The Seattle Sounders Women defeated Seattle Pacific University 5-0 on Monday night in a preseason exhibition at Starfire Sports Complex, opening their season with U.S. internationals Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux and Stephanie Cox. Megan Rapinoe was the only U.S. player who did not play on Monday.
Lyndsay Patterson opened the scoring in just the sixth minute, but it took until the 43rd minute for the Sounders Women to score again. Leroux slotted Morgan in behind the defense and Morgan finished with her left foot.
Veronica Perez had a wonder strike in the 75th minute (highlights below) to give Seattle a 3-0 lead and Kara Kuttler and Victoria Frederick finished off the scoring in the 78th and 88th minutes.
The crowd was a sellout at Starfire, although I am yet to see an official figure. Overall, it seemed to be a great start for Seattle on and off the field; and yes, it is great to see some of the best women’s players in the country wearing a MLS kit, even if a full out MLS-W of sorts has a very long way to go to become reality. Friday should be a good test of the Seattle market. It will mark the second home match in five days for the Sounders Women, which will put to test just how absorbent the market will be of the star power it has in a solid Sounders Women squad. The Sounders Women take on Seattle University at 7:30 p.m. PT at Starfire on Friday.
Highlights of Monday’s match:
Also of note on the MLS-women’s connections: Real Salt Lake has partnered with WPSL’s Salt Lake United. That adds Real Salt Lake to the list of MLS teams with at least some minor interest in and connection to a women’s team. Seattle, the Vancouver Whitecaps, D.C. United, FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids are also on that list. Chivas USA also has a partnership with the LA Strikers.
One more video that seems to be going viral: Marta scores on a back-heel for Tyreso. The woman is just on another level –
