Sounders Too Much For Blue Heat

Seattle Sounders News Release - www.sounderswomen.com

Sunday, June 24, 2012

TUKWILA, WA – A sold out crowd of 4,500 were treated to an exhibition performance by the Sounders Women on Sunday afternoon. It was the last game for Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, and Megan Rapinoe in the Sounders uniform in 2012 as they now prepare for the London Olympics and they were sent off in style with a 4-0 win.
 
The Sounders bounced back from Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Pali by winning in impressive fashion. Sydney Leroux scored two goals, Alex Morgan had a goal and an assist, Megan Rapinoe dished out two assists, and Hope Solo recorded a shutout.

The U.S. Women's National Team members were the main showcase on Sunday, but it was Mexican star, Veronica Perez, who scored first. In the 24th minute, Annie Sittauer was released down the left wing by Megan Rapinoe. The left back directed a cross to the back post where Perez aimed her run. She headed the ball back across the face of goal and into the net.

The score seemed unlikely to remain at 1-0 at halftime. Sydney Leroux had a few fantastic opportunities to expand the Sounders lead, but was unable to finish, and at the end of the half Santa Clarita nearly scored after their corner kick was first cleared off the line by Megan Rapinoe, then Lyndsey Johnson.

In the second half, Leroux would not be denied scoring in the 57th minute, thanks to Alex Morgan. The two U.S. forwards were sprung behind the Santa Clarita defense by a Stephanie Cox diagonal ball. Morgan streaked down the right side and slipped the ball across the face of goal to Leroux for the tap in.

Then in the 63rd minute, the Sounders began to exhibit their supreme skill. This time, Megan Rapinoe played provider for Leroux. The flamboyant midfielder had Leroux on a near post run and Morgan on the far post. Her cross came to Leroux for a one-touch finish.

After setting up and drawing attentions for her teammates throughout the game, Alex Morgan was repaid with a goal. Rapinoe clipped a ball over the top of the defense and the blistering-fast forward ran onto the ball for a 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Morgan had Leroux to her left but saw a glimmer of light at the near post. She blasted her shot in between the keeper and front post for the goal.

The Sounders 4-0 win gives them 19 points from eight matches. The win pulls them back in front of the Colorado Rush by three points for second place in the Western Conference. The loss for Santa Clarita, after a three game road trip, keeps them on 11 points from nine games played.

The Sounders’ next matches are on June 30 and July 1 in Colorado. They take on the Colorado Rapids Women on Saturday and the Colorado Rush on Sunday. The matches will be aired live on KKNW Alternative Talk, 1150AM and 1150KKNW.com.