Rangers hand Mariners their 7th straight loss
Renton, WA (Sports Network) - Seattle Seahawks tight end Anthony McCoy
underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
A timetable for his return was not disclosed, but recovery time is usually
about 6-to-9 months.
McCoy, a sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft out of USC, is entering his fourth
season with the Seahawks. He caught 18 passes for 291 yards with three
touchdowns in 16 games last season, and has 31 career receptions for 437 yards
and three scores in 34 games, including 14 starts.
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Mariners select contract of C Sucre
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners selected the contract of
catcher Jesus Sucre from Triple-A Tacoma Friday and designated infielder
Robert Andino for assignment.
Sucre hit .302 with one double and five runs batted in over 14 games at Tacoma
this season, his ninth in the minor leagues.
The 25-year-old catcher signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners on July
11, 2011 and re-signed with the club after the 2012 campaign.
Andino batted just .184 with four doubles and four RBI over 29 games,
including 22 starts, with the M's this season.
Seattle also recalled infielder Carlos Triunfel from Tacoma on Friday.
Triunfel hit .300 with 29 runs scored and 19 RBI in 44 games with the Rainiers
this season.
The 23-year-old infielder appeared in 10 games with the M's in 2012 and batted
.227 with three RBI and two doubles.
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Mariners look to snap 6-game skid with home game vs. Texas
(Sports Network) - After losing the final six games of their recent road trip,
the Seattle Mariners should be happy about playing at home for the next week.
That excitement may be a bit dampened, though, as their first opponent will be
the first-place Texas Rangers.
The two AL West rivals open up a three-game series on Friday night.
Seattle's recent swing got off to a good start as the club took two of three
from the New York Yankees. Things went south after that, with the Mariners
getting swept in a four-game set by the Cleveland Indians before dropping
back-to-back encounters with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
After losing a 12-0 game to begin the quick two-game set, the Mariners were
bested 7-1 by the Angels on Wednesday. Kendrys Morales had three of his club's
seven hits, while Michael Saunders prevented another shutout with an RBI
single in the eighth inning.
Brandon Maurer, who went to high school six miles from Angel Stadium, had a
forgettable start against his hometown team. The 22-year-old rookie gave up
seven runs on 11 hits before being pulled after three ineffective innings.
"Tough day for Maurer. He wasn't able to keep the ball down," said Mariners
manager Eric Wedge, whose club has allowed 46 runs over its six-game skid.
Joe Saunders will try to get his club back into the win column and he is one
Mariner who is happy to be home regardless of the opponent. That's because the
left-hander is 3-0 with a 0.94 earned run average in four starts at Safeco
Field this season compared to an 0-4 mark and 11.25 ERA in five on the road.
Saunders' road numbers took a hit last time out in a no-decision at Cleveland
on Saturday. He was charged with four runs and a season-high 11 hits over 5
1/3 innings and afterwards sounded as though he is ready to take some extreme
measures to fix his road struggles.
"I'm going to sacrifice live chickens before my next road start," the 31-year-
old joked.
His assault on poultry will have to wait as he plays host to the Rangers, who
he is 3-8 against lifetime in 13 starts with a 6.30 ERA. He allowed just one
unearned run over seven innings of a no-decision against the Rangers at home
on April 13, but was hammered for seven runs in 4 2/3 frames of a loss in
Texas six days later.
The Rangers come into this series with a 5 1/2-game lead over Oakland for
first place in the AL West and avoided getting swept in three games by the
Athletics with Wednesday's 3-1 victory.
All of Texas' runs came in the first inning, with David Murphy hitting a two-
run homer and Adrian Beltre adding a solo shot to give the Rangers their 10th
victory in 14 games.
Those homers also made Ross Wolf a winner in his first major league start and
26th career appearance. Wolf claimed the first win of his career after
allowing just one run, three hits and two walks over five-plus innings.
