The Houston Dash have not had a history of winning performances since their inception in 2014. Their first six seasons saw them on the outside looking in on the playoffs; never getting their chance to compete for a trophy. In 2020, that all changed. Let’s break down the 2021 NWSL Houston Dash.
There are arguments about 2020 being a shorter season. Houston played just 11 matches instead of the usual 24-matches. It could be that the team didn’t have time for the league to figure them out, but this Houston side is different. Throughout the odd season that was last year, they evolved as a team and now have a dominating attacking offense. Now as the 2021 season approaches, Houston is no longer the perennial outsider; they’re a frontrunner.
2020 Season
Challenge Cup: Fourth place – Won tournament championship
Fall Series: Fourth place – 6 points
During the Challenge Cup preliminary round, the Dash had a tough start. Against the Utah Royals, Houston had a firm two-goal lead going into the final ten minutes. In seven minutes, Utah scored twice, erasing the advantage. They won their second, on the strong counterplay leading to a 2-0 victory. Their final two matches ended in losses, outscored 3-0 overall. Every side made it into the Challenge Cup playoffs, and that’s where they took advantage of their opportunities.
Their first match was one of three playoff round matches to end in penalty kicks. Houston beat the Royals after a goalless 90 minutes. Next came the Portland Thorns where Houston absorbed a lot of pressure. The Thorns out possessed Houston 62.8% to 37.2% but possession doesn’t win soccer games. In the 69th minute, a Sophie Schmidt header off the crossbar turned into a Rachel Daly goal, securing a 1-0 victory. The Dash’s final test was against another team that came into 2020 trophy-less; the Chicago Red Stars.
Chicago made it to the 2019 NWSL Championship game, losing 4-0 to NC Courage. Their entire Challenge Cup had a shadow over it, not only by that result but the loss of 2019 NWSL MVP Sam Kerr, who transferred to Chelsea of the Women’s Super League. The Red Stars found goalscoring in the semi-finals, putting in three against Sky Blue FC, not known as Gotham FC.
Just five minutes into the Challenge Cup final, Houston scored the game-winning goal. Defender Kayla Sharples fouled Dash midfielder Kristie Mewis in the penalty area, and Schmidt converted the penalty. In the 91st minute, midfielder Shea Groom put the icing on the cake, ending the match with a 2-0 scoreline.
The Fall Series featured a Houston side that was close to the same as what they fielded in the Challenge Cup. England international Daly being the lone exception, moving to West Ham United on loan for the remainder of 2020. During the Challenge Cup, Houston lost the possession battle in every match. In the fall, Houston wasn’t countering, they were controlling.
Outside of the first match where they lost to the Courage, Houston won on multiple goals. Even their loss came in the final ten minutes of their first match, partly due to defender Allysha Chapman leaving in the 53rd minute on a yellow card accumulation red card. When Houston had 11 players for the final three matches, they gave up just three total goals, scoring nine on their way to second place.
Offseason Moves
Houston was not busy in the offseason, in terms of revamping their roster. They opted to trade their first and fourth-round picks of the 2021 NWSL draft for two midfielders: Emily Ogle and Gabby Seiler. The two former Thorns registered over 300 combined minutes, with Ogle starting two matches in defensive midfield.
On defense, Houston signed two young defenders in Annika Schmidt and Deneisha Blackwood. Schmidt played 2020 in Sweden, with Göteborg FC. Blackwood started her professional career playing semi-pro with the Florida Krush of the WPSL. In 2019, she moved to Slavia Prague, in the Czech Republic, earning minutes in the league and the Champions League. Last season, Blackwood joined the Orlando Pride on a short-term contract. Orlando didn’t extend it into 2021.
Their final move has potential future dividends. Houston traded their second-round pick of 2022 on the rights of Mexico international María Sánchez. Sánchez played in 2019 with Chicago; before moving to Tigres in Liga MX Femenil. In seven appearances, the midfielder has one goal.
Outside of those four players, Houston offered contracts to keep their core together for the future. The Houston Dash return their entire starting 11 from the Challenge Cup final.
Draft Picks
Round 3 – Joelle Anderson – Midfielder – Pepperdine
Round 3 – Makamae Gomera-Stevens – Midfielder – Washington State
Houston’s trade for Ogle and Seiler meant that their 2021 draft gave them just two picks. Anderson comes from a smaller school, outside of Malibu, California. The attacking midfielder/forward has 24 goals and 16 assists to her name in 64 collegiate appearances.
Gomera-Stevens doesn’t have the same goal total as her fellow Houston draftee but scores them when they count. The Hawaii-native has eight game-winning goals in three seasons with the Cougars. Both are still with their college sides for the delayed NCAA soccer season, due to COVID-19.
2021 Preview
A lot has been said about the Houston attack, and rightfully so, but if their defense continues to improve in 2021; they have a chance at more hardware for their trophy case. Houston’s 2019 goal differential was -15. In their 11 matches of 2020, it was +5.
In January of 2020, Houston addressed a defensive need in the trade for former Chicago center back Katie Naughton. Naughton played every minute of their 11-match 2020 season. Combined with a duo of Megan Oyster and Ally Prisock, they allowed Houston to stop the leaking of goals. It also allows the midfield and forwards to play on the break, or at least without the pressure of playing from behind, which was so often the case in years past.
Midfielders Mewis, Groom, and Schmidt have the chemistry that not many NWSL teams can duplicate. They produced 13 goals and 10 assists in a shortened season in front of their new back line. In front, Daly, winger Nichelle Prince and forward Veronica Latsko don’t have to do all the scoring work. They need to make the best of their touches and provide a consistent scoring outlet. Daly only played in seven Challenge Cup matches but scored three and assisted on two. Latsko had the same production figures in 480 NWSL minutes; most of those coming when Daly went on loan.
Houston Dash does face a big test during the first part of the Challenge Cup and the Olympics. Their roster has six international starters: goalkeeper Jane Campbell, defender Chapman, midfielders Schmidt and Mewis, and forwards Prince and Daly. Groom hasn’t received a US call-up and will anchor the offensive midfield attack in their absence. Luckily, a strong defensive shell remains. Barring any injuries or extended absences outside of international duty, Houston is strong enough to make their first regular-season playoffs in team history.
Another question surrounds their competition. In the Fall Series, they played an Orlando side that had 11 players out on loan and didn’t have a Challenge Cup of matches in their legs. NC Courage also looked different than in years past, and even the Challenge Cup, with multiple starters opting out or moving overseas.
All any team needs to do in the NWSL is make the playoffs. Once those start, NWSL supporters know what Houston Dash can do.
Houston is part of the first Challenge Cup match of 2021; a rematch against the Chicago Red Stars. It starts at 8:30 pm ET, on the CBS Sports Network. Follow BWS all season for updates around the NWSL.
Follow me on Twitter @1ThomasCostello. And check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more articles on amazing women and their sport.
