October 1st at 7 pm EST / Paramount+ (USA) Twitch (International)
Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Washington Spirit (3-8-10) vs. Houston Dash (9-6-6)
After losing two games on the road, the Washington Spirit search for a third consecutive win at home while the Houston Dash look for a chance to host an NWSL Playoff match at home with a win in this rematch of last season’s finale.
Familiar Faces
This game sees former Spirit Caprice Dydasco (2015-2018) returning to Audi Field in what could be her fifth appearance with the Dash since joining them from NJ/NY Gotham FC in mid-August of this year. Houston also brings with them two more former Spirit, Cali Farquharson who played with the club from 2016 to 2019 and Natalie Jacobs who was a part of the 2020 and 2021 Spirit roster.
For the Spirit, defender Amber Brooks is poised to potentially make her 150th career NWSL regular season appearance against the Dash. Brooks is no stranger to this opponent, having played for the Dash from 2016 to 2019 where she made 91 appearances, scoring four goals.
Team History
In their most recent meeting, the two teams tied with a scoreline of 2-2. Houston’s goals came from Canadian international Sophie Schmidt and Nigerian international Michelle Alozie. Both Washington’s goals came from USA player Ashley Hatch, on assists from teammates Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez respectively.
While the standings (and rosters) look different this year, the 2021 regular season ended on a similar note when Houston traveled east to face Washington at home. The Spirit will be hoping for a repeat performance of that Halloween game, where they emerged with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Trinity Rodman.
Missing and Moving Up
Fighting a season plagued with injuries, the Spirit continue to miss their captain Tori Huster and leading centerback Emily Sonnett who are both out with season ending injuries. Interim Head Coach Albertin Montoya shared Friday that following a setback in practice this week, defender Kelley O’Hara will not be available for Saturday’s match.
Washington was hopeful O’Hara would return from injury to close out the season, after missing the September international window and not having played for her club since their August 10th match against Portland.
With the absence of these veteran players, the Spirit have been looking to their young stars to hold it down for them. Ashley Sanchez enters this weekend tied for second in assists and tied for third on shots in the league. Sam Staab has also been putting in the work at centerback and is one of only six field players to currently hold ‘iron woman’ status in the NWSL this regular season having played in all 1,890 possible minutes this regular season through 21 matches.
But it’s not just the Spirit who have become reliant on their younger players. In true Houston Dash fashion, the Dash have found themselves another star English striker. Ebony Salmon made her senior national team debut for England in February of this year, recently receiving another callup to the senior squad for England’s upcoming friendlies against the USA and the Czech Republic. Salmon is currently tied with Spirit midfielder Ashley Hatch for sixth place in the NWSL Golden Boot race, both having 9 goals on the season.
Straying away from the UK, the Dash have also found success with Mexican international María Sánchez, who has become a consistent presence since signing over from Tigres UANL following a short term loan in the summer of 2021. Sánchez is currently tied for fourth in the NWSL for most corner kicks taken on the season (63), contributing to six of Houston’s 33 goals.
As for the injury report out of Houston, the Dash will be missing Annika Schmidt, Makamae Gomera-Stevens, and Kelcie Hedge who have all sustained season ending injuries.
Category Is: Yellow Cards
In Houston’s last match against OL Reign, Dash veteran Shea Groom received a yellow card in the 87th minute for a foul on Megan Rapinoe. This card was Groom’s 5th, resulting in a one game suspension for yellow card accumulation that will be served during Saturday’s match.
Final Third
While we might not be seeing them all go head-to-head on the international stage just yet, these internationally star-studded rosters certainly have the makings of a World Cup fantasy roster. It’s bound to be a cold, wet battle at Audi with all this rain coming in, so prepare for some slipping and sliding! Just because they’re out of the playoffs, I wouldn’t count the Spirit out of this game. Salmon and Sánchez are no doubt an incredible attacking threat, but with the likes of Anna Heilferty on their backline and Hatch itching for that 10th goal of the season, it’s clear that the Spirit have the ability and the desire to put on a show at home for their Fan Appreciation Night.