Summer Yates’ goal in the 67th minute was the difference as the Orlando Pride beat the host Houston Dash 1-0 on Friday night.
For the Pride (12-0-5, 41 points), the result maintains their status as the only unbeaten team in the NWSL this season — stretching a streak that’s the longest in league history — and increases their lead over the second-place Kansas City Current, who play Sunday. The Dash (3-9-5, 14 points) remain nestled near the bottom of the league table after their sixth consecutive match without a win. Houston also hasn’t scored a goal since May 24.
After a scuffle for the ball at midfield, Yates slipped through Houston’s back line and corralled a feed from Angelina that Dash defender Natalie Jacobs failed to stop. Yates took two touches as she made her way into the penalty area, then sent the ball dribbling past Dash keeper Jane Campbell for the score.
Campbell came up with seven saves in the game, including an impressive denial of Marta, but couldn’t stop that strike from Yates.
It was the fifth goal of the year for Yates, who subbed on after halftime for Julie Doyle.
Orlando outshot Houston 21-9 and put eight shot attempts on goal while the Dash mustered just one. Houston’s Andressa Alves had an attempt bounce off the inside of the far post in the 86th minute.
The match featured defender Carson Pickett’s return to an Orlando uniform after the Pride acquired her from Racing Louisville FC for $75,000 in allocation money last week. Pickett, who entered the match in the 61st minute for Cori Dyke, previously played for the Pride from 2018 through 2020.
Orlando will aim to extend its streak on Sept. 1 when it hosts Gotham FC.
–Field Level Media