"For him to come up and pitch and get his first big league win, it's cool to
say you were a part of it," Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.
Looking to get the Rangers off to a good start in this series will be Justin
Grimm, who snapped a personal three-start slide with a win over Detroit on
Saturday. The righty held the dangerous Tigers to a pair of runs on seven hits
and a walk in 6 2/3 innings, settling down late in a 7-2 win by retiring 11 of
the final 13 batters faced.
"Early in the game he was getting behind hitters, but once he went out there
in the fourth inning he started attacking the zone," said Rangers manager Ron
Washington. "He used all his pitches and started moving the ball around. He
did an outstanding job."
The 24-year-old righty evened his season record to 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in
seven starts and two of those have come versus the Mariners. He is 1-0 with a
2.70 ERA against Seattle.
The Rangers have won five of seven versus the Mariners this year. They split a
four-game set in Seattle in mid-April before Texas recorded a three-game sweep
at home from April 19-21. The Rangers outscored the M's 23-3 in that set with
two shutouts.
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Mariners demote Montero to Triple-A
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners are hoping a demotion to
Triple-A Tacoma can straighten out struggling catcher Jesus Montero.
The Mariners made the move on Thursday, with Montero putting forth a measly
.208 batting average through 101 at-bats this season.
The 23-year-old and one time highly regarded prospect was looking to build on
a successful first full season in 2012, but hasn't been nearly as productive
so far and at times has struggled to get off the bench.
Montero hit 15 homers and knocked in 62 runs over 135 games last year after
the Mariners acquired him from the New York Yankees, but has produced just
three homers and nine RBI while appearing in only 29 of the Mariners' 47 games
this season.
A corresponding roster move will be made on Friday. The Mariners will likely
call up Jesus Sucre from Tacoma. He will serve as the backup catcher to Kelly
Shoppach.
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WWU baseball advances at NCBA World Series
The No. 7 ranked Western Viking baseball team beat No. 2 seeded Illinois 14-6 today in Game 1 of the National Club Baseball Association World Series in Tampa, Florida. The Vikings rallied from a 4-3 deficit scoring 9 runs in the 8th inning.
With the win the Vikings advance to play James Madison in the winner’s bracket of the NCBA World Series Sunday.
(KPUG Newsroom)
Preps: Big weekend of state tournament action
In 1A soccer the Lynden Christian boys fell to Chelan 2-0 in state semi-final action.
The Lynden girls softball squad won their opening round game at 2A in Selah, beating Sumner 7-2.
The state track and field tournament got underway Thursday with Whatcom County already
claiming a pair of titles. Squalicum's Patrick Gibson won the boys 1600 by seven-thousandths of the second over Sehome's Conner Johnsen. Emily Pittis of Sehome won
the girls 1600. State track continues through Saturday. The Lynden, Nooksack Valley and Mt. Baker softball teams are beginning state play today. And the Lynden Christian boys soccer team has a state semi-final game against Chelan in Sumner at 4:00.
(KPUG Newsroom)
WWU Vikings sign 6-3 center Jamika Parker
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Jamika Parker, a senior at W.F. West High School in Chehalis, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play women’s basketball at Western Washington University beginning this fall.
Parker, a 6-foot-3 center, earned first-team Associated Press Class 2A all-State, Olympian all-Area Player of the Year, Centralia Chronicle all-Area MVP and Evergreen Conference Most Valuable Player as a senior. She averaged 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
Parker set school records for blocked shots in a game (15), season (157) and career (330), leading the Bearcats to a 19-4 record, Evco title and the school’s first state title game appearance.
As a junior, Parker was named second-team Olympian all-Area, first-team Chronicle all-Area and first-team all-league. She helped W.F. West place sixth at state and win a league championship, averaging 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
Parker was a first-team all-Area and all-league choice as a sophomore on a team that finished sixth at state. She was named a Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association scholar-athlete four straight years.
