Entering this weekend’s action four teams remain in contention for the fourth and final Gainbridge Super League playoff position. Dallas Trinity start the weekend in that playoff position with 33 points. DC Power sit in fifth place just a point back of the Trinity. In sixth, the Spokane Zephyr FC are tied with the Power on points but trail on goal differential (+4 to +1). Brooklyn FC, sitting in seventh, remain in the playoff chase by the slimmest of margins, 7 points back of a playoff spot with three games remaining. For DC and Dallas, victory in Friday night’s clash was essential. A win for either team would put them in control of the playoff race. A draw would open the door for Spokane to leap both teams with a win in their next match.

Recognizing the need for a victory, both teams started out aggressively at kickoff. The first 15 minutes set the tone for what would become a back and forth affair. Just two minutes in to the match, DC Power’s Loza Abera drove down the left hand wing and forced Dallas goalkeeper Tyler McCamey to make a save. A few moments later Dallas responded with a descent opportunity. Jasmine Hamid played a ball from midfield that found Camryn Lancaster on the wing. Lancaster played a leading ball into the box for forward Sealey Strawn who had gotten in behind the DC defense. It looked for a second as if Strawn would have a great opportunity to open up scoring for the night with no one between her and goalkeeper Morgan Gottschalk, but ultimately her touch was a bit heavy. The ball got away from her and rolled meekly over the endline for a corner kick.

DC Power continued to exert pressure on the visitors and in the 14th minute had another great opportunity that just missed. After picking off a Dallas throw in, Jaydah Bedoya played Alyssa Walker in on the right wing by herself, but her shot was deflected out for a corner. On the ensuing play, instead of putting the ball into the mixer inside the penalty area, Emily Colton played it short to Abera on the wing. Abera launched a cross into the 18 which found Sydney Cummings’ foot, but ended up going wide of the net.

Just three minutes later, Power fans witnessed a potentially concerning moment. Dallas’s Lauren Flynn fouled Walker, knocking her down from the side. Walker attempted to brace her fall with her right arm, but still landed awkwardly. Referee Kelsey Harms halted play and called out the medical staff as Walker remained on the ground clearly in pain and holding her right shoulder. The medical staff did get Walker to her feet and the sideline for additional care. DC continued to threaten while Walker was on the sideline. Despite being down a player, shortly after the restart Bedoya found Abera in the center of the box with a good looking cross from the wing. The ball got caught up in Abera’s feet and the attack came to nothing.

After the failed attack, Dallas began exerting more pressure on the Power defense. Sustained Dallas possession lead to Emily Colton committing a foul and giving the Trinity a free kick in DC’s half. Former Spirit Amber Wisner got the top of her head on the end of Jenny Danielsson’s free kick, floating the ball just wide of the post.

As the first half continued on, both teams continued to have opportunities, but no luck. In the 28th minute, Justina Gaynor played a great ball into the box which found Jaydah Bedoya, who launched a cross at the direction of the far post. McCamey made a diving attempt to corral the cross, but wasn’t able to come up with the ball. Instead, it ended up at the feet of Loza Abera. With the net empty, Abera was unable to score, instead she hit the side netting with her shot. Just a few moments later Abera had another opportunity when a Dallas failed to clear a Colton corner. The ball found Loza at the top of the penalty area, but she sailed the volley over the cross bar. Abera had a third great opportunity in just a ten minute span when Anna Bagley played a cross into the box from the left wing. The cross found Abera who headed it directly at McCamey.

In the 33rd minute, Dallas had what initially looked to be a great opportunity. A defensive miscue from DC found Jasmine Hamid alone with the ball and a clear look on goal. Bedoya made a great run from midfield to disrupt the play. (The offsides flag ultimately negating the play.) Dallas had their best opportunity of the first half when Power goalkeeper Morgan Gottschalk attempted to pass the ball out of the box while under pressure. Her pass when directly to Camryn Lancaster. Gottschalk parried Lancaster’s shot away to keep the game scoreless.

DC had two more good opportunities to score before the half. In the 43rd minute Sydney Cummings skied a Colton free kick over the crossbar. In stoppage time Wisner blocked an Abera shot out for a corner, which came to nothing.

With the game scoreless and tied at halftime, both coaches when to their benches during the break. Omid Namazi substituted Hannah Richardson in for Walker. On the other bench, Nathan Thackeray opted for the hockey line change substitution, bringing in Chioma Ubogagu, Sydney Cheesman, and Bethany Bos for Maya McCutcheon, Caroline Swann, and Jenny Danielsson. Dallas’s moves proved to be beneficial in short order. Seven minutes after the restart, Bos dispossessed Anna Bagley at the edge of the penalty area, drove into the area, and put a left footed shot past Gottschalk’s out stretched arms to give Dallas the lead. (The goal was Bos’s second of the year. Her other goal was scored in their previous meeting at Audi Field.)

Following the goal, the game continued to be a back and forth affair as DC sought the equalizer. In the 68th minute, Emily Colton forces a turnover deep in Dallas’s defense half, but her shot was directly at McCamey. DC did find the equalizer in the 79th minute when Sydney Cummings directed an Alexis Theoret corner in the direction of Ellie Gilbert. A second half sub, Gilbert directed the ball into the net for her first goal of the year.

Gilbert’s goal seemed to re-energize the Power. DC began to assert more pressure on the Dallas defense, eventually earning a free kick from just outside the arc. Abera’s ensuing shot presented DC with their best opportunity to find a winner. After her initial attempt deflected back to her, Abera volleyed the ball back at the goal. Dallas deflected it out for a corner.

Neither team was able to find a winner despite ample stoppage time and the match finished in a 1-1 draw. The result is a disappointment for both teams. Though neither lost ground in the playoff race, both teams may have conceded control of their destinies to Spokane. Should the Zephyr win their next match they will be in the pole position for that final playoff spot. For the Power, the remaining matches will not be easy. Their two remaining games are against first place Sporting Jacksonville who are fitting to hold the top place and their competition for that last playoff spot, Spokane.

DC Power will play their 2025/2026 home finally on Wednesday against Sporting Jacksonville at 7 pm.