really. Unfortunately, it’s our home form that’s let us down this season.”
The Dash are tied for the NWSL’s second-worst home record (2-5-2). But a strong late-season push wouldn’t be unprecedented.
Last year’s team earned nine points and scored 12 goals in its final five games. Although the team was out of the playoff running, it did finish with a franchiserecord nine wins.
“I think it’s a little different (this season) in that if you look, the table’s closer in general … no one’s really running away with it,” Brooks said. “It’s nice to see that there’s really almost seven teams competing for four spots. So I feel more confident this year going into the last spell of games.”