SEATTLE, Wash. — In the world of soccer, some games are remembered because of outstanding team performances, or amazing goals scored, or maybe even how teams can keep fans on the edge of their seats for 90 minutes. Last night, the West Seattle Rhodies did exactly that. In what was surely one of the most highly anticipated matchups in the Northwest Division up to this point in the season, the Rhodies extended their unbeaten run to four games in a row with a 1-0 win over rivals Salmon Bay FC.
Fans of the Rhodies could feel the tension at Interbay Stadium right from the kickoff. The hosts were poised to be the biggest challenge that the Rhodies had faced in recent weeks, having recorded four-straight wins and clean sheets since the clubs first met at the start of the season.
Salmon Bay started the game on the front foot, testing Sophia Hills in goal with a handful of early opportunities. Despite the quick start, the Rhodies continued to grow into the contest and find ways to effectively break through Salmon Bay’s pressure. The visitors first chance on goal came in the 13th minute, when Andrea Leyva fired a freekick straight into the hands of Elena Milam in goal for the hosts. Leyva again found herself in space just a minute later, with a volleyed effort that went just wide of the post.
The Rhodies were relentless in their offensive efforts, with forward Payton Chick nearly scoring an absolute wonder goal in the 21st minute, who saw her shot parried onto the post and away by Milam. Their efforts eventually paid off, with Chick again involved in the build up to the Rhodies’ lone goal on the night. The forward made a darting run into the box to get on the end of a pass from Gracie Gouran before finding Hailey Still’s feet, whose first-time shot flew past Milam and into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
The hosts struggled to find any sort of answer to West Seattle’s defensive pressure throughout the remaining minutes of the first half, with the visitors generating more scoring opportunities on the back of Salmon Bay’s turnovers in possession.
The Rhodies came out in the second half just as they had finished the first, with an early opportunity for Still to double her tally for the day with a freekick that flew just past the post in the 48th minute.
From then on, the momentum shifted in favor of the hosts, as Salmon Bay upped the pressure and controlled possession for long spells throughout the half. Kelsey Kwon nearly squared the game in the 60th minute, but saw her effort coolly collected by Hills in goal for the Rhodies.
The final five minutes of regulation saw a flurry of crosses played into the Rhodies box, with Salmon Bay unable to convert any of their opportunities into an equalizer. It proved to be too little too late for the hosts, as the Rhodies were able to secure all three points and leapfrog Salmon Bay into second place in the Northwest Division standings.
The Rhodies will be back in action in just two days’ time, as they hit the road for the final time this regular season to take on fellow newcomers, Bigfoot FC. Kickoff is at 5:00 pm, with tickets available for purchase HERE.
