Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Friday, May 31, 2013
TUKWILA, Wash. – The Sounders Women battled back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rush in the second game of the 2013 W-League campaign.
The Rush recorded two first-half goals to take an early lead, despite the Sounders controlling the ball in their attacking third for much of the half. Seattle fought back in a physical second half, and in the 76th minute Texas Tech University and United States U-20 National Team player Jaelene Hinkle found the equalizer from her left foot.
"I thought if I just got it anywhere on goal hopefully it will bounce back, at least, or go in, and it went in," Hinkle said.
Although the Sounders seemed to be in control in the first half, a three-minute lapse left them in a big hole midway through the opening 45. Following a come-from-behind victory against the Los Angeles Strikers on Monday in the rain, the Sounders Women once again found themselves down early on a bright, sunny afternoon.
In the 25th minute, the Rush sent a corner kick into goal, where it was met by Sounders keeper Megan Kufeld. The ball slipped through Kufeld's hands, and it was not fully cleared by the Sounders. The ball came out to Rush midfielder Jaci Drobney, who drove home the first goal of the match.
Two minutes later in the 27th minute, Tommi Goodman took a ball into the left half of the penalty area and squared up one-one-one with Shannon Woeller fronting her. Danica Evans split the penalty box on a run and Goodman poked the ball across to her. Evans put in the goal for an early 2-0 lead for the Rush.
The Sounders Women responded well to their early deficit when Melissa Busque sent a corner kick to the head of Brigit Reder who headed the try home from the near post in the 32nd minute.
The Sounders had several chances to equalize the match before the end of the first half. Isabel Farrell took a shot from about 20 yards that looked as if it was sailing on frame into the top left corner of the goal. The Colorado goalkeeper reached her shot with an acrobatic, diving save to help the Rush take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Making her first appearance for the Sounders Women, Jenna Richardson also tested Rush goalkeeper Bethany Kanten in the late minutes of the first half.
In the second half, the Sounders Women continued to create chances and keep the ball in their attacking half. In the 76th minute, Hinkle curled in the game-tying goal past Kanten, who was battling the sun throughout the half. Hinkle took the ball up the left side, looking to serve it in to a teammate. After not being able to connect with anyone in front of goal, Hinkle sent a swerving ball from her left foot over the head of Kanten and into the back of the net.
"In the first half it was a really hard struggle when you would punt it or the defenders would go for a long ball, it would hit right into the sun," Hinkle said.
After their second consecutive comeback, Hinkle sees a lot of positives associated with the Sounders' ability to eliminate an early deficit.
"We would love to start the game up ahead, but this just shows our resiliency," Hinkle said. "Every time we come out we have to get a point, if not a win, so this just shows a lot about who we are, and that we are not just settling for a loss."
Each team finished the match with half-chances but no clear cut opportunity on goal developed.
The Sounders Women travel to Southern California for a rematch of their W-League opener against the Los Angeles Strikers on Wednesday.