(www.wwuvikings.com)
WWU golf falls to Lynn FL in national semifinals
HERSHEY, Penn. --- Posting the highest team and individual finishes in its 15 years as a NCAA member, the Western Washington University men’s golf team had its season end with a 4-1-0 loss to Lynn FL in the semifinals of match play Thursday afternoon, May 23, at the Division II National Championships being held at the Hershey Country Club East Course.
That morning, the No.8 seeded Vikings upset No.1 Florida Southern in the quarterfinals, each team winning two of the five individual matches and tying in the other. WWU won via the first tiebreaker, which was aggregate score, 375 to 380.
“It was exciting to knock off the No.1 seed and get into the national semifinals,” said WWU head coach Steve Card, who is leaving his coaching position after 20 seasons to concentrate on his new duties as interim director of athletics for the 2013-14 school year. “It’s been a great week, an historic week, for Western men’s golf.”
Keying the Vikings’ win over Florida Southern was Jake Webb (Sr., Issaquah/Skyline), who defeated Tim Crouch by eight shots. On Wednesday, Crouch had beaten Webb and South Carolina Aiken’s Matt Atkins in a two-hole playoff to claim national medalist honors.
Webb, who shot a career and tournament-best 6-under par 65 on Wednesday, tied for second place in medalist play, the best-ever NCAA II national finish by a Viking. He moved up 14 places in the final round to force the playoff.
Lynn advances to the national final Friday against No.2 seed Barry FL, which defeated No.3 Nova Southeastern FL, 2-2-1 (won by two strokes in aggregate score).
WWU’s tie for third place bettered its previous best NCAA II finish of sixth in 2000. The Vikings were the only non-Florida in the final four.
Florida Southern won the medal portion of the tournament to determine the top eight. On Wednesday, the Moccasins shot a final-round 280, the best of the tournament, to take top honors with a 54-hole total of 867.
WWU was able to move up five places to tie for seventh at 898 (294). The Vikings were tied for fourth after Monday’s opening round and dropped into a tie for 12th in the 20-team field following play Tuesday.
Nova Southeastern entered the tournament ranked No.1 in the final Golf Coaches Athletic Association Top 25 Poll, with Barry No.2 and WWU No.6.
In medalist play for WWU, besides Webb tying for second, Needham tied for 59th (80=230), Goodwin tied for 64th (75=231), Schrader placed 75th (75=232) and Strickland tied for 87th (79=236).
The NCAA II national appearance was the second straight for WWU, which placed ninth last year, and eighth overall. Goodwin and Webb were the only returnees from last year’s national squad.
The Vikings lose three seniors from a squad that placed second at the South Central/West Regional and won a sixth straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship.
Schrader took medalist honors at the South Central/West Regional. Named first-team GNAC all-stars were Webb, who was the GNAC medalist, Goodwin, Strickland and Needham.
Webb was named GNAC Player of the Year, and Card received GNAC Coach of the Year honors for the sixth consecutive year. Named a GNAC Academic all-star was Needham.
(www.wwuvikings.com)
Sounders To Embark On Long Road Trip
(Tukwila, WA) -- The Sounders go from an MLS match against the L.A. Galaxy in California this Sunday to a U.S. Open Cup match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League next Wednesday. Then it's back to Southern California to play Chivas USA in another league match on Saturday, June 1. That's about 7,000 miles of cross-country travel.
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Sounders' Johnson Earns EA Sports Honor
(Renton, WA) -- Sounders forward Eddie Johnson was named to EA Sports' FIFA '13 Ultimate Team of the Week yesterday for his performance in Seattle's win over FC Dallas last weekend. Johnson scored two goals in a 4-2 win. The Ultimate Team is a group of players from all over the world chosen for their achievements on the field.
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Storm Set For Opener On Sunday
(Seattle, WA) -- The Seattle Storm open the WNBA season Sunday in Los Angeles against the the Sparks. The team will play without top players Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson this season due to injuries. The Storm's home opener is June 2 against Phoenix.
