Barbra Banda scored a penalty kick and set an Orlando Pride club record as the Orlando Pride defeated the Houston Dash 3-1 on Sunday night at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando. The result marked the Orlando Pride’s fifth consecutive home win over the Houston Dash. Orlando Pride entered the match with a 9-12-2 record and 29 points, while Houston Dash entered at 7-11-5 with 26 points.
The Orlando Pride took the lead in the 14th minute through an own goal. Barbra Banda drove toward the end line and sent a ball across goal that Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell deflected before the rebound ricocheted off defender Leah Klenke and into the net. Summer Yates drew a penalty in the 44th minute, and Banda converted the first penalty kick of her National Women’s Soccer League career.
Banda’s penalty was her 14th goal of the 2026 season and set the Orlando Pride club record for most goals by an individual player in a single NWSL season. The goal also made Banda the fifth player in NWSL history to score double-digit goals at home in a single season. Her assist on Haley McCutcheon’s goal later in the match gave Banda four goal contributions over the Orlando Pride’s previous three matches, including two goals and two assists.
Haley McCutcheon adds to Orlando Pride lead
Haley McCutcheon extended the Orlando Pride’s advantage in the 63rd minute. The midfielder combined with Banda before scoring on a left-footed volley from just inside the box. The goal was McCutcheon’s fourth of the 2026 season and established a single-season career high.
Kiki Van Zanten scored for the Houston Dash in the 72nd minute, but the Orlando Pride held on for the 3-1 victory. Forward Sanne Lekven made her Orlando Pride debut as a second-half substitute. Interim Head Coach Yolanda Thomas also made one change to the starting lineup from the Orlando Pride’s previous match against Utah Royals, with Hannah Anderson entering the starting XI.
Kylie Nadaner, Viviana Villacorta, Kerry Abello, Julie Doyle and Rafaelle missed the match. The listed reasons were maternity leave for Nadaner, knee issues for Villacorta and Doyle, a thigh issue for Abello and a head issue for Rafaelle.
Yolanda Thomas, Haley McCutcheon discuss team effort
Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas said contributions throughout the club helped produce the result.
“There was not a single member of staff that either works in our environment in our building or in our front office that was not involved in making this happen. The togetherness was incredible, the willingness to step up to the plate and kind of do what needed to be done, on all fronts, whether that was tactical or ops or media or just being a shoulder to lean on, really, it was truly amazing to see people come together in really difficult circumstances and while dealing with kind of personal loss because we were all individually affected personally, while we recognize that have a job to do. So, it was really neat to kind of watch that happen.” — Interim Head Coach Yolanda Thomas
McCutcheon said Thomas emphasized the Orlando Pride’s defensive principles, shape and pressing.
“I think that we did exactly what we wanted to do. We came out strong. [Yolanda Thomas] really stressed our defensive principles in shape and pressing, and so, I think we executed and kind of gave them nothing. So we’re really happy and I think that looked like the old Orland Pride.” — Orlando Pride midfielder Haley McCutcheon
Orlando Pride schedule
The Orlando Pride will travel to Kansas City to play the Kansas City Current on Friday, Sept. 11, at CPKC Stadium. The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be available on Prime Video.
Source: Original report