Seattle Wolves News Release - www.seattlewolvesfc.com
Saturday, July 11, 2009
SALEM, OR -- Underneath the flood lights of McCullough Stadium the Seattle Wolves Football Club (9-3-3) defeated the Cascade Surge 3-0 (7-5-2) in the penultimate match of their inaugural Premier Development League campaign. The 2009 campaign has been a banner year for the Wolves, and Saturday’s road win cemented this fact as the club firmly secured their entry into the PDL national playoffs.
Seattle overcame an intelligent and organized Cascade side, seizing a vital first half goal through Alex Chursky, and adding two additional strikes from Sean Morris and Taylor Hoss. The Surge had not lost at home all season coming into the match, and had only conceded two goals prior to the affair.
The win gives the Wolves 30 points in 2009 with only one match remaining in the regular season. The club has been entrenched in a dogged playoff battle with Kitsap, Portland, and Cascade throughout the season, and now Seth Spidahl’s side is guaranteed entrance into the 24-team national playoffs.
The Wolves currently sit in third place in the PDL Northwest Division, six points behind the first place Kitsap Pumas. The Portland Timbers U23 occupy second place with 32 points, while Cascade is now eliminated from playoff contention after weeks of pursuing the third and final spot.
Seattle nearly drew first blood through striker Alex Chursky in the 16th minute. The veteran forward muscled his way through Cascade’s central defense only to have his attempt rebuffed by a trailing Surge midfielder.
Cascade responded in the 23rd minute through striker Teteh Bangura. The former Cleveland City Star used his blinding pace down the left wing and unleashed a shot that narrowly sailed over Seattle’s crossbar.
The Wolves were tested again in the 27th minute when Cascade’s Aaron Patrick pierced the middle of the Seattle defense. Once more the backline stood firm, as captain Daniel Scott blocked Patrick’s first attempt on goal and the wily Jamie Finch ushered the midfielder’s second effort to safety.
As they have done all season, the Wolves responded admirably to adversity, and in the 28th minute midfielder Ely Allen played the ball into Chursky from the left. The striker calmly slotted the ball into Cascade’s net, beating goalkeeper Steve Reese at his far post.
The Seattle players celebrated in the Cascade goalmouth, knowing that they had captured a crucial away goal.
Chursky nearly secured his second strike of the contest in the 35th minute when the Seattle University national champion careened a powerful shot off of Reese’s crossbar.
Wolves goalkeeper John Moore prevented Cascade from capturing an equalizer in the 41st minute when he denied Patrick, this time the midfielder lining up a shot from the left of the area.
Seattle cemented their push for the postseason after the restart, when Allen played an overhead ball to midfielder Sean Morris in the 58th minute. The skillful winger fired a low driven shot towards Cascade’s goal, beating Reese once more at the far post.
At 2-0 the Wolves vehemently defended their hard earned lead, knowing that victory would ensure postseason advancement in only their first season in the league.
Scott and centerback Mykell Bates won the majority of their battles in the final third, while fullback Brandon Zimmerman complimented Finch’s fine play on Seattle’s flanks.
UCLA striker Fernando Monge almost added a third Seattle goal in the 74th minute when he unleashed a venomous shot from the top of the area. Reese was barely able to parry the attempt to safety, but the goalkeeper was not so fortunate on the ensuing corner kick.
Zimmerman played the ball from the left corner flag, and Wolves midfielder Taylor Hoss inched it over Resse’s line. The center official signaled that the attempt did in fact breach the goal line, giving Seattle an insurmountable three-goal advantage.
This lead held until the final whistle, at which point Wolves players and staff celebrated in triumph, knowing that their collective effort had ensured them a chance to play for the PDL National Title.
When asked about his side’s performance in the match, goal scorer Sean Morris commented, “This has been an absolutely amazing season for the club, we have come together on the road to pick up three vital points, and now we need to head back to Seattle and finish strong.”
Indeed, the Wolves have proved their metal over the past two matches. The club has traveled to Victoria and Salem in consecutive weeks, and has claimed a result on each occasion against teams fighting for their playoff lives.
Morris continued, “In order to win matches like this you have to be mentally conditioned, and I think we are capable of putting together these types of performances on the national stage. Today we proved that we can go anywhere and claim a result.”
Seattle will play their first round of the divisional playoffs against Portland in late July, a side that the Wolves defeated 3-1 earlier in the campaign.
The Wolves return home to Starfire Stadium on July 17th to complete their regular season against the Abbotsford Mariners. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and the Wolves will celebrate their partnership with local youth club Crossfire Premier during the contest.
Seattle need to claim three points from this final fixture and hope that Abbotsford can turn around and get at least a draw against Portland the next day in order for the Wolves to host the first round of the playoffs.
