Dash winless in seven
5 kicks from Houston Dash's 0-1 loss to Chicago Red Stars
Jul 15, 2019, 6:53 am
Dash winless in seven
The Houston Dash fell 0-1 to the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday night. The result extends a winless streak of seven matches and a losing streak to three consecutive.
Here are five observations:
1) Winless without Daly
The last Dash win came on May 11, 2-1 at Utah Royals, thanks to a Rachel Daly double. Coincidentally, that was also Daly's last game played with the team.
Daly was red-carded in that encounter before parting for the FIFA Women's World Cup where she was part of England's run to the semifinals. She served her suspension with this match.
"We should be winning these games." #DashOn https://t.co/lPH6Xh8T74— Houston Dash (@Houston Dash) 1563126802.0
The Dash have drawn three and lost four without Daly. They hope her return in the next match will provide the offensive spark needed to get back to the early season winning ways.
2) Long distance shot was the difference
.@katieajohnson33 puts this ball the only place the keeper can't touch it. #HOUvCHI https://t.co/eDPso1NU0J— NWSL (@NWSL) 1563070187.0
A shot from outside the box by Chicago's Katie Johnson was the lone goal of the match and all the Red Stars needed to take home the full three points. The opportunity came off a turnover in the 7th minute.
3) Kerr contained
🅰️ for effort @samkerr1. #HOUvCHI https://t.co/lAOa47prts— NWSL (@NWSL) 1563071037.0
The NWSL scoring leader Samantha Kerr was kept fairly quiet on the night. Renowned as one of the world's best female players, Kerr has 9 goals and one assist this season.
Her last visit to Houston actually started the current Dash slump. Kerr scored twice early in the first half for a 2-1 Red Stars win.
She is regarded as one of the best female players in the world, arguably the best depending on who you ask. Had you told the Dash they would hold Kerr scoreless, they would have taken it and have expected a win.
4) Kizer one for the future
NWSL rookie Cece Kizer was one of the bright spots in the second half. The former Ole Miss soccer star came off the bench to provide a much needed spark in the attack.
While the equalizer never came, Kizer showed speed and tactical ability that could see her earn increased playing time.
5) Sellout crowd announced
Shoutout to Houston for showing up tonight! We hope to see all y'all back here in ✌️ weeks. #DashOn https://t.co/vgj5tHjkkH— Houston Dash (@Houston Dash) 1563073067.0
The announced attendance for Saturday's match was of 5,327 spectators, the largest for a Dash match this year. The increased crowd is credited to the 713 sales promotion ($7 tickets, $1 hot dogs, $3 beers) and the post-FIFA Women's World Cup boost.
Next match: Saturday, July 20 at Washington Spirit (YahooSports.com)
No. 4 Texas will be competing for a return trip to Atlanta when it plays at home against No. 13 Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The winner of the Clemson-Texas first-round game on Dec. 21 will play No. 10 Arizona State in the Jan. 1 Peach Bowl in Atlanta in the CFP quarterfinals.
For Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is from Austin, Texas, the game will be a homecoming.
“We recruited him hard," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday, calling Klubnik “a winner. He will do whatever it takes to put his team in position to be successful.”
Added Sarkisian: “When he made the decision to go to Clemson, honestly I wasn’t surprised. Both his parents went to (Texas) A&M.”
Klubnik applauded the announcement of the game at Texas for Clemson's seventh CFP appearance.
“For him to be going to his first playoff in Austin, Texas, where he grew up, you can’t make that up,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Pretty cool opportunity for him and his family to go compete against Texas there in Austin.”
Swinney said his only visit to the Texas stadium was to watch Klubnik play in a high school playoff game.
“We’ve never played Texas or played in that stadium,” Swinney said. “... It’s going to be amazing. It’s one of the best venues in college football.”
The Longhorns (11-2) were seeded No. 5 in the CFP following their 22-19 overtime loss to Georgia on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta.
