Kristie Mewis, Houston Dash win NWSL Challenge Cup: “The sky is the limit”

Houston Dash midfielder Kristie Mewis beats OL Reign midfielder Shirley Cruz to an open ball. (Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/Getty Images).

Her appearance in Sunday’s NWSL Challenge Cup final was brief, though Kristie Mewis (Hanson, Mass.) had quite the impact.

Mewis raced onto a long ball in the 4th minute, drawing a penalty kick that teammate Sophie Schmidt dispatched in the eventual 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars, a squad that features goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Stratford, Conn.) and forward Rachel Hill (Rollinsford, N.H.).

But Mewis also felt her hamstring tighten up, forcing a 29th-minute exit when she “couldn't run anymore.” The 29-year-old was brought to tears, watching in suspense as CeCe Kizer entered as an early substitute.