Sounders Academy alum Paul Rothrock and the Georgetown Hoyas won the NCAA Division I National Championship on Sunday night, defeating the University of Virginia in penalty kicks after the match had ended in a 3-3 stalemate.
Rothrock, who spent the 2016-17 USSDA season with Sounders Academy, transferred to Georgetown ahead of his junior year. The Seattle native notched three goals and seven assists on the year heading into the College Cup final.
Viriginia jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute, with Mac Hermann semifinalist Joe Bell’s deflected shot glancing into the back of the net. Rothrock equalized for Georgetown mere minutes later as he pounced on a loose ball into the box and promptly megged the Cavaliers’ ‘keeper to make it 1-1.
The two sides traded goals through the duration of the thrilling College Cup final. When it ended in a deadlock after two periods of extra time, the Hoyas secured their first national championship in program history with a 7-6 win in penalty kicks.
An alum of Lakeside High School, Rothrock spent the majority of his youth career with Seattle United, an official youth partner club of Sounders FC. He then joined up with the Rave Green for his U-18 season, when he posted double digits goals and assists on a team that also included Tacoma Defiance standouts Sam Rogers and Shandon Hopeau.
In the postseason, Rothrock notched three goals and three assists as the Sounders U-18s reached the USSDA national semifinal. He made one appearance for the Defiance during his time with the club, scoring a goal against the Real Monarchs in July 2017.
In recognition of his stellar performance in the Sounders organization, Rothrock received his first call-up to the United States U-18 Men’s National Team during the fall of his freshman year at Notre Dame.
