MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on February 1, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Preseason Training Approaches Phase II

Warmer weather and the first taste of outside competition awaits the Seattle Sounders FC as preseason training enters the second phase later this week in Arizona. The team wraps-up the first segment on Tuesday before traveling to Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona through February 11.

The Sounders FC opened camp at Starfire Sports Complex on January 25 with 29 players, including invitees, reporting. Although this has been the warmest January on record, the weather conditions figure to be even better in Arizona. The extended forecast for Casa Grande is for temperatures reaching near 70 degrees throughout the club's stay.

The Arizona camp will conclude with Seattle facing the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a training game on February 11. The Sounders FC will return home later that day and be off until departing for La Manga, Spain on February 15.

From February 16 through February 26, Seattle will train and compete in La Manga, Spain.

Sounders FC will face Norwegian champion Rosenborg BK in the opening Group A match at the La Manga Cup on February 18. Sounders FC will face either Denmark's FC Norsjalland or Norway's Stabak on February 21. The tournament concludes with crossover matches to determine final placement on February 25 and 26.

The MLS regular season begins March 25 with Sounders FC hosting Philadelphia Union in the MLS First Kick 2010. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Training Schedule, February 2-11 (subject to change):

Tuesday, February 2 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, February 3 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 4 p.m.

Thursday, February 4 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Friday, February 5 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m. (weights 4 p.m.)

Saturday, February 6 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m.

Sunday, February 7 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m.

Monday, February 8 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Tuesday, February 9 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.

Wednesday, February 10 - Training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, 10 a.m.

Thursday, February 11 - Training Game v Vancouver, Grande Sports World, 11 a.m.

Arizona Homecoming

Casa Grande is located about 50 miles southeast of Phoenix, the hometown of Sounders FC midfielder Brad Evans. At Mountain Pointe High School, Evans scored 54 goals to earn all-state honors. He played 10 years of club soccer for the Tempe Warriors.

Evans went on to star at UC Irvine and played his first two MLS seasons for the Columbus Crew. He was selected by Seattle in the 2008 expansion draft and appeared in 27 matches last season, starting 25, and scoring three goals.

Also in 2009, Evans earned his first three caps for the U.S. National Team. He was called into the USMNT camp in January.

Sounders FC Featured on Evening Magazine

The February 1 edition of Evening Magazine was taped during the Sounders FC training session at Starfire. The program airs at 7 p.m. in Seattle on KING 5 and it will feature host Meeghan Black's interview with Kasey Keller.

Coming & Going

Freddie Ljungberg joined the Sounders FC for training on Monday at Starfire. Invitees Josh Gardner and Yakir Lusky are expected to meet the team in Arizona.

Tyrone Marshall is expected back in training on Tuesday. Marshall represented Jamaica in an international friendly with Canada on Sunday in Kingston. He started and played the full 90 minute of Jamaica's 1-0 win. It was Marshall's 69th international cap for the Reggae Boyz.

Michael Seamon, the second round MLS SuperDraft pick out of Villanova, has returned to finish school in Philadelphia. He will graduate in May. Similarly, Tye Perdido will return to classes at Gonzaga later this week.

Season Tickets to be Capped at 32,000

The Sounders FC announced last week that less than 1,000 season tickets remain for the 2010 season. The 18-match season ticket package includes 15 regular season matches and three international friendlies to be played on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

Seattle capped season tickets at 22,000 for its inaugural season and averaged 30,943 per match, establishing a new MLS record for season average.

For ticket information visit www.soundersfc.com or call 877-MLS-GOAL.

Haiti Relief Total Reaches $20,000

The updated total has reached $20,000 for the Haiti relief event involving Sounders FC players and hosted by the Gorilla FC supporters group. Gorilla FC were joined by Steve Zakuani, James Riley and Patrick Ianni signing autographs and posing for photos at the George & Dragon Pub on January 23. Initially, the event raised over $12,000 for Doctors Without Borders.

Donations are still being accepted. Visit http://doctorswithoutborders.com/index.cfm or mail a check made out to Doctors Without Borders to: Gorilla FC, PO Box 20184, Seattle WA 98102.

Colorado Hosts Sounders FC in Charity Shield

The Sounders FC will face the Colorado Rapids on March 19 in a preseason friendly to benefit UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) relief efforts in Haiti. First kick for the Charity Shield match against the Rapids is 6 p.m. PT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

RTC Programs Begin February 1

Beginning on February 1, the Sounders FC Regional Training Center (RTC) weekly program begins at five locations:

Central

-

Tukwila (Starfire Sports Center)

North Boys

-

Snohomish (Glacier Peak High School)

North Girls

-

Everett

(Lincoln Field)

South

-

Puyallup

(Sparks Stadium)

Southwest

-

Vancouver (Kiggins Bowl)

The programs at the Spokane and Yakima RTCs will reconvene when weather conditions are appropriate.

Preseason Training List

The following players are confirmed to join the Sounders FC for preseason training: Goalkeepers (4): Terry Boss, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller, Patrick Lane*; Defenders (11): Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Lamar Neagle*, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl, Jamel Wallace#; Midfielders (10): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Michael Fucito*, Josh Gardner*, Stephen King, Freddie Ljungberg, Yakir Lusky*, Sanna Nyassi, Michael Seamon#, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (7): David Estrada#, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Tye Perdido*, Jarrod Smith*, Steve Zakuani.

#SuperDraft selection

*invitee

2010 Product Arriving Daily at Pro Shops

More and more product for the 2010 season is arriving at the Pro Shop locations at both Qwest Field and Westlake Center. The newest arrivals include new pregame jerseys in both white and rave green.

Throw-ins

General manager Adrian Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson depart later this week for 10 days of scouting in Argentina and Uruguay...

The first week of preseason training included mostly small-sided games, fitness work and fitness testing. The week concluded with 40 minutes of 11v11...

Upcoming birthdays: David Estrada turns 22 on Thursday, and Peter Vagenas will be 32 on Saturday.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 1, 2010


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