MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on February 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


The Scene Shifts as the Countdown Continues

Now just 23 days from the showdown with Santos Laguna, Sounders FC is turning up the heat with a 10-day, four-game trip to Bradenton, Fla., followed by a scrimmage in Cancun, Mexico against Atlante FC.

Sounders FC concluded eight days of training in Arizona with a 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC last week. After two days off in Seattle, the Rave Green convened at Starfire on Friday for the first time this month. The team then boarded a plane bright and early on Saturday morning and traveled across the country to the Sunshine State.

Sounders FC will return to the Pacific Northwest on February 23 and host Mexico's Jaguares de Chiapas in the annual Community Shield match at CenturyLink Field on February 29.

The four training games in Florida will begin Monday afternoon against Orlando City SC and continue with a match against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. The U17 U.S. National Team and Florida Gulf Coast University comprise Seattle's other Florida training game opponents. All training games and sessions in Florida will be held at the IMG Soccer Academy.

Seattle is readying for a quarterfinal matchup against Mexican leaders Santos Laguna on March 7 in the CONCACAF Champions League. Sounders FC kicks off MLS play 10 days later on March 17. Both matches will be played on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Season tickets can be purchased by visiting www.SoundersFC.com or phoning 1-877-MLS-GOAL. Tickets for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal are available at www.SoundersFC.com, by calling 800-745-3000 and the CenturyLink Field Box Office as well as all Ticketmaster outlets.

In a Rhythm: Wednesday Games for next Five Weeks

Over the past three seasons Seattle has performed best when in a game-playing rhythm. Players and coaches alike prefer games to training, and have become accustomed to competition over rest. With the quarterfinal series against Santos fast approaching on the first Wednesday in March, coach Sigi Schmid has scheduled a series of game on the three Wednesdays leading up to the Santos series with the hope that Seattle will be in rhythm.

Sounders FC begins its Wednesday schedule this week against the Columbus Crew at IMG Soccer Academy. The following Wednesday Seattle travels to Cancun, Mexico to face Atlante FC before returning home to host Jaguares on February 29. With the Santos series on March 7 and 14, the Rave Green will play games on five consecutive Wednesdays before opening MLS play on Saturday, March 17.

Road to Glory: How Seattle, Santos Reached Quarterfinals

Both Sounders FC and Santos began their title chase in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League. Seattle downed Panama's San Francisco FC, 2-1 on aggregate, while Santos flew past Olimpia of Honduras, 5-2.

In the group stage, Seattle finished second in Group D behind the reigning champions Monterrey, who Sounders FC beat 1-nil in Mexico. Three Sounders FC players have scored multiple goals in this year's tournament, including Fredy Montero (three), Osvaldo Alonso (two), Alvaro Fernandez (two) and Mike Fucito (two).

Santos finished atop Group B with 13 points, the most of any team in the group stage this year. Santos also led the group stage in scoring with 16 goals, five more than any other CCL team. They went 4-1-1 in the group stage with the lone loss coming against Metapan, 2-0. Santos avenged that loss with a 6-0 win over Metapan in their next meeting. Santos played the Colorado Rapids twice in the group stage and won 6-1 over the two contests. Colombian Carlos Quintero and Mexican Oribe Peralta lead Santos with four goals each in this year's tournament.

CCL Format: Club World Cup is Ultimate Prize

A special opportunity awaits the winner of the CONCACAF Champions League as a berth to the FIFA Club World Cup is on the line. The Club World Cup consists of the top clubs from each region around the world that compete to earn the title of the world's top soccer club.

The quarterfinals are structured in a two leg (home and away) aggregate goal series. The eight quarterfinal teams include four from the Mexican Primera division, three MLS clubs and one team from El Salvador. The other quarterfinal matchups are LA Galaxy versus Toronto FC, Morelia versus Monterrey and Metapan versus Pumas.

Mexico's Finest: Santos in Top Form

Santos Laguna remains atop the Mexican Clausura despite suffering its first loss of the season last weekend. Santos lost, 3-1, at Monarcas Morelia and are now tied-first with Tigres at 13 points. After drawing its first game of the season, Santos won the next four before losing to Morelia.

One of Mexico's top clubs, Santos finished fourth in the Mexican Apertura and lost to Tigres in the final last December. They will play three matches before the March 7 contest in Seattle, including March 3 versus San Luis. Santos also has a game in between the two legs on March 10 against Puebla.

Sounders FC Single Match Tickets on Sale Today

Single-match tickets for the fourth Seattle Sounders FC MLS season will go on sale to the public on Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available through SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL. Ticket availability on a match-by-match basis is limited.

A limited number of 2012 season tickets are available, including seating in the Hawk's Nest, please contact the Sounders FC Ticket Office at 877-MLS-GOAL (877-657-4625) or www.SoundersFC.com.

All Sounders FC league matches not aired nationally will be carried live in high definition on KING-5 or KONG-6/16. All locally broadcast matches will also be aired either live outside of Seattle or on a delayed basis throughout Washington on ROOT SPORTS�. Each match will also be aired live on the radio home of Sounders FC, News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM.

Sounders FC first regular season MLS match is on March 17 versus Toronto FC on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Sounders FC Announces Community Shield Match on February 29

The Seattle Sounders FC announced plans for the club's third annual "Community Shield" match which will take place on Wednesday, February 29 at 7 p.m. on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders FC will face the Jaguares de Chiapas of the Primera Divisi�n de México in a preseason match. This year's match will be free of charge but the team is encouraging fans to pay it forward. Donations will be accepted at the gates for the team's charity partners.

