Dallas Trinity FC Extends Lexington Dominance With Commanding 3-1 Win at the Cotton Bowl

Dallas Trinity FC solidified their playoff aspirations with a clinical 3-1 victory over Lexington SC on Saturday night at the historic Cotton Bowl. With the win, Dallas improves to 11-6-7 (40 points), maintaining their hold on second place in the USL Super League standings, while Lexington—already eliminated from playoff contention—slumps further to 4-15-5 (17 points).

Saturday’s win marked Dallas' fourth consecutive triumph over Lexington this season, completing a clean 4-0-0 sweep—the first such feat in league history.

Cody Grubbs/Undrafted

A Night of Milestones and Momentum

From the opening whistle, Dallas was on the front foot. In just the 5th minute, Tamara Bolt capitalized on a defensive miscue to notch her first goal for the club since joining on loan from the Washington Spirit. Midfielder Deborah Abiodun initiated the chance with a probing pass, which a Lexington defender mishandled. Bolt pounced and converted with composure to give Trinity an early advantage and ignite the 4,753 fans in attendance.

While Dallas dominated possession and created a flurry of chances throughout the first half—outshooting Lexington 22-4 overall—they were unable to double their lead before the break. Standout opportunities came from Gracie Brian, Julia Dorsey, and Allie Thornton, but Lexington's goalkeeper delivered several key saves to keep it a one-goal affair.

Lexington’s equalizer came unexpectedly in the 69th minute following a foul from Amber Brooks. Hannah White finished the chance clinically, slotting the ball past Madison White to level the match.

But Dallas responded instantly.

Just a minute later, academy product and UNC-commit Sealey Strawn reclaimed the lead for the home side. Subbed in just minutes prior, Strawn capitalized on a clever steal and a chipped assist from Camryn Lancaster, scoring her third goal of the season and delivering a momentum-swinging blow.

In stoppage time, Dallas finally found the cushion it had been pushing for. Midfielder Jenny Danielsson made a slick move to draw defenders before laying off a perfect pass to Allie Thornton. The Arlington native made no mistake, burying her 11th goal of the season—second-most in the league—to put the match out of reach.

Cody Grubbs/Undrafted

Dominance, Depth, and Determination

Dallas’ performance Saturday was defined by both statistical control and mental resilience. The team led in every key metric, including total shots (22-4), shots on target (8-1), and corner kicks (7-2). Thirteen different players saw the field, showcasing the squad’s depth despite the absence of starters Chioma Ubogagu and Hannah Davison, who were both listed as questionable pre-match.

Head coach Pauline MacDonald praised the team’s execution and composure post-match:

“I think there are a lot of lessons for us to be learned from this evening. I’m delighted with the result, and it keeps us in a very good spot to secure a playoff spot, which is our objective.”

Strawn echoed the urgency felt within the locker room:

“It was really important for us. We have four games left, and today in the locker room, the main point was that we needed to win this match. We needed to come away with three points—and we did that.”

Cody Grubbs/Undrafted

What’s Next

With just four games left in the regular season, the path to the playoffs intensifies. Dallas will now embark on a three-match road trip, beginning with a crucial clash against Tampa Bay Sun FC (9-6-9, 36 points) on Saturday, May 3 at Riverfront Stadium. The match kicks off at 4:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on Peacock.

Trinity’s final regular season home match looms large—on May 31, they’ll host league leaders Carolina Ascent, who currently sit six points ahead in the standings. That fixture could prove decisive in the race for the top playoff seed.

Cody Grubbs/Undrafted

Final Thoughts

This win reinforces what’s becoming a defining narrative for Dallas Trinity FC in 2025: a blend of homegrown talent, veteran leadership, and a refusal to fold under pressure. Whether it’s a rising star like Strawn delivering in key moments or seasoned scorers like Thornton sealing results, Trinity continues to find ways to win—and make history doing it.

If they carry this form into their final stretch, they won’t just be playoff-bound—they could very well be title contenders.