Sounders-1 El Paso-0 (2 OT)

Sunday, July 13, 2003

Visitors from Yeovil Town, England

Post-game party at FX McRory's

Goalkeeper Preston Burpo and Sweeper Danny Jackson.

The Sawatzky family smiles after their big week: 4 goals and a marriage!

Ron Stickney ("The Seattle Pitch") stands with Marco Velez.

Ron gets to work preparing his match report for "The Pitch."

Bert holds up his Alex Bengard  jersey with the infamous "can't see 'em" black numbers.

This time Preston is with Goalkeeper Rich Cullen (at right). Cullen has proven to be an all-star caliber keeper since Preston's injury. With both now healthy the Sounders are doubly blessed in the nets.

"We coached them through that one. Whew!"

Jason Farrell and his longtime fan Loretta.

Andrew Gregor

Photos by David Falk and Loretta Pirozzi.

Sawatzky completes wonderful weekend

By Matt Massey
Special to The Seattle Times


Sounders forward Darren Sawatzky is officially back in the flow on the soccer pitch. He's also married.

Fresh off a small, private wedding ceremony Saturday, the resurgent Sawatzky put together another memorable July night by knocking in the game-winning goal to give the Sounders a 1-0 overtime win over El Paso before 2,112 last night at Seahawks Stadium.

The Sounders have held opponents scoreless for the last 337 minutes.

Sawatzky, an eight-year veteran relegated to coming off the bench the last two seasons, powered in his fourth goal in the past three A-League games.

Making his first start since June 15, Sawatzky scored his second game-winning goal in as many games. This time he scored point blank in the 101st minute after teammate Marco Velez bounced a shot off El Paso goalkeeper Scott Alexander.

"Being pretty is one thing, and at the end of the day, it's about getting it done," said Sawatzky, who was wed to longtime girlfriend Kelly Sawicki in a small ceremony at a Des Moines waterfront park. "Sometimes with goal scorers, goals come in numbers."

The Sounders (11-3-4) maintained a seven-point lead over Portland atop the Pacific Division with 37 points. Seattle registered the franchise's 100th regular-season home victory but the win didn't come easily, despite playing with a man advantage for the final 76 minutes.

The Sounders ran their record to 7-0-2 in the last nine games. El Paso fell to 7-10-2. It was the Sounders' third consecutive victory on the current homestand.

A loss would have been tough for Seattle, which outshot the Patriots 24-3.

Sawatzky, who saw limited duty earlier this season, came to the rescue with another well-timed goal against the defensive-minded Patriots.

"He's doing all the right things lately," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "Again, he was in the right place at the right time. Veteran goal scorers find those spots."

Sounders goalkeeper Preston Burpo made his first home start and second start since suffering a broken jaw in the 15th minute of the May 1 season opener at Portland. Burpo's last start was July 5 in Milwaukee.

Burpo gave new starter Rich Cullen a day of rest during a rugged stretch of seven games in 18 days.

In a five-minute span, Patriots midfielder Pablo Cabrera picked up two yellow cards to earn an early exit and leave El Paso a man down from the 25th minute.