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Canucks ax Vigneault, rest of coaching staff
Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - The Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday fired
head coach Alain Vigneault along with assistants Rick Bowness and Newell
Brown, in the wake of a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
"We have made the very difficult decision to relieve Alain Vigneault, Rick
Bowness and Newell Brown of their coaching duties today," said Canucks
general manager Mike Gillis. "Alain, Rick and Newell worked tirelessly to lead
this team to great on-ice success. I am personally grateful to each of them
and their families for their commitment to the Canucks and the city of
Vancouver and wish them continued success in future."
Vigneault had been at the helm since June of 2006, taking over for Marc
Crawford. Despite leading Vancouver to 30-or-more wins in six straight seasons
and guiding the club to a club-record 54 wins and a Stanley Cup Finals
appearance in 2011, the Canucks faltered in the opening round of the
postseason the last two years, losing a five-round decision to the Kings last
year and being swept by San Jose earlier this month.
Vancouver ended this lockout-shortened campaign with a 26-15-7 record and won
the Northwest Division.
The 52-year-old native of Quebec departs the franchise with a 313-170-57
regular-season record and 33-31 postseason mark. He won the Jack Adams Award
as the NHL's top coach in 2007 after helping the Canucks to 49 wins and a
playoff series victory and was a finalist two other times.
Bowness previously served as head coach for Winnipeg, Boston, Ottawa,
Phoenix and the New York Islanders, and had been on Vigneault's staff since
2007.
Brown joined the staff in August of 2010, after five seasons as an assistant
with the Anaheim Ducks.
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Dunham named assistant basketball coach at WWU
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- David Dunham, the top aide at Whatcom Community College for the last 10 seasons, has been named an assistant men’s basketball coach at Western Washington University.
“Coach Dunham will be an excellent addition to our staff,” said WWU head coach Tony Dominguez in an announcement made Wednesday, May 22. “He has a wealth of playing and coaching experience and has recruiting ties throughout the West Coast.”
The 42-year-old Dunham, the associate head coach at WCC under Chris Scrimsher for the last two years, helped the Orcas set a Northwest Region record by making 10 straight appearances at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Tournament. WCC placed fifth twice and ranked No.1 in the NWAACC heading into post-season play in 2010-11.
Dunham also was an assistant two seasons at Independence High School in San Jose, Calif.
Dunham earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Lewis-Clark State College ID. He played one season (1993-94) for the Warriors before going overseas to compete in China, Romania and San Salvador.
Dunham also played two years at Golden West Junior College in Huntington Beach, Calif. He was a first-team Orange Coast League all-star as a sophomore, dishing out a school-record 22 assists in one game.
Dunham is a graduate of Pasadena High School, helping the Bulldogs to the California Scholastic Federation semifinals and a No.1 ranking in the state as a senior.
Dunham is employed at Lynden Floor Design.
WWU was 31-3 last year, reaching the final four at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
(www.wwuvikings.com)
Bellingham Climber Summits Mount Everest
(Bellingham, WA) -- A Bellingham resident is done with his quest to reach the summit on all seven continents, and his latest venture took him to the top of Mount Everest. The "Bellingham Herald" reports 50-year-old Dave Mauro reached the top of the world's tallest mountain in Nepal on Monday as part of a team of 21. Mauro scaled the mountain as part of his "Climbing for Kids" campaign, the goal of which is to raise 29-thousand-29 dollars, or a dollar for each foot of Mount Everest. Proceeds will go to the Bellingham Boys & Girls Club.
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Sounders' Evans Called Up To National Team
(Tukwila, WA) -- Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Brad Evans has been called up to the U.S. national team. Evans will join the squad after Seattle's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday. Evans has seven previous international appearances.
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Seahawks QB Portis released
Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis has been released, the team made the announcement Tuesday
Portis was arrested for driving under the influence earlier this month. He was pulled over for going 80 in a 60-mile-an-hour zone on May 5th. A pair of blood tests registered blood alcohol levels of .078 and .092.
