HOUSTON (Sep. 12, 2026) – The Houston Dash fell 1-0 to Utah Royals FC at Shell Energy Stadium this evening after Mina Tanaka scored the lone goal of the match in the 69th minute. Tonight’s match saw midfielder Danny Colaprico make her 50th appearance for the club. The Dash also celebrated midfielder Sophie Schmidt at halftime for reaching 150 appearances in league play earlier this season.
Utah opened the scoring in the 69th minute after Tanaka finished a right-footed effort from inside the box following an assist from Nuria Rábano.
Houston’s first chance of the night came in the 11th minute when midfielder Sarah Puntigam fired a right-footed effort from outside the box, but her attempt was blocked. Houston’s next chance came moments later after the Dash won a corner kick. Rookie forward Kat Rader delivered the corner into the box, finding defender Avery Patterson, but her effort went wide.
Forward Kiki Van Zanten nearly opened the scoring in the 38th minute after taking a one-touch effort out of the air toward the near corner, but her shot was off target.
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell was not tested until the final minutes of the first half, making four saves between the 39th minute and the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time. Campbell was called into action for the first time in the 39th minute, diving to deny Miyabi Moriya before making a save moments later on Ana Tejada’s header from inside the box. The Dash captain made two additional saves before the halftime whistle.
Forward Kate Faasse nearly opened the scoring at the start of the second half after receiving the ball on the left flank and dribbling into the box to create space for a shot that hit the outside of the net.
Campbell came up big to keep the match level in the 61st minute, denying Cece Delzer’s left-footed effort from inside the box.
Houston’s next chance came in the 65th minute after defender Allysha Chapman carried the ball into the attacking third before playing a pass into the box for Rader. The rookie forward delivered a one-touch pass to set up Van Zanten, but the Jamaican international was unable to break through traffic.
The Dash responded quickly after Utah opened the scoring, creating a chance in the 72nd minute. Patterson played a long ball into the box to find Rader, who used a feint to create space around the Utah backline before firing a shot over the crossbar.
Rader came close again five minutes later after Houston continued to press for an equalizer. The rookie forward created space inside the box before firing an effort toward goal, but Utah goalkeeper Mia Justus was well positioned to make the save.
The Dash travel to face Boston Legacy FC on Sunday, Sept 20 at Centreville Bank Stadium and fans can follow the action live on CBS Sports Network starting at 1 p.m. CT. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 4 to host the Washington Spirit for the second Pups at the Pitch match this season. Tickets for the match are available HERE.
