The Sounder Women came to Starfire Stadium on this breezy Friday night to capture their first win of the 2013 season.
The first real chance for the Sounders came in the 9th minute when Theresa Henle played a low, driven cross in front the net to teammate Lindsey Elston who flicked the ball towards goal but was just wide of the goal frame. The game flowed nicely back and forth between teams, with neither really having a solid shot on goal. In the 26th minute Henle crossed another lovely ball to a teammate who tested the Vancouver keeper, but was denied a goal. In the 34th minute Annie Sittauer of the Sounders played a lovely drop ball to the top of the 18 yard box to Elston who hit a stinging shot just wide of the goal mouth. Vancouver turned around and attacked the Sounders goal where #9(not listed on the roster) whipped a cross into the box but Erin McNulty of the Sounders swept up the ball to deny Vancouver of any other goal scoring opportunities. In the 44th minute Elston was dropped the ball to the top of the 18 for a second chance at goal. This shot was nicely hit, but was once again wide of the goal mouth. The Sounders had many opportunities and most of the possession in the first half, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Vancouver had some flashes of brilliance and had developed rhythm amongst themselves by the end of the first half.
The second half started out with both teams fighting to score the first goal. Early into the half Vancouver received a corner kick and Natalie Boyd found the the cross and chipped the ball over the cross bar. The possession was equal between the two teams throughout the second half. In the 68th minute McNulty came off her line and slid to deny Chelsea Harkins who had been played a through ball. The Sounders turned the ball around and came back to attack the Vancouver defensive third. Elston of the Sounder played a through ball to Henle, but the ball was just a touch in front of her and she wasn’t able to get a shot off. In the 84th minute the Sounders had their best chance on goal. Arica Slawson played a beautiful cross to Laura Rayfield who had a chest trap and tried to flick the ball past the keeper, but was denied. Vancouver returned the ball to the Sounders half where Harkins ripped a shot on frame, but McNulty came up with a save to keep the score at 0-0. The last chance for the Sounders came in the 91st minute Henle crossed the ball to Elston who was wide open who volleyed it towards the goal, but the ball went over the crossbar.
The Sounders had a great ball possession in the first half and had multiple opportunities to score throughout the game. Although the game was scoreless look for the Sounders to find rhythm amongst themselves and find the back of the net as the season progresses.
