Rush vs. Sounders Draws 4,500 Fans for Women’s Spectacle
Created on Saturday, 02 June 2012 01:30
It must be said that the environment in Seattle on Friday night for the Seattle Sounders home opener against the Colorado Rush Women was a first for the Rush Women and the ambience that existed was one that the game of soccer in the United States (male or female) needs desperately. The Colorado Rush Women suffered their first defeat of the 2012 campaign on this night however in front of 4,500 energetic Seattle Sounder fans. (Special recognition must also go out to the Washington Rush for their 200 Rush fans also in attendance adorned in their Rush gear!) The two clubs both built with national team power went toe to toe for 90 plus minutes. Granted, the national team players representing the Sounders also represent the U.S.’s senior national team while the national team players for Rush, outside of Brittany Bock who was called into the full team’s camp last winter , represent our country at the youth level. Regardless, there was no doubt about the talent represented on the field. A starting line up with an average age somewhere between 18 and 19, the Rush Women began the game bravely. After fending off an early onslaught from the Sounders Women, Rush began to settle in creating dangerous attacks through the forward line of Kendall Johnson, Lindsey Horan and Danica Evans. In a spell where it seemed every Rush give-a-way might be punished with a Sounder attack, in the 19th 
minute a Rush give-a-way did indeed result in a quick counter and when Sydney Leroux was able to get behind and provide the low hard cross to the back post, Rush was behind 1-0 and facing not only an empowered side but the many boisterous fans cheering on the home team. Only moments later the crowd was introduced to Lindsey Horan who whipped a free kick over the Sounder wall but it was the underside of the cross bar that proved to be unbeatable when it clearly looked that Sounders keeper Hope Solo was. Minutes later it was Danica Evans created her own opportunity and offered a hard strike and this time Solo was equal to the task and pushed the ball into the cross bar for the second time denying Rush the equalizer. Half time score was 1-0. The second half was greeted with the same energy as the first and both teams came out firing. Only a few minutes in Seattle was awarded a free kick on top of the box and Mexican international Veronica Perez stepped up to take the kick. After a near miss in the first half from similar angle and distance, this time there would be no mistake as the Rush wall and keeper were thwarted and at that the Rush Women faced a two goal deficit and an extreme uphill battle. There was no quit in sight however for the Rush Women so the battle ensued. And in the 70th minute when captain Brittany Bock hit a screamer from 25 yards out that once again rang the cross bar, Horan was there for the header to firmly rebound the ball into 
the back of the net. 2-1 and game on! When asked about the goal, Horan responded, “I saw Bock lining up to shoot and I attacked the goal. She did the hard part, with the keeper beat I just needed to focus on finding the target.” When asked about her team’s performance, Horan continued, “I am proud of my teammates. Our work tonight never stopeed, but the goal coming in to this game was to win. I’m disappointed with the result.” Bock and center midfield cohort Jacy Drobney played a key role all night and matched if not surpassed the play of their counterparts. The Rush back line was tenacious for the duration and did not let superstars Leroux and Alex Morgan relax for a moment. Goal keeper Dayle Colpitts was called upon numerous times and time after time answered the call. Thoughts shared by head coach Erik Bushey after the game: “We made mistakes and were punished. Tonight we gained tremendous experience and learned a great deal about ourselves, some of which is very positive and other aspects, well, are areas we must improve. Technically we must improve. Our soccer coming out of the back is not good enough and in a short season, there is no time for moral victories. We must get better starting now. We leave Seattle knowing we could have gotten more from this game but we leave Seattle with zero points. We will move on beginning now and our preparations for Pali begin immediately. All that being said, I am very proud of our team. I believe the Rush Soccer Nation can be proud and at the same time know that we will work to do better.” The Rush Women are next in action on June 10 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park when they face traditional power Pali Blues of California.
