The Seattle Sounders parted ways with two preseason trialists on Friday, letting go of a former MLS Cup-winning defender and an NCAA champion midfielder.
GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey announced that club has released defender Anthony Wallace and midfielder Ben Speas, as well as former S2 player Sergio Mota as opening day looms closer.
Wallace won an MLS Cup with the Colorado Rapids in 2010 and Speas is a former Homegrown Player with Columbus Crew SC who won an NCAA title with North Carolina.
Mota, meanwhile, has left the Sounders to entertain an offer from a club in Brazil.
Lagerwey said he envisions “28 guys on the roster” but notes there are “decisions left to make” and he intends to use the final two Desert Diamond Friendlies to assess players still in camp.
“There are two or three more decisions to be made over the next couple of weeks,” Lagerwey said. “I would anticipate that we would try to sign at least one person out here who is not currently under contract.”
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As Seattle looks to get younger at all positions on the pitch, Lagerwey is focusing in on his center backs, noting that the timeline for Román Torres’ return is still an unknown for his team.
“The center back position is going to shape everything else,” he said.
Said head coach Sigi Schmid: “If you’re not competing for a place on the roster, you’re competing for a place in the 18 or in the starting XI. You’re always competing. That doesn’t change.”
