Seattle Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Monday, April 9, 2012
TUKWILA, Wash. – In the first match of the 2012 preseason, the Seattle Sounders Women entertained the fans at Starfire Sports Complex as the largest crowd in Sounders Women history was on hand to watch the team defeat Seattle Pacific University, 5-0.
Sounders fans got a first look at U.S. National Team members and recent signings Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, and Stephanie Cox. Solo, a Richland, Washington native, recorded the shutout with three saves. Morgan scored the second goal of the night, while Leroux and Cox played important roles in both creating goals and winning possession back for the Sounders Women.
Goals for Seattle were scored by five different players, highlighting the team’s depth. Lyndsay Patterson started the scoring in the sixth minute with a flick on header off a Tafara Pulse corner kick. Patterson and Pulse are both Sounders veterans.
It took until the final two minutes of the half for the Sounders to link up for a second goal. This time it was two National Team players, as Leroux ran down the left channel before cutting back to the middle, and slipped a ball through to Morgan. On Morgan’s first touch, she drove the ball to the back netting with her left foot.
The second half was a chance for Veronica Perez to shine. The Mexican National Team midfielder created numerous chances for her teammates throughout the game. When the chance fell to her own feet, she knew exactly what to do with it. A swift cut from her left foot to her right opened up a chance to shoot from outside the box. Perez drilled the shot off the left post and into the goal in the 75th minute.
The Sounders added two more, from Kara Kuttler and Victoria Frederick in the 78th and 88th minutes. Both goals were helped on by Leroux, who was a handful for the SPU defense all night.
The Sounders are back in action on Friday, April 13 at Starfire against Seattle University. Tickets are still available for the match at www.SoundersWomen.com. Fans are encouraged to order online to ensure they get a ticket before the match sells out.