Ticket stub shows Sounders original foe, OSU.

Seattle University was the actual opponent.

Fans enjoy the somewhat blinding late-afternoon sun at

French Field in Kent. About 1,200 fans were on hand.

Front and Center: Sounders' forward Welton started the second half. This panoramic shot shows the

Brazilian forward near midfield. All was quiet from Welton until the late in the match when his spectacular mid-air half volley

found the back of the net for the 3-2 winner.

Match discussion/report thread HERE.

Photos by Heather & Tony Johnson

You are here.

Seattle University Redhawks and Seattle Sounders FC.

Top: Marco Velez is followed by Alex Chursky (in white) of the Redhawks.

Bottom: #24 Marsh of the Sounders moves with the ball.

Top: Welton watches as Stark proceeds.

Middle: Welton (#19) and Aristodemo prepare for a free kick.

Bottom: Welton moves with the flow.

Robbie! New Sounder Mr. Aristodemo (#10) loses defenders with his speed.

Top: The Sea Wall wannabees.

Middle: Darren Sawatzky.

Bottom: Kevin Sakuda

Top: # 14 Fuzzi Bellal

Bottom: Kei Kinoshita

More action, and the mysterious "Mr. #3"

Make-shift Pre-Season Lineup Edges Seattle University, 3-2

report by Heather Johnson

The Sounders started Wittstruck (GK), Vaughn (D), Sakuda (D; he's back!), Velez (D!), Marsh (D), Foisie (M), Kinoshita (M), Percell (M), Tomlinson (M), Stark (F), and Smith (F), while the Redhawks went with Sorenson (GK), Miller (D), McClusky (D), Cheeseman (D), Stock (D), Doren (D), Johansen (M), Jensen (M), Stromberg (M), Alex Chursky (F), and McAlister (F).

Rather than cards (there were *none*), tonight's game had goals. Smith started it off pretty much right away, putting one in off of the roof of the goal at 4:56 from an assist from Stark. The Sounders dominated the first half from then on. Stark got a nice shot off (and nicely saved by Sorenson) from within the goalbox in the 19th minute, Smith had another shot in the 25th minute, and Smith scored his second of the night at 41:57, this time low and to the right, with the assist going to Tomlinson. Percell continued to do a good job, too. And have I ever mentioned that I think Velez does a fine job in defense?

SU made liberal use of subs, bringing Besegno in for Cheeseman at 9:03, Nick Natale for Jensen at 24:49, Bressler for Johansen at 33:30, and Margold for Stromberg at 40:36.

The Sounders saved their lineup changes for the start of the second half, starting Wittstruck, Vaughn, Sakuda, Marsh, Kinoshita, Percell, Aristodemo, Bellal, Stark, Sawatzky, and Welton. SU began the half with Chris Natale (GK), Miller (D), McCluskey (D), Cheeseman (D), Stock (D), Doren (D), Jensen (M), Bressler (M), Natale (M), Besegno (F), and Alex Chursky (F).

The first part of the second half belonged to SU, who scored two goals in quick succession. The first was at 15:10 from Doran, assisted by Natale, and the second was exactly 4 minutes later by Besegno, from McCluskey. Luckily, the Sounders settled down after Besegno's goal, and the game was fairly even for a bit. Sawatzky continued to play in a speedy fashion, and Aristodemo got a chance to display his skills. He's truly zippy. *And* can spin on the ball. Maybe 45 minutes isn't enough for a really great analysis, but I see him becoming a real fan favorite. Mark my words. As for Welton, I was really, truly, literally, just about to comment that he wasn't making much of an impression at all when he scored an awfully pretty goal (72:00). Go figure. Stark made a pass across the goal, from which Welton made a nice side-volley shot right into the net. Welton gets the spatial-awareness award of the night. He also got his first Sounder offside in the 86th minute, so he'll fit right in with the rest of the offense in no time, although, as David so astutely pointed out, he did score his first Sounder goal before he got his first Sounder offside, so make of that what you will. I thought I was paying attention, but at some point some guy who wasn't Darren Sawatzky showed up at forward wearing #3 for the Sounders. There was no announcement of a substitution, and no one in our little group noticed him come in, so I'm thinking there was some kind of transformation of matter going on. Maybe.

H.,
wondering what else she missed