Match Preview: Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash

Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash

BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas

May 13, 2017

4 p.m. ET

Watch: Lifetime

Sky Blue FC (1-2-1, 4 points) will make its Lifetime television debut on Saturday when the club travels to Houston to take on the Dash (2-2-0, 6 points) in Week 5 action of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Kickoff for the Lifetime Game of the Week is set for 4 p.m. ET with a pre-game show starting on Lifetime at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Both teams will be looking to rebound from Week 4 losses in the first set of the home-and-home series. Sky Blue FC found itself on the wrong end of a 4-3 result against the Washington Spirit last week, the first time in five NWSL seasons that the New Jersey club lost a match when scoring three goals. Midfielder Sarah Killion led the SBFC attack with a brace while U.S. international Kelley O’Hara added a goal and an assist. Forward Francisca Ordega registered two goals and an assist to lift the Spirit to its first win of the 2017 campaign.

Houston comes into the match off a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars. Forward Kealia Ohai has scored 13 goals in her last 14 games, but was unable to convert last Saturday as the Dash recorded only two shots throughout the game. U.S. international Morgan Brian, who has been recovering from a right knee MCL sprain, played her first minutes of the 2017 season.

In the last seven match-ups between these two clubs, Sky Blue FC is unbeaten against Houston, going 4-0-3 and allowing just three goals during that span. However, SBFC head coach Christy Holly will once again be forced to make adjustments to his starting XI due to players missing games.

Sky Blue FC will be without O’Hara on Saturday due to an excused absence, but the club will gain back three players who missed last week’s contest against the Spirit. Midfielders Raquel Rodriguez and Daphne Corboz will return to the pitch, and captain Christie Pearce has been cleared to play after missing the past two matches for league concussion protocol.