HOUSTON (Aug. 7, 2025) – The Houston Dash return to Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, August 8 as they host the North Carolina Courage at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the game live on NWSL+ and tickets for the match are available HERE.
Houston secured a point in dramatic fashion on Saturday night in San Jose as the teams combined for three goals in the final 20 minutes of the match. Defender Avery Patterson found midfielder Kiki Van Zanten inside the box for the equalizer in the 72nd minute. The Notre Dame alum finished off the volley for her first regular season goal. Houston secured a point in the 88th minute following a corner kick from midfielder Delanie Sheehan into the heart of the box. Midfielder Sophie Schmidt rose above the defense and powered a header past the Bay FC goalkeeper, notching her first goal of the season and capping a late surge.
Defensively, captain Jane Campbell finished with five saves against Bay FC last Saturday. Defender Allysha Chapman earned her first start of the season and led the team with four interceptions. Defender Paige Nielsen led the team with eight clearances against Bay and she finished with three interceptions. Midfielder Danny Colaprico was also pivotal in limiting Bay FC as she tallied five clearances and four recoveries.
The Dash were without defender Michelle Alozie and midfielder Barbara Olivieri due to their recent return from international duty. Alozie helped Nigeria win their 10th confederation title this summer and scored a crucial goal in the semifinal to punch a ticket to the final. Olivieri joined Venezuela in Ecuador to compete in the Copa America Femenina.
The team will be without goalkeeper Liz Beardsley on Friday; she was placed on the 45-day injury list in June. Beardsley is one of three players unavailable for the match on Saturday due to injury. Forward Ramona Bachmann was placed on the season-ending injury list earlier this year and forward Amanda West was also placed on the SEI list following an injury while on loan with AFC Toronto. The full availability report is available in the game notes file linked above.
North Carolina returned to league play last Saturday and earned a point following a scoreless draw with San Diego Wave FC at home. This was the first time North Carolina was held scoreless since a loss to Bay FC on April 19. The Courage enter the match with a three-game unbeaten streak and that includes a victory over the Dash in their first meeting of the season.
The Courage earned three points at home against the Dash on June 21 following a late rally with goals from Jaedyn Shaw and Hannah Betfort. Patterson scored the opening goal of the match for Houston just 52 seconds into the game. That snapped the record for the fastest goal scored in club history by two seconds. The record previously belonged to defender Natalie Jacobs who scored in the opening minute of the match at home against the Spirit in 2024.
The Dash travel to New Jersey next weekend to face NJ/NY Gotham FC at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday, Aug. 17. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 24 to host Seattle Reign FC.