Western NY Flash Loses 1-0 After World Champion Carli Lloyd Scores Goal For Houston Dash
Soccer News: The Western New York Flash fell 1-0 to the Houston Dash on Saturday night in front of a season-high 4,110 fans at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Flash will close out a four-game homestand on Wednesday evening when the Portland Thorns visit.
After a scoreless first half, former Flash midfielder Carli Lloyd scored the game’s lone goal in the 49th minute. The Flash were unable to clear the Dash’s left-side corner kick, as the ball fell to Meghan Klingenberg at the top of the penalty area. Klingenberg lofted the ball back into the box, finding Lloyd for a header.
Though they had a season-high 22 shots in the match, the Flash could not find a way past Houston goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who was forced into numerous saves from the opening whistle.
Jasmyne Spencer nearly picked out the left post in the ninth minute, shouldering off pressure from Klingenberg before testing McLeod to the far post.
McLeod came up with a huge save for the Dash in the 24th minute, closing the door on Elizabeth Eddy with a punched save to the keeper’s right. Eddy worked through multiple defenders to be one-on-one with McLeod, but couldn’t find the netting.
Michelle Heyman had a great individual opportunity at the half-hour mark, weaving her way around defenders on the right side but was unable to tuck the ball under McLeod at the near post.
Flash defenders stopped two would-be goals in the match, keeping it a one-goal game. In the first half, Spencer denied Jessica McDonald on a corner kick, heading the ball off of the line.
Houston nearly doubled it’s lead an hour in when Kealia Ohai sent a cross in from the left side and McDonald was able to get a piece of the ball to cause Flash goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo trouble. Lloyd looked for her second goal on the rebound but Abby Dahlkemper was able to stop the ball before it crossed the goal line and D’Angelo covered.
Down a goal, the Flash looked for an equalizer late, with Lady Andrade nearly finding the upper 90 after crafty footwork. Andrade, who along with Halimatu Ayinde made her NWSL debut on Saturday night, entered as a second-half substitute and helped create chances for the Flash, but McLeod again came up with a diving save to protect the shutout.
Samantha Mewis had a last-ditch effort for the Flash in the waning seconds, but McLeod came up with a stop, this time kicking the rookie’s attempt away.
“I thought [Houston] came out and had a little bit more control to the game to start with,” said Flash general manager and head coach Aaran Lines. “Once we made that adjustment [to a 4-4-2 diamond], we gained control for the most part. We just need to be sharper in the final third.”
GOALS
Houston: 1
Western New York: 0
SCORING SUMMARY
Houston: Carli Lloyd (49′) Assist by Meghan Klingenberg
