HOUSTON (Aug. 18, 2026) – The Houston Dash matched a club record with a dominant 5-0 victory over Chicago Stars FC at Shell Energy Stadium this evening. The Dash matched its largest margin of victory ever with the five-goal win, and this was the first 5-0 triumph since the Dash defeated the Orlando Pride at home during the 2022 season. The team has now scored 28 goals this season, the second highest mark in club history and Dash goalkeeper and captain Jane Campbell tallied the 47th clean sheet of her career.
Houston opened the scoring in the fifth minute after defender Leah Klenke played a long ball to defender Avery Patterson, who delivered a first-touch pass to forward Kat Rader atop the six-yard box. Rader finished the chance to give the Dash the lead and record the team’s earliest goal of the season. The goal marked Rader’s eighth of the season, moving her into a tie for second place for the most goals scored by a rookie in NWSL history (eight).
The Dash doubled its lead in the 42nd minute when Rader received the ball inside the box and dribbled over a Stars defender prior to firing a left-footed shot into the top corner of the near post. The goal marked Rader’s second of the evening and the first professional brace of her career. Forward Clarissa Larisey provided the assist, her first of the season.
Houston added to its lead in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time after Klenke played the ball to Rader. The Duke University product sent a through ball to midfielder Kiki Van Zanten and the Jamaican international delivered found midfielder Linda Ullmark with space inside the box. Ullmark finished with a right-footed effort into the bottom-left corner for her third goal of the campaign. Ullmark was named to the United States U-20 Women’s World Cup roster earlier today and this was her final home match prior to the tournament.
The Dash added a fourth goal in the 79th minute after forward Kate Faasse made a run into the box and finished the chance following a cross from forward Miljana Ivanović. The Serbian international tallied her first NWSL assist in just her second appearance for the Dash.
Defender Lisa Boattin scored her first NWSL goal tonight and Houston’s final goal of the evening in second half stoppage time. Midfielder Sarah Puntigam played the ball to Ivanović on the left side, and the forward delivered a one-touch pass to set up Boattin for a left-footed effort. The Italian international chipped the ball over the Chicago goalkeeper into the back of the net. Ivanović tallied her second assist of the evening on the play.
Tonight's match saw defender Natalie Hammond make her first NWSL start after making her league debut earlier this month. Larisey also earned her third start of the season after her two-goal performance off the bench to help the Dash secure a 3-2 comeback victory over the North Carolina Courage on Sunday.
Houston created back-to-back opportunities in the 33rd minute. Ullmark fired a shot toward the bottom-left corner that was deflected, with the rebound falling to midfielder Maggie Graham, who got behind the defense and fired a right-footed effort from inside the box that just went over the crossbar.
Campbell was called into action for the first time in the 74th minute, denying Micayla Johnson’s left-footed effort from inside the box. Boattin also came up with a key defensive play moments later, blocking Anna Gasper’s effort from inside the box.
Houston nearly added an additional goal in the 86th minute after Puntigam won possession and created space for an effort toward the near post, but her shot narrowly missed the target.
The Dash travel to California to close the week on Sunday, Aug. 23 against Bay FC at PayPal Park. Fans can follow the action live on CBS Sports Network starting at 5 p.m. CT. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 12 to host Utah Royals FC for Noche Latina and tickets for the match are available HERE
