Sounders Women will take a 1-0 W-League record into their home opener at 7 p.m. today at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila.
That win came Sunday in Vancouver, B.C., and it unfolded without any of the U.S. national team members – all of whom are expected to be in uniform tonight against the Colorado Rush.
“It’s always an interesting dynamic when you have people coming and going,” said national team goalkeeper Hope Solo, whose place in the opener was taken by Katie Hultin. “But I have all the faith in the world in the coaching staff, especially with someone like (coach) Michelle French (a former Kennedy High star who played on the U.S. Olympic team). She’s done that, she knows how to bring a team together and really embrace the opportunity. It can make a team, it can break a team. And I do believe that the environment that she is providing is going to make this team.”
So far, it has made the team, which projects as something like the W-League’s version of the Miami Heat, with national team members Solo, Stephanie Cox, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe on the roster.
Mixing and matching the roster with and without those international players, Sounders Women has swept three friendly matches and one league match by a combined score of 15-1.
However, they step up in class tonight against the Western Division-leading Rush, which has swept its first three games – including two on the road – by a combined margin of 6-0.
The Sounders’ three friendlies against area college teams were played at Starfire, but this 7 p.m. match marks their home debut in league play.
About 200 tickets remained available as of Wednesday evening.
“I’ve lived up in Gig Harbor for the past four years, and for the last two years I’ve been over on the East Coast playing, so I’m excited just to be back in the Northwest playing locally,” Cox said. “I know the Sounders have a great tradition. Growing up, I was in the WPSL and always hearing about the Sounders in the W-League and stuff. So, I’m excited to be a part of this.”
don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com @donruiztnt
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