The Seattle Times reported Portis will be arraigned May 28th.
Portis signed with the Seahawks as rookie free agent in 2011, when he made the 53-man roster as the No. 3 QB. He was inactive for 15 games and the backup in one because then-starter Tarvaris Jackson was injured. Portis was released from the practice squad last November and re-signed with Seattle on April 3.
Portis had been competing for a backup spot behind starter Russell Wilson with Brady Quinn, a former first-round draft choice by the Browns who was signed in free agency last month; and Jerrod Johnson, who also was signed last month.
(KPUG Newsroom)
Hawks Coach Carroll: Irvin 'Wants To Do Right'
(Renton, WA) -- Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says suspended defensive end Bruce Irvin has admitted his mistake and "wants to do right." Irvin was suspended by the NFL last Friday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, and will miss the first four games of the 2013 regular season. Irvin admitted to taking the stimulant Adderall without a medical exemption. As a rookie last season, Irvin was in on 17 tackles and recorded eight sacks for the Seahawks.
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Todd Dunne/Jessica Whitmer/acb
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Former Sonic Durant Makes $1M Tornado Relief Pledge
(Oklahoma City, OK) -- Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is stepping up to offer financial help to those affected by the deadly tornadoes. The Durant Family Foundation is pledging one-million-dollars to the American Red Cross relief efforts in hopes of encouraging others to donate. Durant was originally drafted by the Sonics in 2007 and played one-year in Seattle before the team was moved to Oklahoma City.
Durant offered prayers and well-wishes to the tornado victims through Twitter on Monday, as well as information on how individuals can donate ten-dollars by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
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Rick Maklebust/ch SPT)
Hansen Vows To Continue Efforts To Bring NBA To Seattle
(Seattle, WA) -- Developer Chris Hansen says even though his bid to purchase the Sacramento Kings and move the team to Seattle was rejected, he promises to keep fighting to bring the NBA back to the Emerald City. In a message posted on SonicsArena.com, Hansen says he'll move forward with the arena project and work with the city and county to clear the hurdles that remain. Hansen also congratulated the city of Sacramento and Mayor Kevin Johnson for their success in keeping the Kings in place.
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Todd Dunne/dp
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Chris Hansen has released a statement on his website sonicsarena.com it reads as follows:
Where We Go From Here
-Chris Hansen
I’d like to start out by congratulating Mayor Johnson and the fans in Sacramento for the tremendous effort they put together to keep their team. Given what our community went through in 2008, if there is any silver lining in this for Seattle it is seeing Sacramento’s dedicated fan base successfully rally to keep the Kings. This was never about Seattle fans versus Sacramento fans, and it goes unsaid that there is a mutual respect given the circumstances we have both been through. This process was instead about our group and our city putting our best foot forward in an honest and transparent way to return basketball to Seattle, and in that regard our efforts remain undeterred.
When we began our efforts in 2011, we went into it knowing that above all else it would take patience. The process involved in getting an Arena built in our city is without question a difficult and time consuming one. Likewise, with the prospects for expansion unclear, the path for returning an NBA franchise to Seattle was likely to prove even more difficult and require even more patience. Thus, even as we are disappointed with the developments related to our efforts to purchase the Kings, we would just like to reiterate our dedication to bringing the NBA back to Seattle. We will continue to press forward with our Arena plans with the same commitment and effort we have over the last two years, and look forward to working with the City and County to see the project through the hurdles that remain. Likewise, we plan to continue to work with the League regarding opportunities that may arise to return an NBA franchise to our City.
I would like to again thank everyone who helped us get to this point. To Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine and their incredible staffs for their leadership in getting our Arena proposal off the ground and seeing it through to this point. To the City and County Councilmembers for taking so much time and effort to vet our proposal and work with us to come up with solutions that made the deal work for their constituents. To our Arena Business Advisory Committee for all their help in rallying political and community support. And to our entire legal and professional team for the countless hours and dedication they put into this process.
