Seattle Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Friday, July 6, 2012
TUKWILA, WA –The Sounders Women treated another sell-out crowd of 4,500 to five goals and plenty of celebration in their final home match of the 2012 W-League season. Lyndsey Patterson scored two goals in the first half, while Veronica Perez added two in the second half, and Megan Manthey capped the night off with the fifth goal to send Sounders fans home happy.
The Sounders Women have enjoyed the highest level of support this season that a W-League team has ever experienced. The players on the squad wanted to demonstrate their appreciation for their fan support by finishing the home campaign in style, and that’s exactly what they did.
“It’s just been amazing,” forward Lyndsey Patterson said. “You can’t put it into words how it makes you feel as a player and how it is to play in front of people like that and know how much they love you. You just want to play so well for them.”
Patterson started the celebrations off with a goal in the 25th minute. The move started with Veronica Perez, who drew attention at the top of the box before finding Sophie Reiser to her left. Reiser, last year’s leading scorer, knew exactly what to do with the ball. She took just one touch to chip the ball to the back post for Patterson, who ran on for the volley to open the scoring.
Just two minutes later, Patterson found the goal again. She accepted a long diagonal pass from Perez with a couple controlling touches. After settling the ball she ripped a shot over Victoria's goalkeeper Stephanie Parker and off the bottom of the crossbar into the net. Patterson had more than 30 family and friends in the stands from as far as Florida, so it was a true delight to score the brace.
The second half brought more celebrations, both on the pitch and off it. Veronica Perez was fouled five yards outside the penalty box, and she was elected to take the free kick. The Mexican National Team star lined up a perfect free kick around the outside of the wall and into the upper corner for a 3-0 lead. The team celebrated by running to the stands where confetti, water, and streamers showered the team.
Perez made another case for W-League MVP on the season as she scored her 11th goal of the regular season in the 71st minute. Perez took a bouncing ball and controlled it before driving her shot across the frame into the top corner.
In stoppage time, substitute Megan Manthey got on the end of a pass from Perez to score the fifth goal of the night. Manthey’s shot beat the goalkeeper with sheer pace for her third goal of the season.
The win gives the Sounders 25 points from 11 games played. Their closest competitor for the second, and final, playoff spot from the Western Conference, Colorado Rush, tied 1-1 with the LA Strikers Friday night. That result means the Sounders now have a seven point cushion.
Next up for the Sounders is one final road stretch in California. Seattle plays Wednesday against Santa Clarita, then Friday against Los Angeles, and next Sunday against the Western Conference-leading Pali Blues. Radio coverage of the matches can be found on Alternative Talk, 1150AM or on 1150KKNW.com.
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Sounders Women Defeat Highlanders
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