Game day. And even though Dallas is off to an awful start -- especially because Dallas is off to an awful start -- it's a big game for the Sounders. After a pair of draws, they need three points -- even on the road.

Here's a game preview from the Dallas Morning News, focusing largely on how bad the Hoops have been.

And here's my story from this morning's paper, also focusing on how bad the Hoops have been ... and why they might still be dangerous.

And one of those reasons could be weather. Here's a report.

Unless news breaks, my next post will be from the press box of Pizza Hut Park.

Meanwhile, a quick scouting report:

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (4-2-2, 14 pts)
AT FC DALLAS (1-6-1; 4 pts)
5:30 p.m., Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas.
TV: KONG 6/16.
Radio: 97.3 FM, and in Spanish on 1210 AM.

Head to head: This is the first meeting. FC Dallas visits Seattle on Oct. 24.

Stats: For Seattle: G 3 Fredy Montero; A 3 three players tied; Sh 18 Montero; SOG 6 Montero. For Dallas, G: 4 Kenny Cooper; A: 2 Dave van den Bergh; Sh: 31 Cooper; SOG 19 Cooper.

Coach Sigi Schmid scouting report: “With Kenny Cooper there is a good, strong, big center forward. Right now they are playing (Jeff) Cunningham up with him, who is an experienced goal-scorer in this league. They have a play-maker in (David) Ferreira, who is quick and fast and good off the dribble. Dax McCarty is a good passer of the ball. It gets them a lot of good options in terms of going forward. Defensively, they are a little bit younger … but they have good size in the back for sure.

Notes: Seattle is without half of its starting defenders: Nathan Sturgis (hamstring) and James Riley (red-card suspension). …Dallas has allowed the second-most goals (15) in MLS and has scored the second-fewest (7). The minus-eight goal differential is tied for worst in the league. … Dallas has played three straight road games, all losses. FCD’s lone victory came in its last home game, 3-2, over Toronto on April 19. … Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman made three changes to his lineup last week, and Schmid said the team is difficult to prepare for because he expects more changes may be made. … Cooper leads MLS in shots and shots on goal. He has scored four of Dallas’ seven goals this season. … Dallas rookie George John was born in Shoreline and played at the University of Washington. … Dallas is an MLS charter member, which began its history as the Dallas Burn. The team is now sometimes called the Hoops because of the horizontal stripes around their jerseys.

Next: Colorado Rapids, 6:30 p.m. May 23, Dick’s Sporting Good Park, Commerce City, Colo.; KONG 6/16.

Seattle Sounders FC will fly to Dallas today without either starting defender Nate Sturgis or reserve keeper Chris Eylander.

Sturgis has been nursing a hamstring, but didn't recover in time to play in tomorrow night's game at FC Dallas. That means the Sounders will be without two starting fullbacks against the Hoops, as James Riley also will be out due to a red-card suspension.

Eylander is unavailable due to a knee injury that coach Sigi Schmid suggested this morning might be serious enough to land Eylander on the injured list. In his absence, the team has brought back Ben Dragavon under the league's "extreme hardship" rule. Dragavon is a 25-year-old former USL Sounder who is part of the MLS pool of goalkeepers. He played 61 minutes in SSFC's game against Kansas City when Eylander was injured and No. 1 keeper Kasey Keller was ejected.

The Tacoma Tide crosses the Narrows tonight, heading up for a 7:30 p.m. date with the Kitsap Pumas.

The Pumas are new to the PDL and a pretty interesting story that is well-told in this article by the Kitsap Sun.

The Sounders have an early practice at Starfire before heading deep in the heart of Texas for their game tomorrow at FC Dallas -- the Hoops.

And for the first time this season, we'll be traveling too, brining you coverage from the Dallas game tomorrow and the game at Colorado next week.

Meanwhile, here's my story from today, a variation on the issue of referees and fouls, which has been the main topic of the week. This one is on Fredy Montero and Freddie Ljungberg, who are two of the most-fouled players in MLS -- despite both missing the better part of two of the team's eight games.

Meanwhile, here's the FC Dallas coverage from the Dallas Morning News.