Plenty of Sounders Academy alums played decisive roles in important results in NCAA action last week. In fact, former Rave Green youth team standouts provided the necessary spark in crucial matches for University of Washington and Seattle University.
Meanwhile, more and more products from last year’s U-18 Academy squad have carved out important roles as freshmen.
Freshman left back Nick Hinds has gone from strength to strength for the University of Akron this season. The versatile defender started for the Zips in the 4-0 win over Buffalo on Oct. 7 and played a role in the buildup to the second goal. A vital part of the Akron backline, Hinds has started eight matches for a squad that has not conceded a goal at home in 577 minutes of play.
Redshirt sophomore center back Jacob Hauser-Ramsey and the Connecticut Huskies moved up to No. 13 in the nation after a commanding 5-0 win over Cincinnati on Oct. 8. Hauser-Ramsey’s imperious display in the heart of the Huskies’ back line restricted Cincinnati to just one shot on goal. UConn extended their winning streak to six matches in a row with the result.
Former Sounders Academy standouts Henry Wingo and Handwalla Bwana played massive roles in the University of Washington’s 2-0 win over the University of California on Oct. 9. In fact, the pair each recorded an assist on the Huskies’ first goal. Bwana got his second assist on the night when he set up the game winner in the 60th minute. The dynamic attacker is enjoying a breakthrough campaign with four goals and six assists so far.
Bwana’s teammate and striker partner on the Sounders U-18s, Burke Fahling, is turning some heads with his play for the University of Memphis. The freshman forward earned American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Inglemore High School star has two goals and one assist in his last five matches after setting up a goal away to Lipscomb and scoring in the win over University of Central Florida.
Pete Fewing and Seattle University of have won four matches on the bounce since a narrow 2-1 loss to cross-town rivals, University of Washington last month. The Redhawks toppled San Jose State 2-1 on Oct. 6 courtesy of a man-of-the-match performance from Sounders Academy product David Olsen. The junior striker scored the first goal in the 17th minute and assisted the winner in the 56th with a pinpoint cross.
Not to be outdone, fellow SSFC Academy standout Sam Langston grabbed a goal and an assist in the Redhawks’ 5-0 over Houston Baptist on Oct. 8. In addition to his offensive contributions, Langston and fellow senior defender, Kyle Bjornethun, led Seattle U. to a clean sheet over HBU.
Oregon State University center back Jalen Markey recorded his first assist of the season in a 2-2 draw with the University of California on Oct. 6. The 6-foot-2 defender from O’Dea High School setup the Beavers’ first goal when his knockdown header off a corner led to fell to a teammate to sweep home.
