2009 Jan 31

Final open tryout match:
Seattle Wolves  2 - 0  Sounders SuperSearch Finalists
Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, WA

Wolves: 1 Pete Lechak; 23 David O'Neill, 13 Pedro Batres, 3 Daniel Scott, 5 Noah Merl; 8 Brandon Sprague, 6 Matt Hulen, 7 Gabe Sturm; 10 Willie Cardenas (19 Ryan Oxford 69'), 22 Thiago Rivela (20 Mark Conrad 55'), 14 Patrick Davidson.

SuperSearch: 24 Ryan Riley (18 Chris Natale 40'); 3 Dallas Jaussi, 8 Chase Mikkelsen, 2 Al Valencia, 6 Gareth Waite (11 Mutanda Kwesele 3'); 4 Sam Lam, 1 Oliver Wellman, 7 Desmond Tachie, 5 Eric Sterling; 10 Junior Garcia, 9 Vini Oliveira.

Goals:
5' Wolves: Sturm (Rivela)
32' Wolves: Rivela

Match report by Ron Stickney:

The Seattle Wolves hosted the Sounders SuperSearch Finalists at Starfire Sports Complex Stadium in a match limited to 70 minutes. The Wolves walked off the pitch winners by a score of 2-0, with goals by ex-Sounder Gabe Sturm and Brazilian Thiago Rivela. Rivela had been in the SuperSearch tryouts and was passed over, so maybe he had some extra motivation this day.

Defender Gareth Waite from England had an unfortunate day, leaving the match injured after a hard ball to the face just a couple of minutes after kickoff. He was replaced by a borrowed player from the Wolves, Mutanda Kwesele.

5' Wolves: Sturm (Rivela). The Wolves got on the scoreboard quickly. A quick restart from a free kick near the halfway line worked the ball to Rivela in the right corner. His diagonal drop pass was run onto by Sturm, who shot low to the far post from 15 yards. 1-0 Wolves.

32' Wolves: Rivela. This one should not have been a goal. Rivela's cross to the near post was allowed to bounce in the goal area near a defender and then it just bounced on into the goal untouched, past the watching Ryan Riley, who was loaned to the SuperSearch squad by the Wolves. 2-0 Wolves. There is a lesson here. If you find yourselves short of a goalkeeper, don't borrow one from your opponents on the day!

Vini Oliveira from Bellevue had several bright moments for the SuperSearchers. He broke free by a step for a shot from 15 yards early in the match, but couldn't beat goalkeeper Pete Lechak. Oliveira showed good skill dribbling at opponents, once beating three of them to earn a shot. His turn-and-shoot at the end of the first half was a worthy effort, glancing off the outside of the near post at the upper corner.

As for the defenders, some fans liked what they say from Al Valencia from the Yakima Reds. Others liked the play of Chase Mikkelsen, Oliver Wellman, or Sam Lam, listed as midfielders. Valencia's teammate Junior Garcia never managed to threaten the goal, and then early in the second half he went down, fouled from behind, and missed a portion of the match before returning to the pitch. Garcia was PDL player of the year in 2008 after scoring plenty of goals.

A winner will be chosen by team judges, including coach Sigi Schmid, tomorrow after the SuperBowl. The winner will then fly to California to join the preseason camp. If it was up to us, Vini Oliveira would get the nod.

Statistics:
           Wolves   SuperSearch
Shots:        9        21
Saves:        8         3
Corners:      0         5
Fouls:        5         4
Offsides:     1         0

Misconduct:
None