Houston Dash vs. North Carolina Courage: NWSL Match Preview

The game: Houston Dash (2-5-3) vs. North Carolina Courage (5-5-0)
When or: 7 p.m. Friday; Shell Energy Stadium
How to watch/listen: Space City Home Network (SCHN2), NWSL+ (digital streaming service), Deportes Nation (Spanish audio)

Houston has worked hard to improve since a season-opening 5-1 loss to North Carolina on March 16. The Courage have a league-leading four clean sheets and won’t make it any easier for the Dash, who are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Portland for Houston’s second straight home game without scoring a goal. The Dash look to end a three-game losing streak against the Courage and earn their first home win of the season. North Carolina, which is sixth in the NWSL standings with 15 points, six points ahead of the 12th-ranked Dash, is coming off a 1-0 victory over Utah to end a three-game losing streak . The Courage arrive in better form with a goal differential of +2, scoring 13 goals while conceding the fourth goal with 11. The Dash own the second-worst goal differential in the league at -10, scoring eight goals and conceding 18 Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who is one of four Dash players expected to join their national team in the upcoming FIFA window, is doing her best to help the team improve this margin. She leads the league with 54 saves, including eight against Portland.

Tarciane is ready for her NWSL debut, according to Dash coach Fran Alonso. The 20-year-old defender was acquired via transfer from Corinthians (Brazil) on April 23, making Dash the 11th signing for the 2024 season. She has been training well since arriving in Houston eight days ago and should play against North Carolina, Alonso hinted Thursday. Tarciane, who started her career at Fluminense, joined Corinthians in 2021 and helped them win back-to-back national titles (2022-2023) and the 2023 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Femenina. She will join compatriot Paige Nielsen to strengthen a backline that has conceded the third most goals behind expansion teams Utah (19) and Bay FC (21). The Brazil international, who has scored four goals in 23 league appearances for Corinthians, is expected to continue to contribute in attack as she was awarded the Bronze Ball after scoring three goals to lead her country to third place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2022. Cup in Costa Rica. Tyler Lussi leads North Carolina with three league goals – the same as Diana Ordóñez for the Dash.