Welcome back, and thanks for all the goals: NWSL Week 1 in review

The 2015 NWSL season kicks off, with big wins for Houston, Portland, Sky Blue FC and Seattle.

Three days, four games, a brace, a hat trick, some less than impressive goalkeeping, offenses that could never quite get going and others that exploded, a rookie's first goal and the season's first serious injury. Hey, NWSL, it's good to have you back. Well, except for that last part. You can keep that last part.

Different Dash

It's a long time from now until September, but if the Dash's season opener was any indication, last year's last place team is looking much, much better the second time around. The Washington Spirit on the other hand? Not so much.

Carli Lloyd and Kealia Ohai both scored for Houston and Bianca Henninger didn't have a ton to do in recording her first clean sheet of the season as the Dash topped the Spirit 2-0. Lloyd, who spent the past two seasons at Western NY, opened her account for the Dash in first half stoppage time, uncorking a right footed shot from just above the 18 that deflected down off the crossbar and in. Ohai doubled Houston's lead in the 50th minute, stripping Megan Oyster of the ball, dribbling around Estelle Johnson and then slotting a shot past Ashlyn Harris for Houston's second of the night.

Washington couldn't get much going offensively, forcing Henninger into just two saves through the entire game. And that wasn't even the worst part of the Spirit's night. Ali Krieger was stretchered off the field with an apparent head injury after a 17th minute collision with Jessica McDonald. Krieger didn't return to the match and the Spirit later confirmed that she'd suffered a concussion.

Same Boston

Are the Breakers headed for another season of fighting to just be not last? If Saturday's season opener in Portland is any indication, the answer is probably yes. Boston was never able to get much going, save for a few shots that required big saves from Thorns keeper Michelle Betos, and a 63rd minute goal from rookie Stephanie McCaffrey. McCaffrey's goal brought the Breakers within one of the Thorns, who'd taken a 2-0 lead thanks to first half goals from Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Or maybe Allie Long will score twice for Portland in the span of less than two minutes and the game could finish 4-1. Maybe this will be exactly as bad as we thought.

KC's title defense gets off to a shaky start

It's still probably too early to tell if Nadia Nadim really is the one thing Sky Blue FC needs to be a true postseason contender, but she made pretty good case Saturday in Kansas City. Sky Blue knocked off the defending champs on the strength of a 29th minute goal from Nadim, a defensive strategy that involved slowing the game down to a molasses-like speed, and, well, not much else.

FC Kansas City had 15 shots on the night, but just five were on goal, and Brittany Cameron -- despite her own best efforts -- somehow stopped all of them en route to her first clean sheet of the season.

Seattle is still amazing

Boston looked like they had a plan, at least. So did Washington. Not great plans, or particularly well-executed ones, but plans. Something. Western NY however, decided to head into Seattle with an anti-plan. Unless spending a lot of time running around trying to steal the ball back from Seattle while they just pass all around you was the plan, in which case, kudos to you Aaran Lines, but you still get no points because that is not how this whole thing works.

Seattle scored five goals -- four in the second half -- in what was mostly a very expensive game of keep away. Megan Rapinoe had a hat trick, and Jess Fishlock and Beverly Yanez each scored once for Seattle as the Reign started its campaign for a second-straight NWSL Shield. Jordan Angeli scored the Flash's lone goal, so expect her to be traded by the middle of the week.

Scores

Friday

Houston Dash 2 - 0 Washington Spirit

Saturday

Portland Thorns FC 4 - 1 Boston Breakers

Sunday
FC Kansas City 0 - 1 Sky Blue FC

Seattle Reign FC 5 - 1 Western New York Flash

Source SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1ardBsZ