2008 Apr 6

Preseason match:
Seattle Sounders  4 - 2  Seattle U Redhawks
Goddard Stadium, Everett, WA

Seattle: not reported.

SU: not reported.

Goals:
9' SU: Gamez
18' SEA: Schmid
52' SEA: Treschuk
65' SEA: Merl
84' SU: Hamer
90' SEA: Rigby

Match report from the Sounders:

The Sounders defeated the Seattle University Redhawks 4-2 Saturday night in a competitive and lively match at Goddard Stadium in Everett.

Goals from Andre Schmid, Kenji Treschuk, Noah Merl, and Colin Rigby offset goals from Louis Gamez and Brandon Hamer for SU.

An entertaining first half featured two goals and three yellow cards issued. The Sounders came out strong with Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar picking out league MVP Sebastien Le Toux in the 1st minute with a long ball that was just cleared by Redhawks defender, Derek Rogalsky.

SU weren't intimidated by the defending USL champions and pressured the Sounders backline with quality passes and smart runs.

The ninth minute saw SU draw first blood when Louis Gamaz took advantage of a defensive miscommunication between Chris Eylander and the Sounders backline to collect a stray ball and slot it home for the early advantage.

SU didn't hold the lead for long. The Redhawks backline fought hard to contain the pace and power of forwards Andre Schmid and Sebastien LeToux, but in the 18th minute, Schmid grabbed the equalizer, receiving the ball from the left wing and firing it into the top right corner from just outside the 18 yard box.

With the sides equal, the game settled in with SU holding a slight advantage on possession. The Redhawks made a claim for a foul in the 26th minute when a ball that appeared to be passed back from defender Taylor Graham, was scooped up by keeper Chris Eylander. The referee denied the foul.

The sides went to half tied at one goal apiece.

The second half brought an aggressive Sounders side looking to not let SU settle in. In the 52nd minute Kenji Treschuk scored the go ahead goal with a brilliant strike far outside the box that took a deflection off defender Derek Rogalsky and got past keeper Jordan Jennings.

Gaining the lead, the Sounders tried to hold possession creating few chances, but stamping out any SU advance. With the midway point of the second half approaching, neither team was creating scoring chances but in the 65th minute, Noah Merl collected a loose ball just inside the box and slotted home the third goal.

Up 3-1, the Sounders looked clear for another victory, but the Redhawks didn't give up and pressured a Sounders backline that had a couple of fresh substitutions. The 84th minute saw Brandon Hamer weave through the Sounders defense and fire in the Redhawks' second goal.

The goal was not to be enough as Chris Eylander stopped the last real chance the Redhawks had from a Brandon Hamer shot in the 87th minute. The defending champions killed the game in the 90th off a Colin Rigby header.