Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Friday, June 7, 2013
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - After a fantastic start that included two Sounders goals, the Sounders Women held off a late charge from the Santa Clarita Blue Heat to win 2-1 for their second win during a three-match road trip.
Melissa Busque and Sara Campbell scored in the 7th minute and 10th minutes respectively. Despite the hot start for Seattle, the Blue Heat controlled most of the second half and made things intense after a 62nd-minute goal to pull within one. Erin McNulty saves, the crossbar, and tightened defense all contributed to the Sounders’ slim victory.
The Sounders Women looked like they might cruise to an easy victory after the first 10 minutes of the game. Initially it was Busque with her first goal of the W-League regular season. She reacted better than the Santa Clarita defense to pounce on a long bouncing ball. Her first touch was to pass the ball into the bottom far corner of the goal.
The Sounders added another goal three minutes later off a corner kick. The ball was floated to the back post where defender Shannon Woeller calmly brought it down and touched it to her left to open up space in front of goal. Her shot was redirected by Campbell into the net for her second goal in as many games.
The Sounders controlled the first half, but the second half was a different story.
In the 62nd minute the Blue Heat poured gasoline on their small first-half flame. Ana Borges picked the ball up on the right channel, turned the Sounders defense and crossed accurately to the head of Rhianne Parsons in front of goal for a sharp header goal.
The home team continued to push for an equalizer for the final half hour. A short time after their goal, Natalia Gomez-Junco smashed a shot off the crossbar. Her effort from the top of the box drilled the underside of the bar and bounced a foot in front of the goal line before the Sounders keeper could save it from danger.
Each team tried to add to their tally during the last 10 minutes of the match but saves from Cynthia Jacobo for Santa Clarita and McNulty for Seattle kept the final score 2-1.
The win gives the Sounders 10 points from their first four matches to sit on top the Western Conference table.
The Sounders Women stay in Southern California for one more match this week. The final game of the three-match road trip is on Sunday at 3 p.m. against the second-place team in the Western conference, the Pali Blues.