From highlight-reel goals to crunching tackles, there were numerous top-class performances from Sounders Academy alums on campus last week. In fact, multiple matches – notably Santa Clara versus Gonzaga – featured former Rave Green youth team standouts on both sides of the ball.
Henry Wingo and Handwalla Bwana earned starts for the University of Washington in conference play against Jalen Markey and Oregon State on Oct. 14. A dynamic box-to-box player, Wingo bossed the midfield with both his attacking and defensive abilities. Whether it was an incisive pass or a surging run from deep, the junior midfielder consistently broke the Beavers’ defensive lines.
Not to be outdone, teammate Bwana found himself at the heart of some of the Huskies’ best attacking chances. With the OSU defenders clogging up the middle of the field, Bwana often drifted out wide in search of space. The first-year forward whipped in countless dangerous crosses from the flank, only to be denied by the aerial dominance of Markey.
The commanding center back repelled wave after wave of attack from the Huskies. Despite his heroic defensive efforts, the Beavers eventually fell 2-1 in overtime to remain winless in conference play.
Speaking of head to head matchups, former Sounders Academy stalwarts Ben Willis and Davis Behnke went the full 90 in Gonzaga’s 1-0 over Yoshi Chaffin and Santa Clara. Stationed out on the right, Chaffin supplied his usual blend of innovation and incisive service from the channels. However, the tricky winger was denied several assists by the stellar play of Behnke and, in particular, Willis. A junior goalkeeper from Federal Way, Willis produced five saves to preserve the shutout for the Bulldogs.
Junior striker Seyi Adekoya turned in his best performance of the campaign in UCLA’s last-gasp 4-3 victory over California. The explosive striker recorded his second goal of the season againt the Bears with a sensational strike that arrowed into the top corner. Adekoya then tallied an assist with a pinpoint cross from a corner kick that led to the eventual match-winner.
David Olsen appears to have finally rediscovered the goal-scoring form that made him so lethal in 2015 after his fourth goal of the season against Grand Canyon University. Olsen did well to settle an aerial pass from Alex Roldan – the younger brother of Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan – before deftly chipping the goalkeeper. The win sees the Redhawks continue their unbeaten start to Western Athletic Conference play.
Finally, sophomore Sam Gomez has cemented his place in the Cal State University Bakersfield first-choice XI with his dominant performances in the middle of the pitch. A true holding midfielder, Gomez has garnered a reputation for his consistent ability to shield the back four. The former Sounders Academy player has started five matches in a row for CSUB, and even managed an assist on the second goal in their 2-1 win over San Jose State.
