Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
TUKWILA, Wash. – After a sluggish first half, the Sounders Women netted three second-half goals en route to a 3-0 victory against Seattle Pacific University. All three Sounders goals came from second-half substitutes.
The Sounders held slightly more possession in the first half but the best chances were created by Seattle Pacific. If not for goalkeeper Erin McNulty, the Falcons would have led at half. In the 26th minute, the Canadian National Team member stretched every inch of her 5-foot-11 frame to tip Heather Young’s shot past the upper left corner of the goal.
The Sounders made three substitutions at half time, bringing on Elizabeth Russell at left back, Arica Slawson at left forward, and Maddie Shultz at right forward. All three would factor into the Sounders' second-half goals.
Only 1:40 into the half, Russell found space down the left wing and crossed to the back post. Shultz timed her run to perfection and stretched out her foot to calmly guide home the ball. It was the 15-year-old midfielder's first goal as a Sounder.
Just more than 10 minutes later, in the 58th minute, a Sounders substitute scored again. This time it was Slawson who was first to react after a cross from Melissa Busque was knocked down in between the defense and goalkeeper. Slawson beat the defense to the ball and tucked home the shot from five yards out.
Slawson wasn’t done with her mark on the match. In the 80th minute, with SPU pushing forward for a goal of its own, the Sounders regained possession and tried a long pass over the top of the SPU defense. Goalkeeper Natalie Harold was forced to leave her penalty box to clear with her feet. Her clearance fell to Slawson, who collected the ball, composed herself, and beat her defender with a step-over to her left. The Central Washington All-Decade Team forward shot with her left foot, low and hard, into the corner for the final goal of the match.
The Sounders Women held on for the 3-0 win.
The final college exhibition match for the Sounders Women preseason is on May 10 against the University of Washington. The match includes extra pre-match festivities with a kids-clinic and charity partnership for fan entertainment, so come early and stay tuned on Sounders Women.com for details.
Single-match tickets for the remainder of the season are currently on sale on SoundersWomen.com.