TUKWILA, WASH. - Playing its second home game in the 2015 USL season, Sounders FC 2 (2-0-0, 6 points) earned three points against Cascadia rival Whitecaps FC 2 (0-1-0, 0 points) Sunday afternoon at Starfire Stadium. Forward Darwin Jones scored three goals for his first professional hat trick, while Andy Craven recorded a goal and two assists. It is the first shutout recorded by goalkeeper Charlie Lyon and the S2 backline. Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson's side has a weekend break next week, but will be back in action at home again against its southern Cascadia rivals, Timbers 2 on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
S2 has now scored eight goals between its first two matches, having scored four against defending USL champion Sacramento Republic FC in its home-opener on March 21. Jones, a Sounders FC Homegrown Player, opened the scoring in the 17th minute, converting a low cross by Andy Craven. The ball found Jones in front of a wide-open net for an easy tap-in.
Craven added to the S2 tally nearly 10 minutes later after defender Damion Lowe fired a shot from 25 yards that bounced off the post. Craven dove forward and headed in the rebound to make it 2-0.
Jones gained his second of the night in the 37th minute after Craven sent in a long pass forward that found Jones in the box. He fought off a defender and slotted the shot home to the bottom left to make it 3-0. He completed the hat trick early in the second half after a poorly cleared ball from defender Ethan Sampson that fell to Jones in the area. He volleyed the shot home for the final goal of the game.
Forward Qudus Lawal made his first professional appearance when he came on as a substitute in the 71st minute. Two Sounders FC Academy players also made their first S2 appearance, with defenders Choong Sil Lim and Kasey French coming on in the second half.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 4 - Whitecaps FC 2 0
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Josh Wilkens
Assistants: Jeff Hosking, Will Niccolls
Fourth Official: Levi Rippy
Attendance: 2,407
Weather: Overcast and 63 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Darwin Jones (Andy Craven) 17'
SEA - Andy Craven 26'
SEA - Darwin Jones (Andy Craven) 37'
SEA - Darwin Jones 50'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
VAN - Timothy Parker (caution) 29'
VAN - Ben McKendry (caution 53'
SEA - Andres Correa (caution) 76'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Charlie Lyon; Aaron Long, Andres Correa, Damion Lowe, Nicholas Miele; Amadou Sanyang, Giuliano Frano (Choong sil Lim 80'), Andy Craven (Kasey French 89'), Sam Garza, Pablo Rossi (Duncan McCormick 61'); Darwin Jones (Qudus Lawal 71')
Substitutes not used: Saif Kerawala
Total shots: 20
Shots on goal: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1
Whitecaps FC 2 - Paolo Tornaghi Jackson Farmer, Chris Serban, Ethan Sampson, Timothy Parker; Victor Blasco (Sahil Sanhu 45'), Mitchell Piraux, Tyler Rosenlund, Ben McKendry (Ben McKendry 45'); Brett Levis (Jovan Blagojevic 73'), Caleb Clarke (Mackenzie Pridham 73')
Substitutes not used: Spencer Richey, Craig Nitti
Total shots: 4
Shots on goal: 1
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 4