For the first time in club history, both the Sounders FC Academy U-16s and U-18s won their respective groups at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs. The U-18s then defeated in-state rival Crossfire Premier 3-2 in the quarterfinals, making them the first Sounders Academy squad to appear in a USSDA national semifinal, where they’ll face LA Galaxy on Friday.
With the U-18s on the brink of a first appearance in the national championship game, people throughout the organization are reflecting on the momentous occasion at hand, and ultimately, what it portends for the future of the club.
“It's a positive step forward for the Academy for us to make the semifinal, and another indicator of our progress,” said Academy Technical Director Marc Nicholls. “It’s another first for the club, but our challenge now is to continue to get better in all areas.”
The Head Coach of the U-18s, Wade Webber, is quick to point out the context surrounding this critical milestone.
“It’s been a good season,” said Webber. “But we’re trying to develop professionals who know how to win, who aren’t phased when things aren’t going perfectly, and who can play in adverse environments.”
Webber feels that if Sounders Academy is to become a consistent pathway for young prospects from the Academy to the First Team, this run from the U-18s can’t be a one-off. And according to Sounders FC VP of Soccer & Sporting Director Chris Henderson, the successes of both the U-16s, who also made the quarterfinals, and the U-18s in the playoffs are indicative of a long-term upward trend for the Academy.
“I think this is years of work that’s now starting to show,” said Henderson. “There’s credit that needs to be given to all of the groups that have come before that helped pave the way for these kids. But I think it’s great for the Sounders and it’s great for our kids coming through, and we hope these kids can continue through to S2 and eventually the First Team.”
Ultimately, the purpose of Sounders Academy is to develop players who can one day suit up for the First Team. Playing matches in high-pressure situations is a crucial for developing professional players.
“Seeing the U-18s progress to this level and continue to win must-win games is a very good thing,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Personnel Kurt Schmid. “It’s good for the club to get there, I think it shows that our Academy is pushing on and we’re continuing to fill it with talented players. It’s a good development opportunity for the kids to see if they can rise to the occasion.”
Sounders Academy has improved drastically over the last two years, but the next milestone for the club is winning a national championship. In order to do so, the U-18s will need to defeat the Galaxy on Friday.