But most of all I would like to thank all of the fans and community groups that rallied behind our efforts. You have shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that Seattle has great fans and deserves to have an NBA team back. Keep the Green and Gold alive… and just know that we remain as dedicated as ever to seeing Sonics Basketball return to the Emerald City."
—Chris Hansen
(www.sonicsarena.com)
WWU Vikings get inside presence with signing of Tia Briggs
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- Tia Briggs, who earned all-state honors and scored 1,036 career points at Wilson High School in Tacoma, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play women’s basketball at Western Washington University beginning this fall.
“We are so excited to have Tia as part of our program,” WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo said in making the announcement. “She is physically strong, she’s competitive and I believe she will make an immediate impact on our program.”
The 6-foot-1 Briggs was a second-team Associated Press Class 3A All-State pick as a senior. She helped the Rams to a 23-3 record, the Narrows League title with a perfect 12-0 mark and third place at the state tournament.
Briggs, who averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds and blocked 98 shots, was named Tacoma News Tribune all-Area, Tacoma Weekly all-City, TNT Narrows League Fab Five, first-team all-league and second-team state all-tournament.
As a junior, Briggs led Wilson High to a 20-4 record and the regional playoffs. She was the league MVP, all-area and all-city, averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
Briggs was a four-time Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association and Narrows League scholar-athlete.
Briggs’ father Ed played basketball at WWU, earning NAIA All-America honorable mention in 1989 and setting school records for blocked shots in a game (9), season (109) and career (183) which still stand.
(www.wwuvikings.com)
WWU Crew again to represent West Region at NCAA II Championships
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- The Western Washington University women's rowing team learned Monday afternoon that it has earned a berth in the 12th annual NCAA Division II National Championships that will be held on May 31, June 1-2 at Eagle Creek Park near Indianapolis, Ind. Notre Dame and the Indiana Sports Corporation are serving as hosts.
The Vikings, who received official confirmation from the NCAA II Women's Rowing Selection Committee, will represent the West Region for the 10th straight year and for the 11th time in 12 seasons (at-large entry in 2003). Last year, they placed second after winning seven straight national titles from 2005 to 2011, a record for all NCAA rowing divisions.
WWU is one of four schools competing for the team championship - each school being required to row an eight and a four.
Also receiving bids, besides the Vikings, were Mercyhurst PA from the East Region, Barry FL from the South Region. Getting the at-large entry was Nova Southeastern FL from the South Region. In addition, UC San Diego and Central Oklahoma received at-large berths in the eight competition. Those schools are not eligible for the team title.
WWU is currently ranked No.3 nationally, behind No.1 Barry, which received all five first-place votes, and No.2 Nova Southeastern. That trio is followed by No.4 Central Oklahoma, No.5 Humboldt State, No.6 UC San Diego, No.7 Mercyhurst and No.8.Dowling. Humboldt State, which did not make this year’s national field, was last year’s national champion.
(www.wwuvikings.com)
Sounders' Johnson collects MLS Player of the Week honor
New York, NY (Sports Network) - Seattle Sounders forward Eddie Johnson was
named the Player of the Week on Monday for Week 12 of the 2013 Major League
Soccer season.
Johnson, an American international, scored twice on Saturday as he led his
club to an impressive 4-2 victory over Western Conference-leading FC Dallas at
CenturyLink Field.
Johnson opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Osvaldo Alonso headed a
ball over the Dallas defense to Johnson, who out ran his defender and ripped
a half volley with his left foot into the lower right corner of the net.
He found the net again in the 62nd minute as Seattle native Lamar Neagle sent
a cutting pass between two FCD defenders to find Johnson, who dribbled around
Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez and fired it into the center of the goal.
The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North
American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print,
television, and radio media.
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