Nichelle Prince led the Houston Dash to an emphatic 5-0 victory over the Orlando Pride, notching the first hat trick of her NWSL career and the first in club history Friday night.
The Canadian international logged her first finish in the 27th minute, getting in behind the Pride backline before beating the goalkeeper to put the Dash up 1-0.
The assist 🤌 The finish = G⚽AL! @nichelleprince7 scores for the @HoustonDash to make it 1-0 against the @ORLPride! #HOUvORL | #AllTheAction pic.twitter.com/pL9Fa6jfHu
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 4, 2022
Ten minutes later, Prince charged into the Orlando box before striking a curler that deflected off a Pride defender into the back of the net to put the scoreline at 3-0 before the half.
Finishing the first half strong with a @nichelleprince7 goal 🔥!#HOUvORL | #AllTheAction pic.twitter.com/wYqQNZnLfC
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 4, 2022
Finishing off her historic performance, Prince collected a missed Pride clearance before chipping the goalkeeper to log her third goal of the night in the 49th minute.
HAT TRICK ALERT! 🎩🚨@nichelleprince7 scores her THIRD goal of the night!@HoustonDash | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/fd5RJZHw3y
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 4, 2022
Friday’s 5-0 victory marks Houston’s biggest win since the club’s 6-1 result over Sky Blue FC on August 25, 2018.
The Houston Dash ended their Challenge Cup campaign on a high, defeating Racing Louisville 2-1 in the clubs’ final group-stage matchup on Sunday.
While both sides were out of semifinal contention heading into their matchup, Houston and Louisville hoped to enter the regular season with a victory under their belt.
The Dash started on the front foot with Nichelle Prince opening up scoring in the 24th minute, picking her defender’s pocket before slotting home the go-ahead goal.
.@nichelleprince7 swipes it and opens the scoring in Houston@HoustonDash | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/AqjoMK2itD
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 24, 2022
Racing Louisville responded just five minutes later, with Jaelin Howell firing in a deflected set-piece clearance to equalize. The finish marks the MAC Hermann winner’s first professional goal.
😱 Racing Louisville answers right back and @jaehowell18 gets her first professional goal!@RacingLouFC | #RacingLou pic.twitter.com/G0u3QC4BV9
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 24, 2022
Houston Dash restored their lead in the 35th minute after a well-struck corner from Maria Sanchez snuck past the Racing Louisville keeper, with the goal credited to Ally Prisock.
Dash back in front! Back and forth in Houston as the corner from @Maria17_7 finds the back of the net 💫@HoustonDash | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/QbBXzGR4fo
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 24, 2022
Despite a late push from Racing Louisville, the 2-1 scoreline held through the second half, with neither side able to find the back of the net after the break.
Houston and Louisville exit the pre-season tournament with six points, with the Dash notching two wins and Racing Louisville recording one.
The Houston Dash broke their winless streak Saturday night, powering past the Red Stars 2-1 at home.
📼 Sights from Space City 📼#HOUvCHI | @Nationwide pic.twitter.com/f6oldPXosi
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 30, 2021
The game was open from the start, with both teams streaking up and down the field for most of the 90 minutes.
The Red Stars struck first with a moment of individual brilliance from Mal Pugh. In the 4th minute, Pugh darted down the flank, cutting inside to rocket the ball into the far post.
In her first season in Chicago, Pugh has been the Red Stars’ most dangerous striker, appearing to be in top form as she tries to work her way back into the national team conversation.
.@MalPugh wasting NO TIME 😏#HOUvCHI | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/zSs35NKgI1
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 29, 2021
In the 18th minute, Nichelle Prince used some fancy footwork to create space at the edge of the box before looping in a ball over Alyssa Naeher’s gloves. The impeccable finish equalized the game at 1-1.
A royal finish from @nichelleprince7 👑#HOUvCHI | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/sH6ptuAOIz
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 29, 2021
Splitting possession, the rest of the game felt within reach for both sides. However, it was the Houston Dash that found the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute.
Kristie Mewis lined up to take the corner for Houston, lobbing the ball into the box where her cross was deflected out to Schmidt. Schmidt gathering the stray ball and sent it back to the far post, where Mewis was waiting to tap in the well-timed service.
A little bit of Mewis Magic 🪄#HOUvCHI | https://t.co/bONPZnnmCJ | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/glTYbpLfki
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) May 30, 2021
The score line stayed at 2-1 for the remaining minutes of the game, earning the Dash their first win of the regular season.
The Dash will look to ride their momentum from Saturday night into the team’s game against Kansas City on June 6. The Red Stars will hope to move out of the bottom third of the league standings when they face the Courage on Saturday.