Gotham FC wrapped up its three-match road trip with a gutsy 1-0 victory over the Houston Dash on Saturday that extended the Bats’ unbeaten streak to six.
Stand-in goalkeeper Shelby Hogan made several critical late saves to earn a second consecutive shutout, starting in place of No. 1 goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Hogan made a total of six saves, including a fast-twitch 80th-minute save on Sophie Schmidt and a 96th-minute punching save to deny Sarah Puntigam’s lasered effort.
Gotham FC Continues To Manage Berger’s Workload as Hogan Delivers
Following Saturday’s victory at Shell Energy Stadium, Gotham FC’s acting head coach, Shaun Harris, explained that Berger, who also did not feature in Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Bay FC, is being rested. It’s unclear if the 35-year-old is dealing with an injury.
“She just needed a rest,” Harris said of Berger during his post-match press conference. “She’s obviously played a lot of games. She’s a key player for us, and we want to make sure we can preserve her for the rest of the season, so it’s just about when we can take these moments and give her a rest.”
Harris applauded Hogan’s ability to be prepared to step in for Berger when the German shot stopper is injured or unable to start.
“At the same time, I can’t praise Shelby enough for the work and the commitment that she puts in,” Harris stated. “She trains, she stays ready. She’s kept another clean sheet, which we’re super proud of.”
Sam Kerr Ties Esther González’s Regular-Season Club Scoring Record
Star forward Sam Kerr would score the match’s only goal moments after the second half began. Guro Reiten capitalized on a loose ball in Houston’s box and slid a pass to Kerr, which she redirected into the net.
Reiten notched her team-leading fourth assist of the season. It was Kerr’s 30th regular-season goal that tied Esther González for the most in club history.
“Obviously, Sam’s a top goalscorer,” midfielder Savannah McCaskill said. “She adds a whole another dimension to the team – the ability to move in and around the box but also link play in the middle third, so it’s a great addition.”
Kerr missed a penalty earlier in the match in the 22nd minute. Houston left-back Leah Klenke made contact with Jordynn Dudley, but Kerr sent the attempt wide.
Road Trip Ends With Gotham Atop NWSL Standings
Former Gotham striker Khyah Harper made her Dash debut. The 23-year-old entered the match in the 55th minute and created one chance. She also completed six of eight passes, made two tackles and two interceptions.
The victory pushed Gotham into first place in the NWSL standings with 37 points gained, though the rival Washington Spirit (36 points) will have an opportunity to overtake the Bats when they kick off against San Diego Wave FC at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
Gotham will return home to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday, August 7, against the Wave. Friday’s contest is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on Prime Video.
More Gotham FC Coverage
Enjoyed this story? Follow us for the latest updates! | Bluesky | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Leave a Reply