THE BASICS
Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars
Friday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Stream: HoustonDashSoccer.com/live – 7:30 p.m.
REFEREE: Randall Kelly. Assistant Referees: Reyna Fonseca, Mike Arrington; 4th Official: Michael Lavergne
PREVIEW
The Houston Dash (1-2-1, 4 points) are looking to end a two-game losing streak as they host current league leaders Chicago Red Stars (3-0-1, 13 points) at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dash are coming off a bye week after a 2-0 loss to FC Kansas City on May 2. Chicago is making its first road trip of the year. The Red Stars finished their four-game homestand with a 3-0 win over the Boston Breakers at Toyota Park last Saturday.
INJURY REPORT (as of Thursday, May 14)
HOUSTON DASH -- OUT: Stephanie Ochs (right knee ACL surgery); PROBABLE: Brittany Bock (left knee ACL surgery)
CHICAGO RED STARS -- OUT: Zakiya Bywaters (right hip surgery)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL TIME (3 meetings): Dash 0 wins, 1 goals … Red Stars 2 wins, 4 goals … 1 tie
- AT HOUSTON (2 meetings): Dash 0 wins, 1 goal … FCKC 1 win, 3 goals
- LAST YEAR: 5/11: CRS 1, HOU 0 (Hoy 33); 5/23: HOU 1, CRS 3 (Masar 51—DiBernardo 10; Mautz 54; Hoy 62); 7/26: CRS 0, HOU 0
- FUTURE MATCHES: 7/12: Houston Dash vs. Chicago Red Stars, 7:30 p.m. CT; 9/6: Chicago Red Stars vs. Houston Dash, 4 p.m. CT
SCOUTING CHICAGO RED STARS
Chicago jumped to the top of the NWSL standings after a month of play as one of two undefeated teams. The Red Stars are missing seven players to World Cup duty (four U.S., three Canada), but the team proved able without their international players in a convincing 3-0 win over Boston at Toyota Park last Saturday. Rookie Sofia Huerta tallied two goals and an assist en route to claiming NWSL Player of the Week honors and Cara Wells also netted her first goal. Jen Hoy remains with the team after scoring twice against the Dash in three games last season.
BEER ME, RANDY
Head coach Randy Waldrum and the Dash are buying a beer for the first 1,000 fans over the age of 21 at Friday's match. Fans will receive a wristband upon entering the stadium and showing valid ID that can be redeemed at any BBVA Compass Stadium concession stand for one 12 oz. domestic draft beer (limit one per person). Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for season ticket holders, 6:45 p.m. for the public.
DASH TRADE FOR PRESSLEY
The Dash added much-needed experience to the back lilne earlier this week with the addition of defender Toni Pressley. Pressley comes to Houston from Western New York in exchange for midfielder Ashley Nick. Pressley, who previously played under Randy Waldrum with the U.S. U-23s, is a left-footed players that can play either at center or left back. She has appeared once in 2015, starting and playing 90 minutes for the Flash in their season opener against Seattle Reign FC.
SIX AMATEURS CALLED UP
The Houston Dash have called up goalkeeper Jordan Day, defenders Jen LaPonte and Lauren Silver, midfielders Cami Privett and Jordan O'Brien, and forward Allie Bailey to the 20-player roster as amateur players for Friday's match and will be available for selection. The Dash are without the services of all six U.S. and Canada players. This is the first call-up for both Silver and O'Brien, while Privett and Bailey made their professional debuts as substitutes against FC Kansas City on May 2.
