For a Rave Green Team that just put 3,190 miles in on its first road trip, Sounders FC 2 took the long airplane-ride home without any points to show for it. Although the group was able to put three goals on the board against Tulsa Roughnecks FC, and another against Oklahoma City Energy FC, it was overcome by both teams in the final stages of the match.
“As a young, inexperienced team, we have to learn how to sustain leads on the road,” said S2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. “It’s going to take a lot of effort, concentration and mental toughness to win on the road in this league, and it’s good that we got this trip in now so the players can get this type of experience early on.”
With five total goals scored in the first 25 minutes of the match with Tulsa, it seemed like the Rave Green would be walking away with three points as they walked into the dressing room at half with a 3-2. However it was Tulsa who would take the day with a 78th-minute goal from midfielder Lucas Cordeiro.
It was Déjà vu for S2 only two days later as they entered the half with a 1-0 lead over the undefeated Energy FC, but the OKC team limited Seattle to three shots in the second half while getting seven chances of their own, scoring two of them, including the game winner from Danni König in the 86th minute.
A shining light from the two road losses, though, is that three 19-year-olds made the starting lineup, with Qudus Lawal, Duncan McCormick and new signing Oalex Anderson all getting the nod against the Roughnecks.
“We were happy to be able to play some of our younger players, it speaks volumes to the kind of young talent we have in the organization right now,” said Hendrickson. “All three of those guys contributed big in that game, Qudus’ two goals and Duncan’s assist were great, they stepped up to the challenge and I thought they played well.”
The Rave Green continue the road trip, although with some time to train at home before facing Whitecaps FC 2 for the second time this season, but this time in Vancouver. Last time out, the ‘Caps visited Starfire and were sent home having been shutout and scored on four times, including a Darwin Jones hat trick. Given the recent two games, Hendrickson and his team are ready to turn their luck around.
“It’s never easy to beat a team at their place, and even harder after you beat them as recently as we have,” said Hendrickson. “They are going to be ready to defend their turf. After last week, we have learned what it’s going to take to sustain leads on the road and to take points from this Cascadia rivalry match.”
S2’s next chance to defend Starfire is May 1 against Orange County Blues FC (2-1-0), and tickets are available here.
