Sounders Women News Release - www.sounderswomen.com
Sunday, April 27, 2014
BOTHELL, Wash. – The Sounders Women scored their first two preseason goals for a 2-1 victory against Washington State University Sunday. The match was a special exhibition match at Pop Keeney Stadium in partnership with FC Alliance.
The Sounders Women opened the scoring with late first half and early second half goals, only to be kept on their toes when WSU scored in the 74th minute. The Sounders held on for the win.
After a good half hour for Washington State, the Sounders struck first in the 35th minute. The Sounders earned a corner kick which was flighted in by Laura Rayfield toward the back post and met by Nicole Stewart for the first goal of the season. Stewart, who subbed in a couple minutes prior, rose higher than her mark to head the ball home.
In the 41st minute Sounders goalkeeper Jamie Arturs held the lead with an excellent save. The Cougars set up a free kick from the top of the penalty box and Kailiana Johnson drilled a shot on frame. Arturs quickly raised a palm to touch it over.
Stewart nearly added a second goal a few minutes later when a long diagonal ball from Olivia Mackey found Stewart rin stride, but she volleyed just wide.
The second half was the first chance for Sounders fans to see newly signed Brittany Baxter in a goal scoring position. She timed a run to get behind the defense for a breakaway. Her shot was saved by Alexis Thode and produced a foot race between Kennya Cordner and the Cougars' goalkeeper. They arrived at the same time, rolling the ball over for a corner.
The Washington State goalkeeper was again in action in the 53rd minute as she cut down the angle to save Cordner’s shot from close range.
The lead was made comfortable in the 64th minute by Stewart and Cordner. Stewart picked the ball up at the mid-line and struck a firm through-ball behind the Cougars defense. The ball held up in the wind perfectly for Cordner to beat the charging WSU keeper. Momentum took Cordner around the keeper and she tucked the ball home from the edge of the box.
The final 15 minutes were ensured to be exciting when the Cougars cut the deficit in half in the 74th minute. After extended action in the WSU attacking third, Kailiana Johnson touched the ball over to Kaitlyn Johnson, who shot well into the far corner.
The Cougars were inches from evening the score in the 77th minute as a shot from Kaitlyn Johnson was nearly a perfect pass to the far post, but Cara Wegner’s slide to poke it home was an instant too late.
The Sounders Women's next exhibition is slated for Friday, May 9 against Western Washington. The match will be held as the first half of a doubleheader, to be followed by the Sounders U-23 vs. Bellingham United men’s teams.
The next home match is May 16 against longtime rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps. For tickets and details, see SoundersWomen.com.