2003 Jul 13

Seattle Sounders Women  3 - 0  Denver Lady Cougars
Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, WA

Goals:
5' SEA - Forslund (Bennett)
67' SEA - Frimpong (Bennett)
84' SEA - Munnis (McNallan)

Seattle: Meghan Miller; Shannon Forslund, Wynne McIntosh, Katie Miyake; Rachel Rodrick, Alicia Milyak (Carolyn Putz 65'), Haley VanBlommestein, Nikki Gamble (Haley McNallan 46'); Melissa Bennett, Brenda Mueller (Janelle Munnis 65'), Tina Frimpong (Dana Kimble 83'). Substitutes not used: Kelly Nigh, Joanie Gerpheide, Sara Martinez.

Denver: Janet Wildemuth; Gwen Strom, Afton Saver, Kirsten Kiphart (Carolyn Theurer 36'), Lendsey Wile; Kacy Beitel, Megan Beasley, Chrissie Duren, Amy Gray (Yaneash Donaldson 88'); Britney Butcher (Kirsten Warder 74'), Mary Everett. Substitutes not used: Chellie McCourt, Becky Barritt, Jackie Jewell.

Match report from the Sounders Women:

The Seattle Sounders Women defeated the Denver Lady Cougars 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Seahawks Stadium.

The Sounders women offense clicked early with two shots in the first two minutes. Rachel Rodrick placed an excellent header on goal in the 1st minute and Brenda Mueller outraced a Lady Cougar defender into the 18-yard box. Her shot was deflected just wide of the goal.

Off a direct kick in the 5th minute, the Sounder women got on the board. Melissa Bennett played a beautiful ball onto the head of Shannon Forslund. Forslund rose and placed a header past Lady Cougars keeper Janet Wildemuth. It was Forslund's first tally of the year.

The offensive attack continued several times in the first half. Mueller beat a Lady Cougar defender in the 28th minute and went in one-on-one with Wildemuth. From 11 yards out, Mueller clanged a shot off the post. Tina Frimpong and Alicia Milyak both had shots off a corner kick in the 32nd minute.

Frimpong, along with Brenda Mueller, got the start at forward for the Sounders women. Heading into her junior season at the University of Washington, Frimpong played in 20 matches for the Husky women. She scored seven goals and added four assists in the '03 season.

The second half began with a flurry of activity for the Sounders offense. Frimpong received a beautiful through ball and headed toward the 18-yard box. Her first touch was too far in front of her and she only managed a wide angle shot on goal.

Denver pounded the Sounder defense in the 47th and 48th minutes. Cougars 2nd half substitute Carolyn Theurer had a great chance when her header found its way through traffic and into the hands of Sounders keeper Megan Miller. Lindsey Wile broke free in the 48th minute but placed a shot right into the arms of a charging Miller.

Bennett and Rachel Rodrick took 25-yard blasts in the 63rd and 65th minutes, respectively. Wildemuth made two diving saves to her left.

Frimpong scored her first goal as a Sounder in the 67th minute of play. Bennett lifted a ball into the 6-yard box and Frimpong rose above everyone to give the Sounders the two-goal lead.

Sounders 2nd half substitute Janelle Munnis just barely missed putting the Sounders third goal on the board in the 72nd minute of play. Frimpong put a nice square ball on the foot of Munnis who had her shot deflected just wide.

Munnis did score the Sounders' 3rd goal of the match in the 84th minute of play. Haley McNallan, who entered the game in the 45th minute, slid a cross by two defenders onto the foot of Munnis. Munnis slid and buried a shot underneath Wildemuth.

With the win, the Sounder women improve to 6-1-3 (W-D-L), 19 points, 2nd place in the Western Division of the Western Conference. The Vancouver Whitecaps Women have already clinched a playoff berth, sitting at 8-1-1, first place in the Western Division.

The next Sounder home match is Saturday, July 19th against the Mile High Mustangs. Kick off is set for 4 pm.

Statistics:
         Seattle   Denver
Shots:      14        4
Saves:       3        5
Corners:     8        4
Fouls:       8       14
Offsides:    6        1

Misconduct:
none

Referees: Jeff Hosking; Krystin Lambalot, Ann Hicks; Roberto Alvarez
Attendance: 434