July 26, 2010 (by Devon Heinen)
SoundersWomen.com – A third tiebreaker kept the Seattle Sounders Women out of the playoffs after a 2010 United Soccer Leagues W-League season that saw the Sounders Women finish second in the Western Conference and notch a win against the defending league champions.
After five draws and a loss to start the season, Seattle found itself in the win column June 25. Taking on the reigning USL W-League champions, the Pali Blues, the Sounders Women erupted for three second-half goals to down the Blues 3:1. Kelly Irving led the scoring surge with two strikes coming in the 53rd and 54th minutes. With the win, Seattle snagged a share of second place in the Western Conference.
At the season’s end, Seattle’s share of its conference’s second place position with Pali remained, but a third team emerged as the conference’s second-best as well, the Colorado Rush; however a third tiebreaker, based on total wins, sent Pali (3-4-3) on and left Seattle (2-2-6) and Colorado (2-2-6) out in the cold.
In the scorer’s book, the team was led by midfielders Jocelyn Charette and Erin Redwine with three goals apiece.
Keeper Katie Hultin inked one clean sheet on the season, dismissing five shots in the 0:0 June 6 shutout on the road against the Colorado Rush. For the season, Hultin recorded 42 saves and allowed a little over a goal per game.
