Week 9 of the Houston Dash season brought a new edge to training as the team received a boost both from the victory over Western New York over the weekend and the arrival of Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg. The difference in scrimmages was noticeable as the pair’s presence lifted the performance of the entire team.

The energy level went up tenfold

With much going on over the course of the week, we cover a bevy of topics in this edition of Inside Dash Training

Look Back at the Win

With the second win of the season under their belts, things were a little bit different at practice this week with new story lines to discuss. “It was a great result for us,” said Waldrum after practice on Tuesday. “We needed that one in so many different ways.

“I thought we did a good job in taking them out. You know we had Ella [Masar] man marking Carli Lloyd in the 1st half. We were going to do the same with Abby [Wambach] before she got hurt. By the half, giving up the goal right before the half, I just kind of felt like ‘we’ve got to go get the win now’. By doing that (man marking) we did not get enough of the ball in the 1st half.

“Even though we had some chances, we didn’t have enough of the ball so we took her off of Carli. I think it just kind of threw Carli’s whole game off, to be honest with you, because I did not think she was very effective, even in the 2nd half.”

Osinachi Ohale was assigned to man mark Wambach but the early departure due to injury changed that. Given that the injury was not serious, the Dash were not unhappy to see Wambach leave the game. Pulling Masar off of Lloyd in the 2nd half made the midfield a bit more fluid and enabled the Dash to control possession a bit better. An increase in the number of chances followed as a result.

“I thought we were unfortunate not to even get a couple of goals. That period around us getting our second goal it seemed like we had about 15 minutes where we could have scored – either before we got the second one or even right after – somewhere along the way I thought we could have gone up 3-1. Kealia [Ohai] was really good I thought. I thought Tiffany McCarty was really dangerous and Nina [Burger] was again creating chances for herself. I thought it was one of our better games offensively.”

Kealia Ohai Credit: Nigel Brooks

The Dash played with the lead for really the first time all season given how late the winning goal against Boston was scored. Over the final 15 minutes, the team struggled to retain possession as the Flash launched wave after wave of attack.

Despite the pressure Western New York was able to place on the Dash goal, Waldrum was pleased with the team’s ability to see the game out, “I thought we did a good job killing off the match. We’re not used to really playing with the lead, so I thought we did a good job at the end. We had a couple of subs there we were trying to sub in late just to kill a little bit more time off. I thought it was a good team effort all the way through.”

Performance of the Forwards

Over the first six matches of the season, the forwards provided one goal for the Dash (Ella Masar against Boston). Over the last four matches, the forwards have scored five times (Masar x 1, McCary x 1, Ohai x 1, Burger x 2). Not coincidentally, the number of chances created by the forwards has increased as well.

Tiffany McCarty and Kealia Ohai have stood out as players that have really upped their games. Nina Burger, of course, was increasingly dangerous and involved as she settled in over the course of the month and was ultimately nominated for NWSL Player of the Month for May.

When asked about the difference in play, Waldrum points to figuring out what the best combination of forwards is, “Once Nina got here and started to settle in and adjust to the league a little bit, I think we at least found somebody as a focal point to kind of build around with the others.

“Then, I think that since Kansas City, Tiff [McCarty] has come on and done really well for us in those last three games consistently. Then Kealia, the last two games, she’s put together a couple of really good back-to-back games. She’s confident in getting the ball, turning and going at players. We’re just starting to find consistency with the same players and those players are performing a little bit more consistently.”

Tiffany McCarty sees an increase in confidence as an important factor in the improved play of the forwards, “I think building confidence. We all give each other confidence. Even when you’re not scoring, you know sometimes people get frustrated, but I think we’ve all come together and said, ‘hey, we’re going to take it one game at a time’. We believe in our defense and we believe in our offense and that’s how we’re going to keep building confidence.

I think that’s what has helped us. We’ve been working with Brian [Ching] too out here, so that helps too.” Ching has become a fixture at training, working with the forwards in particular. The players have benefited from his experience, knowledge and the pointers he has offered each of them.

Whitney Engen and Meghan Klingenberg – aka “Engenberg”

Our interview with Engen and Klingenberg was posted earlier this week. As noted above, the arrival of the pair has had a noticeable effect on training this week. Waldrum pointed out the difference earlier today and the potential impact ahead of this weekends meeting with Sky Blue FC, “If practice is any indication of how the game will go, the energy level just went up tenfold with those two US kids coming back.”

Waldrum further elaborated, “It reinvigorated the players around them and pushed them even more. So I am hoping that on the road we will get out to a real good start this weekend.”

McCarty also remarked on the difference in practice, “It’s been great. The minute they came in here they were talking and directing people and I think as a back line that is exactly what we need. You need people behind you telling you which way to go. It just makes it kind of easier. It seems like we are going on an upward scale like that so they came in at the right time and we’re ready to face Sky Blue.”

Ella Masar (30), Jordan Jackson (8), Ari Romero (2). Credit: Nigel Brooks

Holly Hein

Holly Hein was released on Tuesday to clear room on the roster for Engen and Klingenberg. Hein cleared waivers on Wednesday evening and returned to practice with the Dash on Thursday. The Dash have indicated an interest in Hein remaining with the team on amateur status as Dominique Richardson did following her release last month.

For now, Hein may have options in other leagues such as WPSL and needs to consider what is best for her at this stage. The expectation is that she will consider her options this weekend and make a decision by next week.

International Call-ups

The Dash will be missing three players for the June 11th match as Engen, Klingenberg and Burger will depart following the June 8th match for international duty. After the match on the 11th, Erin McLeod and Kaylyn Kyle will join up with Canada as well.

NWSL rules allow for teams to call up amateur players as temporary replacements when a player departs for international duty. Dominique Richardson and Tori McCombs, both of whom continue to practice with the team, will be called up when Engen and Klingenberg depart and will be available for the matches on June 11th and June 14th.

Keeper Megan Kinneman will be called up following the departure of McLeod in order to back up Bianca Henninger in the net. The Dash will look at other amateur player options to fill in for Kyle .

Neither Hein nor Elizabeth Sullivan, who is training with the team this week following her release from Portland, would be eligible. NWSL rules require 30 days to pass following a player being waived in order for them to regain amateur status.

Injury Updates

Jordan Jackson was cleared to return to action following her concussion and practiced with the team all week as did Lindsay Elston following an extended absence due to a high ankle sprain.

Teresa Noyola and Kika Toulouse sustained slight injuries over the weekend but were back in full contract practice by Thursday. Erin McLeod practiced after sitting out the match against Western New York last weekend.