Academy Snapshot | USSDA season picks up as U-17s qualify for GA Cup Premier Division

After a long winter break, the Academy ramps up with Generation adidas Cup qualifying and US Soccer Development Academy league play.

Recent Results

U-15 Generation adidas Winter Event

Sounders FC 0 vs LA Galaxy 1 | February 14

Sounders FC 3 vs San Jose Earthquakes 3 (4-5 PK) | February 15

Sounders FC 3 vs Sporting Kansas City 0 | February 17

U-17 Generation adidas Winter Event

Sounders FC 0 vs LA Galaxy 1 | February 14

Sounders FC 1 vs San Jose Earthquakes 2 | February 15

Sounders FC 2 vs Sporting Kansas City 1 | February 17

USSDA Matches

U-15

Sounders FC 14 at Breakers FC 0 | February 22

Sounders FC 5 at Silicon Valley Soccer Academy 0 | February 23

U-17

Sounders FC 0 at Breakers FC 1| February 22

Sounders FC 2 at Silicon Valley Soccer Academy 0 | February 23

The U-15’s showed their dominance putting up 19 goals, both shut-outs, over the weekend after a tough GA Winter Event. “They play really well when they play the Sounders style,” in regard to their GA Cup performance, interim coach Michael Morris said. It was a group effort in DA play, as five U-15’s was on the score sheet with Clemente Esquivel III leading the group with 5 goals on the weekend.

“It was a great challenge going from Generation adidas competition to USSDA matches,” U-17 head coach Gary Lewis said. “If you look at both weekends, it was 5 games in 10 days for both age groups plus travel. This also presented a great opportunity for some of the 2005’s to step up and get quality minutes with the U-17’s. Reed Baker-Whiting, Angel Martinez and Obed Vargas all had a lot of minutes with us this past weekend which is great for their development.”

The schedule isn’t slowing down, with Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers coming to town this weekend.

“We won last time we faced them, 2-1, in our season opener,” Gary Lewis said. “It’s different now because the group is more established. Both sides have had plenty of time to make improvements.” There’s no question this rivalry runs down through the Academy teams, “It gives the game an edge. The boys know what it means to play a big rivalry game.”

Upcoming Fixtures

February 29

Sounders FC U-15 vs Portland Timbers U-15 | 1 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports – Field 2

Sounders FC U-17 vs Portland Timbers U-17 | 3 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports – Field 2

Sounders FC U-19 vs Portland Timbers U-19 | 5:30 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports – Field 2

The Pathway

Three current Academy players joined the First Team in Mexico City for their second phase of preseason. Ten current Academy players joined the Tacoma Defiance at various points during the week in Oceanside, CA for their preseason.

For Club and Country

Three U-15’s have been called into U.S. Soccer U-15 Boys’ National Team Domestic Training Camp in Chula Vista March 1-8^th: Josh Hardin, Reed Baker-Whiting and Obed Vargas.

Looking ahead

March is a busy month for the young Sounders squads, with USSDA matches every weekend. With Sounders FC and Tacoma Defiance in full swing, there will be a lot of roster movement and a great opportunity for player development amongst the groups.

You can view the full Academy schedule here: soundersfc.com/academy/academy-schedules