**Houston, Texas** – The Houston Dash defeated Racing Louisville FC, 2-1, in their final Challenge Cup group stage game behind goals from Nichelle Prince and Ally Prisock.
Prince ended up opening the scoring for the Dash after 24 minutes, though the game’s first chance came through Houston’s Michaela Abam. Played through with a nearly empty net after just 14 minutes, Abam’s airmail effort forced a quality save out of Racing goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer who kept things left with a leaping tip over the bar. However, nearly ten minutes later, midfielder Nichelle Prince put the hosts ahead as she won the ball back in an advanced attacking position just inside the Racing penalty area and slotted a low shot past Bloomer to establish the lead.
It didn’t take much time for the visitors to bounce back though, with midfielder Jaelin Howell bringing Racing level in the 29 ^th minute. Following a free kick from the left flank that the Dash failed to clear, Howell met the ball in the middle of the area with Dash goalkeeper Lindsey Harris well off her line and the midfielder buried the chance from around 14 yards out to bring the score level.
Still pressing forward, though, the Dash ended up back in front in the 35 ^th minute through defender Ally Prisock. As playmaker María Sánchez swung the ball into the box via a corner kick, a crowded penalty area—and goalmouth especially—resulted in the Racing goalkeeper Bloomer being unable to punch the delivery away. Bundling the immediate follow up over the line, Prisock then restored Houston’s lead from close range.
At the break, the hosts led Racing Louisville by a one-goal margin as the back-and-forth affair only saw chances mount.
Into the second half, Houston nearly found an early third goal in the 50 ^th minute as forward Rachel Daly decided to take a chance from 30 yards out that forced Bloomer into a diving save, though she was able to prevent the goal.
Racing had an opportunity with a quarter of an hour left to threaten the Houston goal and nearly found an equalizer through Parker Goins, but the substitute’s powerful effort on goal following a Savannah DeMelo cross was well-saved.
In the end, the Dash clung to its narrow advantage and both teams now move into the regular season having failed to qualify for the Challenge Cup semifinals. The result means the Dash were able to narrowly pull the double over Racing, having defeated them 3-2 in Louisville before tonight’s 2-1 victory at home.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights