Sounders Women Face Division Leading Colorado Rush In Home Opener

Sunday’s game against the Vancouver Whitecaps was not the test that we expected. It was a tough match to be sure, but Vancouver is struggling to gel as a team. I’m sure that they will recover their stride, and climb back up from their current location near the bottom of the division. Our home opener will be against the division leader.

The Colorado Rush have a mix of very young players, who like to shoot from outside the box. They have played four players age 18 or younger, and have three more at age 19. The Rush have experience on their side though, in spite of the youngsters. Watch for Danica Evans, who wears number 22. She has two goals so far this season, both game winners. Their captain, Brittany Bock (#11 for the Rush), also has two on the season so far. She is a former Western New York Flash player from the now defunct WPS. They have never started a season with three wins, and they will be anxious to go to four.

We should have the National Team players back from their win over China on Sunday. There is still no official word on Stephanie Cox’s status with the Sounders, but I believe that she will remain with the Sounders. She is being allowed time to consider her options after not making the 18 member Olympic squad. Keelin Winters had already signed with a team in Germany, and will be leaving as planned prior to being called into camp with the USWNT.

As shown in Sunday’s game against Vancouver, we don’t have to rely on our National Team players to do it all. Veronica Perez has a goal in each match so far this season. She is the leader of this team when the National Team members are away. We also got a goal from Megan Manthey, who has been playing in Denmark for the past few years, and seems to finally be getting her legs under her. Our keeper Katie Hultin was stellar in goal on Sunday, and brings confidence to the back line when Hope Solo is out.

Victoria Frederick was named to the W-League team of the week for her assist on the game winning goal against the Whitecaps. Look for her to continue to earn playing time on the back line, and to push forward to help on offense.

This team is solid, and should stand the test of this strong Colorado Rush. It will be a fantastic game, with end to end action, and a lot of shots on both goals. In the beginning of the season, this is the team that the Sounders called out as their toughest foe. As fans, let’s get out there and help lift our Sounders Women to another victory on their road to the playoffs. There are still a few tickets for this match, get them through the Sounders Women site, here. Or you can chance it, and try to buy tickets at the gate.