HOUSTON (Oct. 4, 2026) – Houston Dash forward Miljana Ivanović scored a brace against the Washington Spirit this evening, but the team fell 3-2 to the visitors at home. With the result, the Dash were eliminated from postseason contention.
The Spirit took the lead in the 12th minute following a corner kick from defender Esme Morgan. Defender Tara Rudd finished the chance for her third goal of the season.
Houston leveled the match in the 43rd minute after Ivanović recovered the ball atop the box and fired a left-footed effort into the back of the net. The goal marked the forward's first NWSL goal and made her the first Serbian player to score a goal in league play.
Washington regained the lead in the 52nd minute after Sofia Cantore finished a chance created by Trinity Rodman. The goal marked Cantore’s 10th for the Spirit.
Ivanović completed her brace to level the match following a corner kick, the midfielder found space inside the box and finished with a left-footed effort for her second goal of the evening. Ivanović is the first Dash player to score her first two goals in a single game.
Washington regained the lead in the 84th minute after forward Clara Luvanga found space in the final third for her first goal of the season.
Defender Avery Patterson found forward Kat Rader at the edge of the box in the sixth minute for Houston's first shot of the game. Rader's effort was on target, but her shot was saved at the near post and cleared for a corner kick. The Dash created another chance two minutes later after midfielder Sarah Puntigam’s header from inside the six-yard box was blocked.
Goalkeeper and captain Jane Campbell was called into action in the 10th minute, making a long-range save to deny Andi Sullivan’s left footed shot from outside the box.
Washington created a series of opportunities in the 18th and 22nd minute, but the Dash defense came up with key blocks to keep the Spirit from doubling their lead. Campbell was called into action in the 34th minute, making a save on Ashley Hatch’s effort from inside the six-yard box.
Defender Lisa Boattin recorded Houston’s next shot of the evening in the 36th minute, but her effort went just over the crossbar.
Campbell came up with another key stop late in the first half, getting her fingertips to a ball following a Washington corner kick and pushing the effort out of play to keep the deficit at one heading into halftime.
Houston nearly leveled the match again three minutes later after midfielder Kiki Van Zanten fired an effort toward goal, but her attempt was off target.
Puntigam came close to leveling the match in the 58th minute after firing a left-footed effort from outside the box, but the Washington goalkeeper forced the save.
Houston nearly took the lead in the 76th minute after midfielder Maggie Graham delivered a cross into the box, but midfielder Sophie Schmidt was just shy of the target.
Campbell made history in the 79th minute, recording her 114th save of the season to surpass her own league record for saves in a single season (113). The Dash captain denied Rodman’s effort from inside the box.
Forward Clarissa Larisey came knocking moments later to almost give Houston the lead, but her header from inside the box struck the woodwork.
Seven players will depart from Houston to represent their respective national team in the upcoming FIFA window. The team resumes NWSL play on Oct. 18 to host the Orlando Pride for Breast Cancer Awareness Night Presented by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The midday match will celebrate survivors and advocates while uniting the Dash community in support of the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Tickets for the match are available HERE.
