All three Sounders Academy USSDA squads returned to action in 2018 in excellent form, collecting 23 of 27 possible points from league play. Despite missing eight key players against the Whitecaps -- a calculated decision in anticipation of their participation in the First Team’s preseason -- the young Sounders strung together some aesthetic performances and managed to collect a couple of impressive results.
Recent Results
U-19
- Sounders FC 1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 4 |January 20
- Sounders FC 1 at De Anza Force 0 | January 27
- Sounders FC 3 at Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 1 | January 28
U-17
- Sounders FC 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 1 | January 20
- Sounders FC 4 at De Anza Force 2 | January 27
- Sounders FC 6 at Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 0 | January 28
U-15
- Sounders FC 4 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 3 | January 20
- Sounders FC 1 at De Anza Force 1 | January 27
- Sounders FC 3 at Santa Cruz Breakers Academy 0 | January 28
The U-15s opened the new year with a thrilling victory over their Cascadia rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps. After conceding three goals on the counter, the young Sounders found themselves down 3-1 in the 54th minute. Midfielder Danny Leyva dragged the Rave Green back into the match with his stellar play in the center of the park, dictating the tempo of the match and launching several attacks. The Sounders and USYNT prospect tallied a brace on the day and grabbed the game-winning goal with just five minutes left.
Not to be outdone, the U-17s mounted their own successful comeback against the Whitecaps later that afternoon, despite missing four regular starters -- Josh Atencio, Marlon Vargas, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and leading scorer Ray Serrano -- due to their preparations for preseason with the First Team. The visitors jumped out to an early lead in the 35th minute with a goal against the run of play. After the interval, the young Sounders dominated possession, carving out several clear-cut chances, only to be denied by a string of impressive saves from Vancouver’s goalkeeper. That pressure eventually paid off as midfielder Bryson Hankins drove home the equalizer 59th minute. As the Sounders pushed for a decisive second goal, substitute Christian Koontz produced a fantastic run down the left channel before squaring a pass for Danny Robles, who placed his first-time shot into the side netting.
The next weekend, many of the Academy prospects who participated in preseason with the First Team returned to USSDA league play. Having clearly benefited from their exposure to the professional level, the trio of Ray Serrano, Marlon Vargas and Josh Atencio combined for two goals and four assists from just two matches.
After a disappointing result against the Whitecaps, in which the Sounders managed to perform reasonably well despite missing several key starters, the U-19s got back on track with a pair of wins down in Northern California. Scoreless at the interval against De Anza, the hosts nearly took the lead in the 53rd minute, but goalkeeper Sam Fowler produced a stunning recovery save to keep the score level. Four minutes later, Dylan Teves’ clever backheel pass found the feet of Daniel Gomez, who then picked out the near-post run of RJ Stretch for the decisive goal.
The next day, the young Sounders’ attack fired on all cylinders as left back Jake Morris earned his first start of the season after recovering from injury. It was an ideal return to action for the defender as he marked his 2017-18 USSDA debut with a goal. With the wins, the U-19s sit in third-place in the Northwest Division, and 10th overall in the national.
Upcoming Matches
February 10
Sounders FC U-15 vs. Sacramento Republic U-15 | 10:00 a.m. PT, Starfire Sports, Field 11
Sounders FC U-17 vs. Sacramento Republic U-17 | 12:30 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports, Field 11
Sounders FC U-19 vs. Sacramento Republic U-19 | 3:00 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports, Field 11
February 11
Sounders FC U-15 vs. Ballistic United SC U-15 | 10:00 a.m. PT, Starfire Sports, Field 11
Standout Performers
“Danny Robles has been in excellent form [two goals and three assists in last three matches] and certainly deserves some recognition for his work rate and quality in the final third,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director Marc Nicholls. “Edgar Serrano [U-15] has performed very well the last couple of weeks with his ability to circulate possession and dictate the tempo of matches with his passing.”
One to Watch
U-15 midfielder Charlie Holmes gets the nod this week for his three-assist performance against the Whitecaps. Operating as an inverted left winger, Holmes consistently beat Vancouver’s right back 1v1 before cutting inside and playing incisive passes to teammates. The Seattle native came through the Sounder Discovery Program and has impressed throughout his time in the Rave Green’s youth system, earning an invitation to the U.S. Soccer Futures Camp last May.
Next Man Up
“We were rather impressed as a staff by the performances and results from the boys against Vancouver, especially given we were missing so many players due to their preparations for participating in preseason with the First Team,” said Nicholls. “The boys responded very positively and stepped up in key matches. As a staff discussed afterward about how some of the boys who stepped up in the Vancouver matches may be deserving of a training stint with the First Team. This is a very fluid and flexible club where if you work hard and do very well, you have every chance of being promoted through the system.”
