2007 Jun 17

Co-ed benefit match:
Sounders White 4 - 4 Sounders Green
Issaquah High School, Issaquah, WA

Photo galleries: 1, 2, from Chuckarelei.

Match report from the Sounders:

The Seattle Sounders men and Crossfire Sounders Women combined efforts on Sunday to raise nearly $10,000 for the family of Marin Morrison, a 16 year old swimmer from Sammamish who is battling a brain tumor.

The match treated the fans to some unconventional tactics from the two sides that included a rare start at forward for defender Jake Besagno, an even rarer appearance in the midfield for goal keeper Chris Eylander and an abundance of theatrics from both sides as they worked to gain any advantage possible.

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer coached the White Squad and bantered throughout the match on the field level microphone with the green squad's coaching duo of Nathan Knox and Colin Rigby over a side wager placed before the match.

In the second half it was Drew Tacher who stole the show, coming on to captain the white squad and lead them to an eventual penalty kick victory after tallying an assist and earning and converting the penalty that tied the match at four goals each with just seconds left. The youngster Tacher earned his chance to test his meddle with the pros during a halftime auction that also benefited the Morrison family.

The Sounders players watched as a host of raffle winners took the spot kicks to determine the winners of the match.

When all was said and done, the White Squad was victorious, but the real winners were the fans, players and friends of the Morrison family who got to share in the special inspiration provided by Marin as she's overcome challenges greater than most will ever face.