2003 May 18

Seattle Sounders Women  3 - 0  Arizona Heatwave
Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, WA

Goals:
3' SEA - Munnis (Putz)
18' SEA - Munnis (Mueller)
59' SEA - Gamble (Mueller)

Seattle: Meghan Miller; Nicole Martinez, Joanie Gerpheide (Dana Kimble 82'), Shannon Forslund, Nikki Gamble; Rachel Rodrick, Alicia Milyak (Sarah Martinez 82'), Carolyn Putz (Christie Spear 70'); Melissa Bennett, Brenda Mueller (Tari Beck 60'), Janelle Munnis (Shelby Brownfield 76'). Substitutes not used: Beth Anderson, Haley VanBlommestein.

Arizona: Laura Janke (Lisa Hartley 82'); Shawn Reynolds, Leigh Clark (Cindy Rogers 74'), Krista McKendree, Christine Gluck; Twila Kaufman, Tracey Spinelli, Adria Barchi (Lori Sabato 60'), Tennli Ulicny (Kat Casey 76'); Lindsey Eddleman (Julie Williford 65'), Sierra Cristiana. Substitutes not used: Pam Bedzrah.


Match report by Ron Stickney:

The Seattle Sounders Women impressed in their home opener, defeating the Arizona Heatwave 3-0. Janelle Munnis, who scored the first goal in the Seahawks Stadium inauguration last year, notched a pair of goals early. Defender Nikki Gamble added one in the second half, her second goal in two matches.

The Seattle women wore forest green jerseys and shorts with white trim, and white socks.

First Half

Seattle's Caroline Putz got off to a quick start, getting around the corner on the left for a shot just 17 seconds in, saved by Laura Janke. Putz would be dangerous all match.

3' Munnis (Putz). On the next attack, Putz got free again on the left and this time crossed it high into the goal area, where Munnis headed it to Janke's right. 1-0 Seattle.

In the 11th minute we saw a flip throw-in by Arizona's Tennli Ulicny. Cool!

18' Munnis (Mueller). Putz got free on the left yet again and sent in a low cross towards the far post. To our eyes, the ball was deflected slightly by Brenda Mueller, stationed out from the near post, and Munnis had an easy tap-in at the far post. 2-0 Seattle. The official stats gave the assist to Putz, but we'll give Putz the hockey assist.

Arizona's first good chance came at 28' when Lindsey Eddleman was served in close on the right for a shot from a steep angle, sent wide. Then Twila Kaufman from the bye line sent a dangerous cross into the goal area, where goalkeeper Meghan Miller claimed it. Adria Barchi's long shot from the right side to the top far corner forced Miller to backpedal and leap acrobatically to push it over the bar with one hand, an outstanding save.

Seattle earned 3 good chances in the last two minutes. Alicia Milyak got a 15-yard chance playing garbage collector for Melissa Bennett's corner kick, but the shot went wide. Bennett was open for a 30-yarder up the middle, sent a half yard too high. Mueller was sprung up the middle in added time for a chip over the Janke from 20, but the floater went too far.

Halftime: Seattle 2 - 0 Arizona

Early in the half Putz continued her fine match, getting open for a 20-yard shot that went inches over the bar.

59' Gamble (Mueller). We're not sure who, but reportedly it was Mueller who dropped the ball from deep in the penalty area to Gamble, who sent a 20-yard shot just under the bar. Reportedly it was Putz who served the ball into the area. 3-0 Seattle.

Putz kept up the pressure, working the open space on the left to earn a 20-yard shot, sent right to Janke. Then Putz broke free on the left for a shot/cross sent a yard wide of the far post from 25. That was the last chance for Putz, as Christie Spear replaced her in the 70th minute.

Arizona had a couple of tries late. Kaufman was a yard wide right from the top of the arc. A quick 25-yarder from Tracey Spinelli missed the top far corner by a yard.

In the final minute, one last chance for Seattle as Rachel Rodrick sent a diagonal pass to the far post for Gamble, whose shot hit the side netting.

Final: Seattle 3 - 0 Arizona

Statistics:
         Seattle  Arizona
Shots:      13       11
Saves:       2        4
Corners:     6        6
Fouls:       6        8
Offsides:    5        0

Misconduct:
21' ARI - Kaufman cautioned for pulling down a defender.

Referees: Eric Knudsen; Shahram Pourazari, Pam Davis; Roberto Alvarez.
Attendance: 1,410