Despite a brace from Jess McDonald and giving up a two goal lead, the Boston Breakers gave Houston its first loss of the season, beating the Dash 3-2.
Four minutes after the Breakers scored to put the Dash in a two-goal deficit, McDonald used her height to her advantage to make the score 2-1 in the 35th minute. Kealia Ohai sent a cross into the box for McDonald’s head for the 6-foot striker to capitalize on the chance and headed the ball towards the far post out of the reach of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Similar to last week, McDonald equalized the score in the second half off an assist from Morgan Brian. In the 68th minute, Brian sent a long pass to McDonald. Naeher came off her line, but McDonald beat her and made evened the score at 2. Two Breakers players had thought McDonald was offside and, when McDonald beat Naeher, ran back to the goal but failed to clear the ball as it bounced in.
The brace wasn’t enough to win for Houston, and they conceded a goal four minutes later. Kristie Mewis received a free kick approximately twenty yards out and sent the ball to the far post. Amidst a bit of chaos, Dash midfielder Carli Lloyd was the final touch and scored the own goal.
Boston took an early lead from a goal amidst chaos in the eighth minute. Brazilian midfielder Rafinha sent a corner kick into the six-yard box, and defender Julie King earned her second professional goal by tapping in the loose ball.
The Breakers extended their lead in the 31st minute when Nkem Ezurike scored for Boston. Rookie Stephanie McCaffrey used her speed to get past the Houston Dash defense, creating an easy one-touch finish for Ezurike.
Along with the loss, the Dash lost defender Stephanie Ochs who came off injured in the 18th minute after some contact with McCaffrey. Ochs fell to the ground clutching her right knee and walked off gingerly after being tended to by the medical staff. She was reported to be on the bench with crutches and icing the knee. The Dash gave an update during the first half:
NEXT UP: The Breakers face the 0-2-0 Western New York Flash in Rochester and the Dash play the 1-2-0 FC Kansas City at home, both on May 2.
Boston Breakers (1-0-1, 3 points) vs. Houston Dash (1-1-1, 4 points)
NWSL regular season
April 26, 2015 — Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium, Boston, MA
Attendance: 2,376
Scoring by Period 1 2 F
Houston Dash 1 1 2
Boston Breakers 2 1 3
Scoring Summary
Boston: Julie King 1 (unassisted) 8
Boston: Nkem Ezurike 1 (Stephanie McCaffrey 1) 31
Houston: Jessica McDonald 2 (Kealia Ohai 1) 35
Houston: Jessica McDonald 3 (Morgan Brian 2) 68
Boston: Carli Lloyd (own goal) 72
Houston Dash: Bianca Henninger; Ella Masar ©, Niki Cross, Stephanie Ochs (Carleigh Williams 18, Stephanie Roche 80), Meghan Klingenberg; Carli Lloyd, Rachael Axon, Morgan Brian; Tiffany McCarty (Melissa Henderson 68), Kealia Ohai
Unused Substitutes: Megan Kinneman, Ashley Nick
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Carli Lloyd 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Jessica McDonald, Morgan Brian 2); SAVES: 4 (Bianca Henninger 4); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Morgan Brian 3); OFFSIDES: 4 (Jessica McDonald 2); FOULS: 7 (Niki Cross 3)
Boston Breakers: Alyssa Naeher; Mollie Pathman, Julie King, Kassey Kallman ©, Maddy Evans; Stephanie Verdoia (Katie Schoepfer 58), Amy Barczuk, Rafinha (Suzane Pires 65), Kristie Mewis; Nkem Ezurike (Morgan Marlbrough 74), Stephanie McCaffrey
Unused Substitutes: Jami Kranich, Ketlen, Bia, Rachel Wood
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Kristie Mewis 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Rafinha 2); SAVES: 4 (Alyssa Naeher 4); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Rafinha 6); OFFSIDES: 1 (Stephanie McCaffrey 1); FOULS: 9 (Maddy Evans 3)
Disciplinary Summary
HOU: Niki Cross (caution) 44
BOS: Maddy Evans (caution) 55
HOU: Stephanie Roche (caution) 90
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant Referees: Ian McKay, Stephen Danisi
Fourth Official: Randall Kelly
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