2005 May 16

Goals:
18' ARI - Bogus (Cooper)
35' ARI - Bogus (Lopez)
43' SEA - Frimpong (Mueller)
49' SEA - Baysa (Mueller)

Seattle: Lisa Brookens; Shannon Forslund, Dana Kimble (Nicole Martinez 46'), Katie Miyake, Nikki Gamble; Kelli Smith, Michelle French, Malia Arrant (Janelle Munnis 72'), Chalise Baysa (Mary Kuder 77'); Brenda Mueller, Tina Frimpong. Substitutes not used: Katie Hultin, Sheryl Williams.

Arizona: Jennifer Branam (Pamela Tajonar 46'); Maria Castillo (Luz Saucedo 46'), Jennifer Klein, Amy LePeilbet, Stephanie Peel; Michele Deatherage, Brittany Cooper, Monica Vergara, Mallory Miller (Julie Williford 66'); Juana Lopez, Elizabeth Bogus. Substitute not used: Shaye Harrell.

Additional match report: Sounders.

Match report by Ron Stickney:

The Seattle Sounders Women started out their season by digging themselves into a 0-2 hole, then came back to settle for a 2-2 draw against the visiting Arizona Heatwave. Elizabeth Bogus netted both Arizona goals in the first half. For the Sounders, Tina Frimpong scored just before the break and Chalise Baysa scored just after. Brenda Mueller assisted on both Seattle goals.

The match featured plenty of offense. The Heatwave took 28 shots, about half of them by Bogus, and put 16 of them on goal. Bogus, a member of the US national U-21 team, was real in this match. The Sounders put 11 of their 17 shots on frame.

First Half

Frimpong had the early chances for Seattle, forcing saves by Jennifer Branam in the 5th and 17th minutes, the latter a fingertip save.

18' Bogus (Cooper). An attack down the left side had Brittany Cooper springing Bogus past the defense. Bogus shot from 20 yards over goalkeeper List Brookens and just under the crossbar. 0-1 Arizona.

For most of the rest of the half the Heatwave outplayed the Sounders, as too many of Seattle's passes went to the wrong-colored jersey.

35' Bogus (Lopez). In the middle of the attacking third, Juana Lopez served the ball forward for Bogus on a diagonal run left to right. Bogus outran her marker and shot low inside the far post from 15 yards as Brookens was moving to cover the near post. 0-2 Arizona.

Arizona kept up the pressure with two good chances around 41'. Lopez got in close with a shot that Brookens deflected just wide of the far post. Cooper beat 2 defenders for a 10-yard shot that Brookens slowed, then Brookens turned and dove toward the goal line in time to prevent the ball reaching the line.

43' Frimpong (Mueller). Just before halftime Seattle scored their first goal of the season. Mueller's through ball from the top of the arc straight up the middle was finished by Frimpong with a break toward goal that was either perfectly timed or perhaps slightly offside. Frimpong's shot from the penalty spot was put under the collapsing goalkeeper Jennifer Branam and just inside the left post. 1-2 Arizona.

Halftime: Seattle 1 - 2 Arizona

49' Baysa (Mueller). Seattle completed the comeback early in the second half with a goal from a free kick play. Malia Arrant sent the 25-yard free kick low past the wall to the spot, where Mueller took it with a slashing run from right to left. Mueller got within 5 yards of the left post and shot low, hitting the near post dead center. The hard rebound went right to an open Baysa 12 yards out and she volleyed it into the middle of the mostly open net. 2-2.

The scoring was over, but the shooting wasn't. Seattle kept up the pressure as Frimpong fed Baysa on the right for a good chance, saved overhead by 2nd-half goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar. From the spot, Mueller fed Frimpong on a run at the left post and she touched it past the charging Tajonar but couldn't finish before the ball rolled just wide of the post.

Then it was Arizona with the momentum for 20 minutes. From a cleared corner kick, Monica Vergara's blast to the far post was saved by Brookens with an acrobatic sideways leap. Bogus tried a turn-and-shoot from 15 yards and Brookens saved overhead. Bogus sent in a diving shot up the middle from 25 yards that just cleared the bar. Cooper's shot/cross from wide right was saved overhead by Brookens.

Seattle brought on substitute Janelle Munnis, who missed the entire previous season due to injury. Munnis rekindled Seattle's offense in the 82nd, chipping a ball over the defense for Mueller, whose shot/cross was too far in front of Frimpong and a yard wide of the far post. Munnis served a diagonal ball left for Frimpong, whose shot was on goal and saved by Tajonar.

The 90th minute saw Arizona's Cooper try to prevent extra time by dribbling half the length of the pitch to earn a 20-yard shot, fired hard and low but right to Brookens. Two minutes were added and a last-second cross gave substitute Julie Williford a shot from the spot, but Brookens was there for the save.

90 minutes: Seattle 2 - 2 Arizona

Apparently tired, Seattle had one good shot in 20 minutes of extra time. Michelle French's corner kick in the 99th was headed on goal by substitute Nicole Martinez, and Tajonar did well to catch it at the bar.

Arizona had three good chances, all in the second 10-minute extra time period. Bogus advanced with the ball to the arc and made space for a low shot that was saved by Brookens. Williford was sprung on the left for an open shot from 15 yards, and Brookens parried it wide. In the final minute, Cooper sprung Williford for an 18-yard shot from the right that rolled just wide of the far post.

Final: Seattle 2 - 2 Arizona

Statistics:
         Seattle  Arizona
Shots:      17       28
Saves:      14      8
Corners:     6        4
Fouls:       5        9
Offsides:    3        3

Misconduct:
None

Referees:
Attendance: 150