Almost Game Week (Preseason style)

With the ladies taking the pitch against Western this coming Thursday, its time to look at the women's game.

For those of you who've never seen a ladies' game, it is a different animal than the men's game.

However, as I began writing this piece, I recieved a tweet from David Falk and the Seattle Soccer Examiner with an interesting article examining some of the differences between the men's and women's games from a referee's perspective: Behind the Whistle: How do boys and girls play soccer differently?  Rather than recreate the wheel, I will submit myself humbly to Ray Moffatte's years of experience on the pitch.

What to expect Thursday evening at Starfire:
The combinations coming from early practices this spring have shown that the aught'11 Lady Sounders will bring a more fan-friendly attacking game than most would suspect.  The late night battles of recent weeks have been hardfought, fast-paced affairs; one can only wonder what will happen when they unleash on an opponent.

The roster for Thursday's affair will be made at Tuesday night's practice.  Thus far, Leighton has been holding his cards close and it should prove be an interesting list of girls making the cut.  Good luck ladies & welcome back Leighton!


Coach O'Brien back with the USL Sounders in '05 (Taken from GOALSeattle.com)

Aught-Eleven Around the Bend

Tomorrow, it will be April, the month that the Sounders Women return to the pitch in exciting form; this season, we host the W-League Final Four and are, quite literally, 2 wins from a cup!

Those two wins aside, the 2011 season brings many questions to the table.  Some familiar faces are back this year, highlighted by Lyndsey 'Mighty Mouse' Patterson, but some heavy losses have been dealt.  Keeper Katie Hultin is out, amongst others.

All shifting aside, Leighton & Co. are anxious to have a big year and sights are set on the cup, nothing less.  The ladies have been back on the pitch practicing for a few weeks now and seem to be bringing a more physical form to Starfire this summer.  Physicality, combined with the heady and speedy play of attacking third should provide for some exciting football.

The first preseason match is against Western Washington University on April 21st, 7pm at Starfire. *more on that later

Anyhow, don't be an April Fool: GET YOUR RIDICULOUSLY AFFORDABLE SEASON TICKETS NOW, add to your scarf collection, and witness a historic run to the W-League Cup.

Stay tuned!  Information about game preparation, tifo, news & away travel will be posted both here and on the ECS USL & Other Leagues Forum.  If you would like to help out in any way, contact Bonnell and I'll get you to work.

Season Tickets can be purchased Brown Paper Tickets (A very sincere 'thank you' to the Sounders Women/Tacoma Tide FO for choosing against the scam that is Ticketmaster).

The 2011 Sounders Women Season Schedule:

Date	Visitors	Home	PST	Location
EXHIBITION SEASON
APR 21	Western Washington U.	@Sounders Women	7:00p	Starfire Stadium
APR 28	Sounders Women	@Seattle Pacific U.	7:00p	Interbay Stadium
APR 30	Sounders Women	@Oregon State U.	7:00p	Oregon State
MAY 5	U. of Washington	@Sounders Women	7:00p	Starfire Stadium
W-LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON
MAY 14	Sounders Women	@Victoria Highlanders	7:00p	B. Mountain Stadium
MAY 22	Sounders Women	@Vancouver Whitecaps	4:00p	Percy Perry Stadium
MAY 29	Colorado Rush	@Sounders Women	2:00p	Starfire Stadium
JUN 1	Sounders Women	@LA Strikers	7:00p	Pasadena College
JUN 3	Sounders Women	@Santa Clarita Blue Heat	7:00p	Valencia HS
JUN 5	Sounders Women	@Pali Blues	3:00p	Palisades HS
JUN 12	LA Strikers	@Sounders Women	3:00p	Starfire Stadium
JUN 17	Sounders Women	@Colorado Rush	7:00p	Englewood HS
JUN 19	Sounders Women	@Colorado Force	1:00p	Loveland Sports Pk
JUN 26	Pali Blues	@Sounders Women	3:00p	Starfire Stadium
JUN 29	Vancouver Whitecaps	@Sounders Women	8:00p	Starfire Stadium
JUL 10	Santa Clarita Blue Heat	@Sounders Women	3:00p	Starfire Stadium
JUL 15	Victoria Highlanders	@Sounders Women	7:30p	Whatcom College
JUL 17	Colorado Force	@Sounders Women	1:00p	Stadium Bowl