Andre Press Sports Ticker
But Falls 4-3
By Bryant Maxwell
AP Soccer Writer
DAVIS, Calif., April 20 -- FC Sudwerk rambled into the spring season with an entertaining, up tempo attack but came up short, losing 4-3 to Amula on Friday night.
The red-and-black led 2-1 at halftime and appeared to have the game in hand when it pulled ahead 3-1. But two defensive breakdowns and a misfortunate goal kick gave Amula the three goals it needed to pull out a victory.
"I couldn't be happier with our performance," said Ramal Werdna, FC Sudwerk's president and CEO. "We've made a great transition to DARSL and we'll get better with each game."
Jeannine Henderson, the superstar striker acquired from WUSA, opened the scoring for Sudwerk by slotting home a ball from six yards out. Ralph Garcia scored the red-and-black's second goal late in the first half to give the club a 2-1 lead heading into the locker room.
In the second half, Sudwerk dominated the play, especially in midfield, where Andreas Agocs, Armando Murrieta, Bruce Berry and Randi Field passed well and controlled the game's flow.
Henderson gave Sudwerk its third goal and a commanding 3-1 lead, but Amula equalized within two minutes. Sudwerk continued to attack and had numerous goal-scoring opportunities it couldn't convert on.
Two mistakes, though, cost the red-and-black dearly. Goalie Chris Lief inadvertently kicked the ball into the face of defender Renee Wurschmidt, and the ball caromed back into goal, despite Aaron Stephens' best effort to clear it off the line.
Then, late in the game, as Sudwerk pressed up, Amula caught the red-and-black's defense flat-footed and scored on a breakaway.
"We certainly feel like we could have and should have won this one," Werdna said. "Even so, we played well, and the team's newest members showed themselves to be exceptionally strong players."
Field and Summer Williamson ran the wings effectively. Henderson displayed impressive skill, and Jami Rubin-Mark and Aaron Stephens proved to be assets on defense, Werdna said.
Stephens and Field dazzled Amula with their speed and marking abilities.
In addition, Sudwerk's veteran players settled nicely into their new roles. Patrick Chandler, for instance, showed himself to be a capable sweeper, and Lief demonstrated he's just as formidable as an outdoor keeper as he is indoors.
"All in all, I think we've got a very strong team," Werdna said. "As we get better organized, we'll improve."
Sudwerk's next game is against Purple Haze at 9 p.m. on Thursday.
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