COMMERCE CITY – Denver Summit FC controlled the stat sheet but couldn’t turn in a win. 

In the second matchup between Denver Summit FC and the Houston Dash, neither team left Dick’s Sporting Goods Park a winner. After creating a 2-1 lead at the half, Denver allowed Houston to score in the second half and didn’t score any more for its fourth draw, 2-2, of the season Sunday. 

Similar to last week’s 3-0 loss to Kansas City, Denver once again controlled possession time and had 10 shots on goal to Houston’s four and 26 shots to the Dash’s nine. The Summit managed 15 attempts inside the box but could not capitalize in the second half. 

“The approach and hunger and ambition to win are evident,” coach Nick Cushing said. “There are small details we need to work through. It’s another one we should have won and didn’t, and we just need to keep working.”

On May 9, in the first meeting between the teams, the Summit (4-5-4) prevailed 4-1 on the road. Sunday marked the final match for Denver at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with the opening of its temporary stadium being next Saturday, July 18, against the Portland Thorns. 

Forward Yazmeen Ryan opened the scoring for Denver in the 14th minute with her second goal of the season following a corner from defender Janine Sonis, who scored Denver’s second goal of the night from a penalty kick in added stoppage time in the first half (45+3). 

“I felt (the goal) in the moment, and it paid off,” Ryan said. “Playing for this team has been everything for me. I immediately felt like myself, felt the energy with the group, and got the green light from coach to be myself, and it’s so easy to play with these players.”

It was Sonis’ third goal against Houston (4-7-3) this season after recording Denver’s first franchise brace in the May 9 meeting. Co-captain Sonis was drafted eighth overall by Houston in 2016 and played three seasons with the Dash. 

Sunday was a reunion for several other Summit players who previously played for Houston. Ryan, as well as midfielder Delanie Sheehan, saw consistent match play with the Dash last season, while goalie Abby Smith also spent last season in Houston and was in goal for nine matches. 

Following Ryan’s point in the first half, Houston quickly responded with a goal from Kat Rader a minute later to even the score. 

After a missed shot on goal in the 27th minute, Sonis got revenge in added stoppage time in the first half with a successful penalty kick to put Denver up 2-1 into the break. 

Houston came out aggressively in the second half, with Linda Ullmark scoring the team’s second goal of the night in the 75th minute to tie the score once again. 

After being out for the last two matches due to injury, Tash Flint made her return to the pitch as a sub in the 61st minute. Last week, head coach Nick Cushing confirmed that Flint had fractured two ribs and had been doing non-contact technical work in practice. 

Summit forward Olivia Thomas made her first career start Sunday after three years with the 2024 NCAA national champion North Carolina. Both Thomas and Flint recorded one shot on goal Sunday night. 

Next Saturday’s game will also be the debut of captain Lindsey Heaps and a chance to turn around Denver’s season. Cushing saw some good performances Sunday, but said the team needs to take advantage of more chances to reach the next level.

“I tell the team it’s meant to be difficult,” Cushing said. “It’s the highest level of the game. You can change countries, but this level is meant to be difficult, so you must be on your game every day. We need to be better in those moments.”