Coming into tonight there were some questions as to who the best team was in the W-League’s Eastern division. It took the D.C. United Women less than a half to put a stop to them. Matched up against the Fredericksburg Impact the game was never really in question as the United won 5-0 with all of their goals scored in the first half.
It all started in the 8th minute when defender Jerica DeWolfe controlled a deflected corner and drilled the ball in the back of the net. Then Lianne Sanderson, an accomplished English player, finally took the next step that United fans have been waiting for all season.
In the 11th minute Sanderson won the ball from the Impact defense just inside the box. With the keeper approaching, Sanderson calmly chipped the ball over the top and in for her first goal with United. Just 2 minutes later Sanderson was at it again putting the ball into the back of the net for her second goal with an assist from Mikaela Howell. The assist continued Howell’s hot streak, having recorded an assist or goal in each of the last 8 matches.
The onslaught wasn’t finished though as Holly King scored off a United corner kick in the 20th minute. Up 4-0 there was little doubt that D.C. was going to lose the match, but still the nightmare wasn’t over for the Impact. Molly Menchel received a cross from Ashley Herndon in the 28th minute that she miraculously managed to squeeze inside the back post.
The win continued the fantastic start to the season for the United, who have won all 7 of their matches in 2012. With the playoffs looming D.C. is in sole possession of first place after a weekend draw between the 2nd and 3rd place Atlanta Silverbacks and Charlotte Lady Eagles. If the United can hold onto their slim lead and win the Eastern Division they will receive home field advantage throughout the postseason.
This was the 2nd game of a rough stretch, which has D.C. playing 4 matches in 10 days. On Saturday the United Women will play the Virginia Beach Piranhas, a squad they defeated 2-0 earlier in the season.