Proceeds from the match will benefit the team's five community partners: America SCORES Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs (King Co. & Bellevue), Special Olympics Washington, Washington Global Health and Washington Youth Soccer.

The Community Shield match is presented by adidas. During a halftime presentation, adidas will make a $2,000 donation to Sounders FC community partners and will host many of their youth soccer clubs at the match.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve throughout the lower east bowl.

The model for the event is based upon the "Charity or Community Shield" matches in England, where they are a long standing tradition featuring the champions of the FA Premier League against the winners of the FA Cup with all proceeds going to charity.

Sounders FC first regular season MLS match is on March 17 versus Toronto FC on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.

For more information visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Sounders FC Announces Details for Kickoff Luncheon and Training Session

The Sounders FC announced limited seating is available for the team's third annual Kickoff Luncheon to be held at CenturyLink Field on Friday, March 9 from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to meet players, coaches and members of the new Sounders FC broadcast team, Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller, in addition to supporting the club's charity partners. Guests will sit with Sounders FC players, coaches, and team executives.

Fans attending the lunch are also invited to attend the Sounders FC training session from 11-11:30 a.m. The session will be followed by a question/answer session with members of the front office.

Tables of 10 include eight guests, plus two Sounders FC personnel (players, coaches, or team executives). Each table costs $800 and individual tickets are available for $100.

To purchase a table please register online at www.SoundersFC.com or contact Tiffany Green at TiffanyG@SeahawksSoundersFC.com or (425) 203-8013.

Proceeds from the Kickoff Luncheon ticket sales and silent auction will benefit the five Sounders FC charity partners including: America SCORES Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs (King Co. & Bellevue), Special Olympics Washington, Washington Global Health and Washington Youth Soccer.

For more information visit http://www.SoundersFC.com/kickoffluncheon

Date Change: Sounders FC to Host Real Salt Lake on October 17

The Seattle Sounders FC announced today that the match versus Real Salt Lake scheduled for July 18 at CenturyLink Field has been moved to Wednesday, October 17. Start time and broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

The Saturday, September 8 Sounders FC match versus Chivas USA will have a start time of 1 p.m.

Seahawks and Sounders FC Announce New Regional Partner

The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC announced a three-year partnership with officeproductsnorthwest (OPNW). OPNW will receive prominent signage locations at CenturyLink Field and supply both teams with office and furniture needs.

The Seattle market has rapidly embraced OPNW, an alternative to the "big box" companies due to their unique business model. OPNW is part of a billion dollar buying group that enables the company to offer low, competitive prices. They provide the latest technology and integrated systems to streamline ordering efficiencies, including next day delivery. OPNW provides low pricing and volume ordering while maintaining the customer service and support of a local business.

About officeproductsnorthwest

officeproductsnorthwest was established in 2001 and supplies local and national businesses with office products and furniture. OPNW has offices in Portland, Seattle and San Diego. The company donates a portion of its profits to charities including the Food Bank, Easter Seals, OHSU Knight Cancer Center and American Diabetes Association.

For more information visit www.officeproductsnorthwest.com or call 206.973.1717.

Academy Stays Fit For League Play with Practice Games

With no USSDA league games this week, the Sounders FC Academy teams each played a practice game against Surrey United U18 this weekend to stay fit. Both teams dominated, with the U16's beating Surrey 4-1 on Saturday and the U18's rolling to an 8-0 win on Sunday.

Saturday morning the U16's faced the older Surrey U18 at Hazen High School. The Sounders saw goals from four different scorers, with all goals coming in the second half. Duncan McCormick led the way with the game's first goal in the 55th minute and an assist to James Molyneux-Elliot in the 60th minute to make it 2-0. Denis Kalamar and Sam Perkins scored back-to-back goals in the 80th and 81st minute before Surrey scored to finish the game and avoid the shutout.

The U18's dominated play from the opening kick Sunday morning at Starfire, defeating Surrey 8-0.

Both practice games should prove valuable for the teams to maintain fitness when USSDA league play resumes next weekend. Both teams will travel to Sacramento to take on the California Development Academy on February 25th. The U16's will look to return to form after snapping a seven-match winning streak last weekend against DeAnza Force, while the U18's look to get back on track after dropping two of their last four.

Sounders FC Boys High School Prep Camp

Registration is now open for the Boys High School Prep Camp, to be held from February 20-24 at Starfire Sports. The week-long training course is designed for boys ages 14-18 preparing for 2012 high school soccer tryouts and season. All positions are welcome. For more information and to register, visit www.SoundersFC.com for more information.

Throw-ins

Christian Sivebaek turns 24 on February 19 and Adam Johansson turns 29 on February 21...Six non-roster players are currently training with the team in Florida: Andrew Duran, Babayele Sodade, Andrew Weber, Andy Rose, Alex Caskey, Chris Blais and Harlinton Gutierres. Blais attended Kennedy Memorial High School in Burien, Wash....Sounders FC Academy goalkeeper Paul Christensen, who is currently living in Bradenton, Florida as part of the U17 Residency Program, will have the chance to play his senior team counterparts when the two sides meet on February 16...Midfielder Michael Tetteh joined Sounders FC in Florida after missing the Arizona training camp with a hamstring injury. Forward O'Brian White (blood clot) and goalkeeper Josh Ford (knee) are currently in Seattle to rehab injuries...Sounders FC players began using a GPS-based tracking system during training sessions that monitors the players' physical load. The Catapult Sports tracking system was used by the team for the first time on Sunday.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from February 13, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central