Rookie Maggie Graham helps push Dash past Stars

Maggie Graham scored the go-ahead goal in the 64th minute as the Houston Dash rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Stars on Sunday afternoon in Bridgeview, Ill.

Graham, a rookie who earned first-team All-American honors at Duke in 2024, had entered the contest as a substitute just a minute earlier. She drilled a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a cross from Delanie Sheehan inside the right post for her second goal of the season and the game-winner.

Defender Paige Nielsen also scored a goal and Jane Campbell finished with five saves for Houston (1-1-0, 3 points).

Jameese Joseph scored a goal and Alyssa Naeher made two saves for the Stars (0-2-0, 0 points).

Chicago, blanked by the defending NWSL champion Orlando Pride 6-0 in its season opener, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when Joseph fielded a long pass from Bea Franklin at the edge of the box and then buried a right-footed shot into the right side of the net.

Houston, a 2-1 loser to the Washington Spirit in its opener, bounced back to tie it 1-1 in the 20th minute when Nielsen roofed in a left-footed rebound from the center of the box during a scramble following a corner kick.

The Dash finished with a 62.2-37.8 percent edge in possession and also outshot the Stars, 15-11.