**HOUSTON, Tx.** – The Houston Dash and Racing Louisville FC played to a tense scoreless draw at Shell Energy Stadium, with the visitors outshooting the home side Dash 17-5, though Houston produced a 7-5 shots on target advantage despite neither side finding the back of the net in a back-and-forth encounter. Though the points were split between the pair, both sides were able to bounce back from opening day defeats last year to improve year-over-year.
Chances came early on for both sides beginning in the 12 ^th minute, when Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo forced a save out of Houston’s Jane Campbell. A well-worked move down the left side of the field saw the visitors move the ball into the box for Brazilian newcomer Ary Borges. Borges settled a pass to her chest and would end up spotting DeMelo just inside the box in a central position. Sliding a pass along the ground, DeMelo was well set up and fired on goal to make Campbell leap and tip the effort over the bar and out of play, though the ensuing corner produced nothing.
Two minutes later, Racing Louisville was at it again as a bit of pinball down the right side of the field saw possession bounce back and forth between Houston and the visitors. Eventually, the ball fell to Louisville midfielder Lauren Milliet, who launched a through ball down the right for DeMelo to chase. This time though, DeMelo turned provider as she split the Dash defense with a squared ball for teammate Uchenna Kanu who was bursting into the box. Kanu was able to get the pass underneath her feet, but her effort sailed high and wide of the goalframe as Louisville came close once more.
Then, in the 20 ^th minute, Houston produced a chance through former Racing Louisville forward Ebony Salmon, who hit the ground running after her trade to the Dash in July of last season and hasn’t looked back. Picked out near the top left side of the box by teammate Ryan Gareis, Salmon had a look up and decided she had enough to space to curl an effort toward goal and try and catch Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund off her line. As the ball looked like it was going to just dip under the crossbar and in, Lund got an all-important glove to it and tipped it over the bar and out for another corner that the Dash were unable to capitalize on.
Five minutes later, Houston tested the Racing Louisville defense as attacker Ryan Gareis began a move down the left side. Sprinting forward, Gareis picked out Salmon inside the penalty area, and instead of opting to shoot Salmon turned on a dime and fed Gareis’s run back. As the attacker took a touch to settle, she fired toward goal opting for power over placement, though she was ultimately unable to place her effort on frame. Then, in the 26 ^th minute, Dash defender Caprice Dydasco nearly scored a wonderful goal as she cut inside toward the right side of the box and into her left foot. Attempting to curl the ball toward the top far corner, Dydasco’s effort landed wide, though Houston would be encouraged by their flip in momentum.
As the half wore on, Houston and Racing Louisville traded just one more good chance apiece, though neither were ultimately able to convert, and it continued scoreless through the opening 45 minutes.
Just three minutes into the second half, Racing Louisville was back looking to create as forward Jessica McDonald looked to put her stamp on the match with a right-footed effort from just outside the box. Receiving a pass and looking to beat Campbell with a first-time shot, McDonald looped a swirling effort toward goal in a similar fashion to Salmon’s earlier attempt, but like Lund, Campbell was able to get off the ground and push the shot over the bar and out of play.
Continuing Louisville’s way, Kanu test Campbell again in the 63 ^rd minute after a loose ball in the penalty area resulted in a vicious strike from the Nigerian forward. Racing Louisville had moved forward through a series of passing moves which resulted in the ball ultimately popping over Kanu’s shoulder and to her right foot. Swinging with venom, Kanu’s shot on goal was kicked away by Campbell and eventually cleared by her defense to keep the score level.
As the game continued to bounce back and forth via momentum swings, Houston came as close as they had all night to scoring in the 68 ^th minute when forward Diana Ordóñez’s header was saved by Lund with the follow up effort smothered. Attacker María Sánchez delivered a perfect cross into the box for Ordóñez to attack, but the Houston debutant’s header was met by Lund with a brilliant save. As the ball fell to the feet of Houston’s Cameron Tucker, Lund then pounced to collect that and somehow keep the hosts out of the back of the net despite no lack of trying.
The closing 20 minutes of the match plus stoppage time did not produce another high quality chance for Houston or Racing Louisville, meaning to the two would settle for a point in the season opener. Despite that, both teams will be encouraged by their attacking output and performance by their respective goalkeepers as they move into Match Week 2 still unbeaten.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights