Seattle, WA
Seattle Sounders escape tight Game 1 vs. Dynamo: “We're in control” | MLSSoccer.com
“Right now it doesn’t matter how we played, really. We’re in control and we won.”
Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer summed things up after Monday night’s penalty shootout win over Houston Dynamo in Game 1 of their Round One Best-of-3 Series.
The two sides played to a scoreless draw at Seattle’s Lumen Field, with neither able to generate many clear-cut chances and the shootout coming down to the tightest of margins in a 5-4 result for Seattle.
It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win – especially in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
“This was going to be a tight series because the two teams are defensively very good,” said Schmetzer.
Seattle led MLS this season with just 35 goals allowed, while Houston’s 39 goals conceded were third-fewest.
“We’ve had our challenges this year sometimes scoring goals. Did we create enough? Those are all valid questions. Again, I would just repeat that those guys put the effort in. We were close on a couple of occasions.”
Morris in doubt?
Seattle outshot Houston 20-7, but managed to put just two on target. Part of their struggles were down to the early substitution of Jordan Morris.
Their leading scorer felt tightness in his hamstring, and with the second leg in Houston coming in just six days, Schmetzer wasn’t taking any chances.
“Jordan has some hamstring tightness and we’re not going to risk it,” said Schmetzer. “… If Jordan wakes up and he tells me that tightness is gone, he’ll play. And if he can’t play, then Raúl [Ruidíaz] is going to be very happy to play and I’ll be happy for Raúl.”
Carrasquilla loses his cool
The Sounders appeared to have gained the upper hand in the 66th minute when Houston’s Coca Carrasquilla was sent off for violent conduct following a scuffle and a lengthy video review. It’s a loss that could have a major impact for the Dynamo on Sunday.
“It’s a big loss for Houston going into the next game… It’s unfortunate for them, but that’s what the game’s all about: keeping your composure in critical moments.” Schmetzer said, before praising his players for keeping their cool.
“We have a bunch of nice kids on our team. Nice young men. Sometimes too nice.”
Frei chases history
While Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei didn’t have to make a save in regulation or in the shootout, he inched closer to history. He earned his 14th playoff clean sheet against Houston, putting him just one behind LA Galaxy legend Kevin Hartman for the MLS record.
Unsurprisingly, Schmetzer was quick to point out Frei’s accomplishment, noting that it’s a team goal to get him his 15th in Houston on Sunday (6:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
“Stef has an opportunity in Houston to tie for number one [all-time],” Schmetzer pointed out.
“So that’s a goal that he can reach, he can attain, and let’s see if he can do that. Because that would give us the best chance of ending the series in Houston.”
Olympians Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Erin Ambrose have all been placed on long-term injured reserve by their PWHL clubs after sustaining injuries during the Milan Cortina Games.
Kraken sign forwards Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton to extensions
Knight, a five-time Olympian and captain of the United States team that won gold, will be out of the lineup for the Seattle Torrent indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury in Italy, the team announced Friday.
Knight had three goals and three assists for the U.S. at Milan Cortina including a goal in the 2-1 overtime win over Canada in the final. She has three goals and seven assists during the current PWHL season.
USA comes back to beat Canada in OT for women’s hockey gold
“While we’re eager to be at full strength and recognize the anticipation of Hilary’s return, we’re focused on putting her and our team in the best position for a playoff push,” Torrent general manager Meghan Turner said in a statement.
Minnesota Frost captain Coyne Schofield was placed on long-term injured reserve on Friday retroactive to Feb. 19 with an upper-body injury. Coyne Schofield scored three goals for the United States during the Olympics.
“I am incredibly proud of all our Frost Olympians who demonstrated true excellence on the world stage,” general manager Melissa Caruso said in a statement. “We are fully committed to supporting Kendall throughout her recovery, and our medical team will be working diligently to help her prepare for her return to the ice.”
The moves by the Torrent and Frost came a day after the Montreal Victoire announced that Ambrose has been placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 19 for a lower‑body injury suffered while representing Canada in the gold medal game. Ambrose had a pair of assists at the Olympics.
The Victoire’s Marie-Philip Poulin, Canada’s captain in Italy, was listed as day-to-day with an Olympics-related injury.
Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau said of the team’s Olympians “we are confident that they will be back in the lineup in the near future.”
PWHL influence apparent at Olympics with OT medal games
SEATTLE — Firefighters are responding to a car that drove into a ditch near Lake Washington Boulevard East and East Foster Island Road on Friday, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
Crews arriving at the scene reported that three people are trapped inside the car.
Firefighters were working to stabilize the car and get everyone out safely. Crews worked to remove the roof of the car to get everyone out, according to fire officials.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area while emergency crews respond.
The crash occurred in the area between the Montlake and Broadmoor neighborhoods, and traffic can be expected as emergency crews respond.
No additional information was immediately available.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and added an assist in his return from a sprained ankle, Joel Hofer made 23 saves and the St. Louis Blues came off the Olympic break to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Thursday night.
St. Louis Blues 5, Seattle Kraken 1: Box score
Jordan Kyrou and Holloway — activated from injured reserve before the game — scored in a 23-second span early in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.
Pius Suter added a goal and two assists to help the Blues end a three-game losing streak.
Holloway completed St. Louis’ first hat trick of the season with 3:01 left, scoring into an empty net for his 11th of the season.
Kaapo Kakko tied it at 1 for Seattle in the first period, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The Kraken were coming off a 4-1 loss in Dallas on Wednesday night.
Kyrou made it 2-1 at 1:12 of the second off a feed from Pavel Buchnevich on a break. Holloway poked the puck past Grubauer off a scramble at 1:35. Suter scored at 1:56 of the third.
St. Louis’ Cam Fowler appeared in his 1,100th game, becoming the 10th active defenseman in the NHL to reach the mark.
Up next
Kraken: Host Vancouver on Saturday night.
Blues: Host New Jersey on Saturday.
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