Lots of shots, but offense difficult to find in opener

It was not a desired result, but several positives came out of the Houston Dash’s opening game of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season.

Defense stood out. The Dash and Racing Louisville FC played to a 0-0 stalemate Sunday before 5,722 fans at Shell Energy Stadium. It was also the first game as head coach of the Dash for Sam Laity.

“It’s frustration,” Laity said on not being able to pick up three points for a win. “Pride in the effort and the commitment from the players.”

But no goals. Neither team was sharp enough to score. However, solid defense from both sides factored.

Jane Campbell dazzled in goal for Houston, closing the door on Louisville with five saves. Her counterpart Katie Lund was effective as well, stopping seven shots. Lund holds the NWSL record for most saves (112) in a season, established in 2022.

“We were nervy, but I’m proud for us getting the clean sheet,” Dash midfielder Sophie Schmidt said.

In compiling her 23rd shutout in the draw, several of Campbell’s saves were not of the routine variety.

“A world-class performance in Jane,” Laity said. “She performs that way in training. I’m not surprised she put in that performance.”

Houston did a good job defending crosses and corners. Forward Ryan Gareis was dynamic. Midfielder Joelle Anderson showed class in possession — making good decisions — and in execution.

The Dash were outshot by the visitors 17-15, and Louisville, which has struggled to win away from home the past two seasons, held a 7-1 edge in shots blocked.

“It’s an important message that we can do better, and we will do better,” Laity said. “I would rather create one chance and score one goal than have 12 chances and score zero.

“We made the wrong selection or the quality wasn’t there. Hopefully, in two, three, four weeks, the quality will be there.”

Houston’s best chance came in the first minute of second-half stoppage time when Lund was caught off her line. Ebony Salmon’s attempt was blocked and the Dash’s second attempt was restrained by Lund.

Salmon had an open look in the 58th minute. Another opportunity came in the 69th minute. A header from Diana Ordóñez was stopped by Lund, and a follow shot from Cameron Tucker, who came on as a secondhalf substitution, was denied.

Ordóñez, who is still working her way toward fitness, was making her Dash debut. Last season, Ordóñez set the NWSL rookie record for goals with 11 for North Carolina. Working alongside on the attack Sunday was Salmon, who since being traded from Racing Louisville in June 2022 has coled the league with nine goals.

The Dash are looking to build on last year’s 10-6-6 club that for the first time qualified for the playoffs.

“I think we’re capable of doing some good things this year,” Schmidt said. “On the counterattack we have the ability to score goals, but we didn’t tonight.”

All 11 Houston players who started in last year’s 2-1 playoff loss to Kansas City are with the team in 2023.

Racing Louisville finished in ninth place the past two seasons in the NWSL. Based on its opener, Louisville looks to be an improved club, at least defensively.

“They’ve got some talented players,” Laity said. “They are an exciting team.”

After losing its first meeting to Louisville in 2021, Houston is unbeaten in the past seven matches in the series (four wins), including the Challenge Cup. The two regular-season games last season between the clubs ended in draws, including a 0-0 score in Houston in which the Dash had 10 shots on goal to Louisville’s zero.

Racing Louisville has only three wins in 24 alltime road matches in the regular season that includes 12 losses, nine draws. It is the fewest road victories of any organization’s first two seasons in the NWSL.

Houston is back at Shell Energy Stadium on April 19 to play Kansas City in the Challenge Cup.