**Houston, Texas** – The Houston Dash scored late to rally back and draw 2-2 with the Washington Spirit, as a Dash opener in the first half was flipped by forward Ashley Hatch’s two-minute brace in the second half. All this, only for forward Michelle Alozie to put home a rebounded goal in the first minute of stoppage time to secure a point.
A relatively even half saw both sides settle in early as they remained patient in attempting to find a way around the other. With neither team having registered a shot to this point in the match, in the 22 ^nd minute, Houston would find a way through to the game’s opening goal through midfielder Sophie Schmidt. A set piece situation for Houston saw the ball whipped into the middle of the box and deflected into the path of Schmidt, who fired on goal from close range only to see Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury make the save. However, Kingsbury was unable to completely clear the danger and Schmidt pounced on a second opportunity just a yard out from goal to give her side the lead.
In the 29 ^th minute, Washington pushed back with a chance of their own that saw Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell make a great stop on Washington forward Tara McKeown’s shot to preserve the hosts’ lead. After midfielder Ashley Sanchez played multiple one-two’s with teammates just outside the box in the center of the field, she then slotted a pass to her left for McKeown. Taking a touch and firing on goal, McKeown’s effort was saved by Campbell and put out for a corner that was eventually cleared.
Both sides would have a few attempts blocked as the first half continued on, but neither side would add to the tally as Houston hung on to its one goal lead at the halftime interval.
The game took a spin on its head early on in the second half, though, with Washington scoring back-to-back goals in the 53 ^rd and 55 ^th minutes—both via forward Ashley Hatch—to not only work their way back into the match but to establish a lead.
First, in the 53 ^rd minute, Washington’s move actually began all the way back with Kingsbury who distributed the ball up the field. A flick on for forward Trinity Rodman saw her connect with a teammate before being played in behind the defense on the right side of the field. Picking up her head, Rodman then saw the run of Hatch in the center of the box and slid a perfect ground pass in front of the defense that Hatch then put home for the Spirit’s equalizer.
Then, in the 55 ^th minute, the Spirit had a free kick on the left side of the field that left a tight angle on goal. Standing over the free kick was Sanchez, and her ball into the box perfectly picked out the head of Hatch who powered a header past Campbell to help her side take its first lead of the evening.
As the second half wore on, Houston’s best attempt at threatening the Washington goal came in the 82 ^nd minute when a ball from the left side of the field toward the middle of the box was smothered by Kingsbury to prevent an equalizer.
However, into the first minute of stoppage time, Houston forward Nichelle Prince turned the match around with her late equalizer to help the Dash earn a point. A ball in from the right toward forward Michelle Alozie saw the substitute forward head strongly toward the right side of goal, though the goalkeeper Kingsbury did well to get down and save it. However, Alozie followed the ball up and would end up burying the rebound for her side’s second goal of the night.
In the end, the two sides settled for a point apiece as Houston’s push for the best playoff position possible continues, while the Spirit draw their fourth out of the last five games.

Match Highlights

Match Highlights