In 2015 the newly-formed second team, Seattle Sounders FC 2, played their inaugural season in USL. The first year was an immense success, with S2 qualifying for the playoffs in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. In addition to garnering some impressive results, numerous players broke onto the scene with promising performances that should have supporters anxiously awaiting the 2016 season.
The primary goal of S2 is to give reserve and youth team players opportunities to train and play in a professional setting. In essence, it is meant to give players with potential chances to play, and to bridge the gap between the Sounders first team and the Academy.
Players on the fringes of the first team, such as Darwin Jones and Oneil Fisher, were able to maintain match fitness and develop their game against seasoned professionals. Additionally, 10 players from the Academy recorded minutes for S2 last season, indicating the immediate success of the program. This blend of experience and youth is vital for development. The senior players in the squad increase the quality of their game as they face competition from their younger counterparts. Meanwhile, members of the Sounders FC Academy get to work closely with and learn from older players pursuing careers in the professional game.
In addition to serving as a vital piece of the player development puzzle, S2 also helped bolster the ties between the Sounders organization and the Seattle-area community. Thousands of fans filed into Starfire Stadium in Tukwila and provided boisterous support for their new team. Academy alumni such as Jones, Aaron Kovar, Victor Mansaray and Duncan McCormick all took the field for S2 and established an immediate connection with supporters.
A perfect example of the fortified connection with supporters was when Seattle native McCormick received the affectionate nickname ‘Captain Crunch’ from the fans for his powerful tackles in the heart of midfield. Fellow Academy alum and current University of Washington goalkeeper Seif Kerawala impressed in goal against Timbers 2 and the Real Salt Lake first team in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Having local soccer products play important matches in an intimate setting such as Starfire strengthened the organization’s roots in the community.
With regards to S2’s second mandate, improving and streamlining player development for Academy standouts, 2015 was a resounding success. Sounders Academy players logged a combined 2,147 minutes over the course of the season.
Homegrown signing Victor Mansaray led the way with 952 minutes at striker. Mansaray’s performances for S2 perfectly exemplify the importance of the new second team.
The youngest ever Homegrown signing by the Sounders, Victor may have struggled for opportunities to play important matches with MLS standouts Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins ahead of him in the first team pecking order. However, S2 provided a platform for him to train at a high level and hone his abilities against high quality opposition. His success last season is indicative of the organization’s vision for S2: to provide a pathway from the Academy all the way through to the first team.
A number of other Academy standouts were rewarded for their impressive performances at youth level by being called into S2. Current U-18 holding midfielder and captain Lorenzo Ramos logged an exciting 342 minutes across three starts and an additional eleven appearances as a substitute. His impressive performances for the Academy this season reflect the benefits of involvement with the second team.
Additionally, versatile right back Kasey French tallied 82 minutes over four games, including one start. Another exciting fullback, Nicholas Hinds, recorded 45 minutes for S2 shortly after joining the Academy in August. In addition to these three, a number of other Academy players spent time with the newly formed second team: Diego Silvas, John Magnus, Nate Tonguvala, Handwalla Bwana, Choong sil Lim and Tosh Samkange.
S2 and Sounders Academy General Manager, Andrew Opatkiewicz, views the integration of Academy players within the second team as paramount for the organization.
“The Academy is the most important part of the club structure for the future of Sounders FC, and S2 is a bridge between the Academy and first team,” Opatkiewicz said. “One of the most important reasons for S2 is improving the opportunities our top Academy players have to develop into first team pros.”
Going into the 2016 season, S2 currently has five players on the official roster. While the rest of the roster will be filled in the build up to the regular season, this year will surely see more Academy standouts involved in the S2 setup. After an extremely successful 2015, the organization will look to build on the momentum of their inaugural season. For players in the Sounders FC Academy, if they work hard and put in some impressive displays, they will be rewarded with a unique opportunity to experience the professional game.
