**HOUSTON, Tx.** – A second consecutive league win for the Houston Dash came as Saturday night’s hosts shut out the Orlando Pride, 2-0, with first half goals from Sophie Hirst and Michelle Alozie helping them to just their second home win of the season. It is, however, Houston’s third win in the last four games as they are up to sixth place with 15 points from 10 games. The Pride, meanwhile, sit in 9 ^th place with 10 points from their 10 games.
Houston scored after just six minutes via defender Sophie Hirst, who found the first goal of her professional career as she used the outside of her foot to put home a dropped ball by Orlando goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. A corner kick from attacker María Sánchez was swung into the middle of the box where Moorhouse attempted to collect, but she could not hold onto the ball in full and her spill allowed Hirst to flick it over a collection of bodies in the penalty area and into the back of the net for the early advantage.
Houston continued to apply pressure on the Orlando goal, with both of forwards Diana Ordóñez and Michelle Alozie forcing Moorhouse into action on separate occasions. Ordóñez first had a dribbler of a shot saved in front of goal in the 16 ^th minute before Moorhouse produced a high quality save on the Mexican international in the 27 ^th minute to keep the deficit at one. Then, in the 31 ^st minute, Alozie whipped in a deep cross that looked like it could find the far top corner, but Moorhouse was there again to collect.
Orlando did create a couple of looks on the goal in the first half, including one chance in the 39 ^th minute that brought Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell off her line. However, the visitors couldn’t seem to get enough going to truly put the Dash under the cosh.
Instead, forward Michelle Alozie raced onto a deflected pass in the Orlando half and sprinted toward goal, eventually working her way into the box. Alozie then cut in on her left foot to paralyze an Orlando defender before she pushed a shot through Moorhouse and into the goal to elevate her side to two in front still ahead of the halftime break.
Houston opened the second half by making Moorhouse sweat again, first through Joelle Anderson and then again through Ordóñez, but neither play had what it took to beat Moorhouse for a third time on the night.
Then, it was Campbell who was in heavy action for the final 20 minutes as Orlando threw all they had at her. In the 70 ^th minute, it was a save at the near post on a shot from Ally Watt in behind the defense. Five minutes later, Julie Doyle attempted to head the ball past Campbell from a few yards away only for the goalkeeper to safely collect her effort with both hands.
Two more looks for Orlando came through Marta in the 79 ^th minute and Doyle again in the 87 ^th minute, but on both occasions Campbell had more than enough of what it took to keep the efforts out, helping to earn another clean sheet in the process.
Another positive Houston result means they carry the momentum with them into next week’s home match against Gotham FC, currently a top-three side in the league on form. Meanwhile, the Pride travel to Gotham to face them midweek in the Challenge Cup before a home match against Portland next Sunday evening.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights