Dashing: 20 June v Western New York Flash

This was the final game the Dash should play without their six participants in the World Cup, and they turned in a very nice performance, winning 2-0 against the Flash.

{I’ll write more about this at some point, but it’s pretty bizarre that the Dash–a second year team that was among the league’s worst last year–is perhaps the most impacted team in terms of the World Cup.}

This was a very good win by the Dash, but one that also raised some questions for the team moving forward.

#THE GOOD

Kealia Ohai continues to impress, and she is the only player whose starting job is, I think, rock solid safe on the return of the World Cup participants. Her speed remains the key to her game, exemplified by a lung-busting, box-to-box run late in the second half where she outran three players, but had a shot well-saved.

Her goal was interesting: the build up play was impressive, working down the Dash’s left flank, but the play seemed to break down, with Ohai and Jessica McDonald getting a bit tangled up along the top of the box. But Ohai found some space, was able to turn her hips, and sent a fantastic shot into the top corner of the goal. It was impressive, and speaks to the development in Ohai’s game: if she can enhance her speed with technical precision, and with shooting accuracy like that, she should have some national team call ups in her future.

Speaking of McDonald (who is quickly becoming one of my favorite Dash players), her opening goal was fantastic. Ellie Brush (who had a game full of quiet confidence) sent a low, hard cross into the box and McDonald, to steal from Ray Hudson, rose like a salmon in a stream to loop the ball over the keeper and into the top corner. It was a great, great header.

Niki Cross continues to look a bit ungainly as a holding midfielder, but she continues to be very effective. I love that Randy Waldrum did this: Cross is a central defender through and through, but her size and her focus and her constant effort serve her well in her new role, even if her first touch at times puts her in dangerous positions. As importantly, the Dash are noticeably better on set pieces, with Cross, Pressley, Brush, McDonald, and Tiffany McCarty available.

#THE UNGOOD

I have loved watching Toni Pressley since the Dash acquired her from the Flash earlier this year. She has been (again, channeling Ray Hudson) imperious at the back: unbeatable in the air, very good at reading the game, showing a powerful leg on clearances. And all of that was here for this game. But her passing was near-atrocious. There were at least four turnovers caused by inexplicably poor passing from her from the back. This needs to be a one-time thing.

Camila Pereira is a conundrum at left back. She is a bundle of attacking energy, with stereotypically Brazilian foot skills–grace, creativity, a magnetic relationship with the ball. But … she seems less than enthused about her defensive responsibilities, and spends most of the match far ahead of her compatriot on the right side, Ella Masar. This led to the Flash consistently finding gaps on her side of the field, allowing Jasmine Spencer and Jamia Fields to continually move into dangerous positions. I would not be surprised if the Dash end the year with Camila and Masar both moving into midfield: they are both certainly more suited and more comfortable further up the field.

Writeup from the always dependable Dynamo Theory here. Match report from The Dash here.