Sarkisian said his players were “really excited” to see Texas land the No. 5 seed and have the opportunity to play in the Longhorns' first game against Clemson.
Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is a Clemson transfer. Sarkisian said players already were calling the matchup the “Mukuba Bowl.”
Swinney said: “I love Mukuba. I just love his spirit and love his heart. He was a really neat kid.
“I certainly wish he had been able to finish here. He did everything that was asked of him at Clemson. Made a bunch of big plays.”
Clemson (10-3) beat SMU 34-31 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night to land an automatic CFP berth. The Tigers are ranked No. 16 in the CFP but were given the 12th and lowest seed. As the fifth-highest ranked league champion, the Tigers do not get a bye and instead must visit Texas.
Arizona State (11-2) earned a bye by rolling over Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The Sun Devils were led by running back Cam Skattebo's 170 rushing yards in their impressive win to cap their first season in the Big 12.
Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan noted the Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12.
“You proved them all wrong,” Stokan told Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham.
Arizona State players celebrated the announcement of their No. 4 seed.
Dillingham said he hopes the conference championship and berth in the CFP helps him recruit and continue to build the program.
“Hopefully this stage will help get our branding out there, and show people that we can be one of the newer brands in college football," Dillingham said. "Every 10-15 years a new brand shows up, and a new brand becomes a national brand.”No. 4 Texas will be competing for a return trip to Atlanta when it plays at home against No. 13 Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The winner of the Clemson-Texas first-round game on Dec. 21 will play No. 10 Arizona State in the Jan. 1 Peach Bowl in Atlanta in the CFP quarterfinals.
For Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who is from Austin, Texas, the game will be a homecoming.
“We recruited him hard," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday, calling Klubnik “a winner. He will do whatever it takes to put his team in position to be successful.”
Added Sarkisian: “When he made the decision to go to Clemson, honestly I wasn’t surprised. Both his parents went to (Texas) A&M.”
Klubnik applauded the announcement of the game at Texas for Clemson's seventh CFP appearance.
“For him to be going to his first playoff in Austin, Texas, where he grew up, you can’t make that up,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Pretty cool opportunity for him and his family to go compete against Texas there in Austin.”
Swinney said his only visit to the Texas stadium was to watch Klubnik play in a high school playoff game.
“We’ve never played Texas or played in that stadium,” Swinney said. “... It’s going to be amazing. It’s one of the best venues in college football.”
The Longhorns (11-2) were seeded No. 5 in the CFP following their 22-19 overtime loss to Georgia on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta.
Sarkisian said his players were “really excited” to see Texas land the No. 5 seed and have the opportunity to play in the Longhorns' first game against Clemson.
Texas safety Andrew Mukuba is a Clemson transfer. Sarkisian said players already were calling the matchup the “Mukuba Bowl.”
Swinney said: “I love Mukuba. I just love his spirit and love his heart. He was a really neat kid.
“I certainly wish he had been able to finish here. He did everything that was asked of him at Clemson. Made a bunch of big plays.”
Clemson (10-3) beat SMU 34-31 in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night to land an automatic CFP berth. The Tigers are ranked No. 16 in the CFP but were given the 12th and lowest seed. As the fifth-highest ranked league champion, the Tigers do not get a bye and instead must visit Texas.
Arizona State (11-2) earned a bye by rolling over Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. The Sun Devils were led by running back Cam Skattebo's 170 rushing yards in their impressive win to cap their first season in the Big 12.
Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan noted the Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12.
“You proved them all wrong,” Stokan told Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham.
Arizona State players celebrated the announcement of their No. 4 seed.
Dillingham said he hopes the conference championship and berth in the CFP helps him recruit and continue to build the program.
“Hopefully this stage will help get our branding out there, and show people that we can be one of the newer brands in college football," Dillingham said. "Every 10-15 years a new brand shows up, and a new brand becomes a national brand.”