Bay FC’s run up the NWSL standings came to a stunning half on Friday night in Houston, as deflection near the goal a minute into second half stoppage time found the back of the net, sending San Jose a 1-0 loss to the Dash.
Everything had been going San Jose’s way since the league resumed following the June international break. Bay FC (5-7-3, 18 points) came into the game riding a three-game unbeaten streak — two wins and a draw — tied for the best run in franchise history. Bay FC also was coming off consecutive shutout victories to move three points out of the eighth and final NWSL playoff spot.
But Linda Ullmark’s last-minute goal turned a potential scoreless draw into a frustrating loss at Shell Energy Stadium. The match puts Bay FC at the halfway point of its 2026 season schedule with 15 game remaining.
“Obviously really disappointed and really frustrated with the result tonight,” head coach Emma Coates said. “(I) felt like the goal kind of came against the run of play, and that we conceded so late hurts, but we dust ourselves off and have another game to prepare for mid week.”
San Jose’s next game is Wednesday night against league-leading Gotham FC at PayPal Park followed by another home game on Saturday against Seattle Reign FC, one of six teams — including Bay FC — in hot pursuit of the No. 8 playoff spot.
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Houston (5-7-4, 19 points) leapfrogged Bay FC and moved one point ahead of San Jose into 11th place in the NWLS standings and are three games out of the No. 8 spot in the playoff chase.
The Dash were able to slow down red-hot Karlie Lema, who had scored in each of Bay FC’s previous three matches. The Cal grad recorded her first career NWSL brace in the club’s 3-0 win against North Carolina.
Bay FC goalie Jordan Silkowitz made seven saves.
Houston came into the game in 13th place, but also has been on a hot streak as of late. This was the Dash’s seventh straight match decided by one goal or fewer, a stretch that has seen them get two wins and three draws.
This was the first of this season’s two head-to-head meetings between the clubs. They’ll meet again at PayPal Park on Aug. 23.
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