Seattle Wolves News Release - www.seattlewolvesfc.com
Sunday, June 7, 2009
SEATTLE, WA -- On Sunday afternoon the Seattle Wolves Football Club (5-2-1) defeated the Yakima Reds (1-6-0) 2-1 at Starfire Stadium.
The victory moves Seattle into second place in the Premier Development League Northwest Division, only one point behind division-leading Kitsap.
The match was marked by a rapid beginning, as the Wolves wasted little time in stamping their authority on the run of play.
Sean Morris continued his stellar form after scoring the game-winning goal in Friday’s match in Vancouver.
In the 4th minute, midfielder Taylor Hoss released Morris down the left flank with a delicate through ball, and the Seattle University winger beat Yakima goalkeeper Robert McCurdy at his far post.
With a 1-0 advantage, Seattle continued to press in the early stages of the competition. Preying on a wayward Yakima back pass, Wolves’ winger Ely Allen poached the ball at the top of Yakima’s 18-yard box and slotted it into the back of the net in the 8th minute.
Before the first ten minutes of the match expired Seth Spidahl’s men held a 2-0 lead, but Yakima settled their nerves and began retaining possession.
In the 22nd minute Yakima applied heavy pressure in Seattle’s 18-yard box, as goalkeeper Chris Blais faced a barrage of enemy fire. Central defenders Tommy Meyer and Daniel Scott both blocked dangerous attempts on goal, and the threat was averted.
Two minutes later Blais saved a point-blank attempt in his own 6-yard box from USL veteran Jake Sagare.
However Blais was not so fortunate in the 31st minute, when 2009 Seattle Sounders Super Search winner Vinnie Oliveira ran down the right wing and dragged the ball back to Junior Garcia.
The former PDL Player of the Year received Oliveira’s pass at the top of Blais’ 6-yard box. Garcia smoothly converted the opportunity, dragging Yakima back into the match.
Matters intensified in the 45th minute when Garcia went down in the Seattle area, resulting in a penalty opportunity. Yakima’s star striker picked himself up off the Starfire turf to take the spot kick.
Nevertheless, Chris Blais stood firm in the Seattle goalmouth and dove just to his left to keep Garcia’s shot from leveling the score line.
The remainder of the match was defined by missed opportunities, as both clubs failed to add to the final tally.
In the 51st minute Allen maneuvered himself around Yakima’s backline, only to be denied by the crossbar.
Similarly, Wolves substitute Nick James linked with Sean Morris on a clever back-heel in the 70th minute, but the winger pushed his attempt over the Yakima goal.
The greatest missed opportunity came in the 91st minute, when Oliveira had Seattle’s goal at his mercy. The striker found himself one-on-one with Blais, but was unable to equalize as he skied his attempt over the crossbar.
As the full-time whistle sounded, the Wolves found themselves 2-1 winners and in a second-place tie with Portland. Both clubs are level on sixteen points, while Seattle recently beat their Oregon rivals 3-1 at Starfire Stadium.
The Wolves are back on the road this week, as they journey north of the Canadian border once again to face Abbotsford on Friday June 12th.
Seattle then play Vancouver at home on June 20th at 7:30 PM. Both sides played free-flowing football in their last encounter, and fans can purchase tickets for the match by visiting www.seattlewolvesfc.com.
