Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash: Match preview and how to watch

Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash

Yurcak Field; Piscataway, New Jersey

August 11, 2018

7:00 p.m. ET

Watch: NWSLsoccer.com or NWSL app

Sky Blue FC (0-13-4, 4 points) returns to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Saturday when the club hosts the Houston Dash (6-8-5, 23 points) at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, New Jersey, for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. Fans can watch on NWSLsoccer.com or the NWSL app.

The New Jersey side announced on Thursday that a transfer has been agreed upon to send forward Janine Beckie to Manchester City of the FA Women’s Super League. This marks yet another roster change to Sky Blue FC since the start of the season as only 19 players currently remained rostered on the club’s website.

Sky Blue FC comes into Saturday night’s match-up off a thrilling 2-2 draw with the Orlando Pride on the road last Sunday. For the first time this season, the New Jersey club took the lead when Carli Lloyd delivered a well-placed ball from the left side of the field to the right side of the box for Savannah McCaskill. She headed it back towards the center of the box to find Groom who despite being marked, won the aerial battle and sent a header home for the 2-1 scoreline in the 59th minute.

Orlando found the equalizer in the 73rd minute, and had an opportunity to take back the lead in the 97th minute when the Pride was awarded a penalty kick after Lloyd was called for a handball in the box and given a straight red card. Marta stepped up to the mark, but goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan saved the attempt and secured the road point for Sky Blue.

Lloyd will be unavailable against the Dash on Saturday as she serves a one-game suspension, and Groom will also be absent due to concussion protocol.

The Houston Dash arrive to New Jersey off a 2-1 loss to Utah Royals FC despite getting on the scoreboard first. Sofia Huerta tallied her fifth assist of the season as she found Veronica Latsko in the first half for Houston’s only goal of the game.

The last time these two teams faced each other during the 2018 campaign was on May 5th at Yurcak Field. In the back-and-forth match-up, Sky Blue FC’s Katie Johnson scored a brace. However, the Dash took the lead for the final time in the 79th minute as Latsko scored her first NWSL career goal off the bench and lifted her team to its first victory of the season.

Historically, Sky Blue FC leads the all-time series between these two clubs, owning an accumulative 6-2-3 record.

Injury Report

Sky Blue FC

OUT: Shea Groom (concussion protocol)

QUESTIONABLE: None

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None

Houston Dash

OUT: Bianca Henninger (left hand fracture), Kristie Mewis (left ACL sprain – SEI), Meleana Shim (left ankle sprain), Kyah Simon (left ankle sprain)

QUESTIONABLE: Kimberly Keever (left knee sprain), Janine Van Wyk (right ankle sprain)

INTERNATIONAL DUTY: None