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Seattle Sounders FC News & Notes: 2/10/09

February 10, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


The Southern California portion of Seattle Sounders FC preseason training concludes later this week with a combination of four exhibitions and training games prior to the team's return home.

Following a scrimmage with Chinese Super League champion Shandong Luneng at Ventura College on Tuesday, February 10, Sounders FC will make its public debut on Wednesday night, February 11, at the Ventura County Fusion. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Buena High School.

On Friday night, February 13, in San Luis Obispo, Seattle meets the San Jose Earthquakes in the MLS Central Coast Showcase. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on the campus of Cal Poly.

The team is scheduled to train Saturday morning, February 14, before breaking camp and boarding the flight to Seattle. Training resumes February 18 and 19 at Qwest Field.

A Look Ahead

The first opportunity for fans in the Pacific Northwest to see Sounders FC in action comes February 20. Kasey Keller and Nate Jaqua will return to their collegiate home, Merlo Field, to play a preseason exhibition against the University of Portland. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Tickets for the game will go on sale next Monday, February 9, at 11 a.m. They can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, the University of Portland box office or by calling 1-800-745-3000. All tickets are general admission and are available for $10 for adults and $7 for youth (high school and younger) and UP students.

Keller (1988-91) and Jaqua (2000-02) were All-Americans for the Pilots. Keller holds the school's records for season (13) and career (43) shutouts. In 1988, he helped lead the Pilots to the school's first NCAA semifinal appearance. Jaqua scored 29 career goals. His 80 career points ranks 10th all-time at UP, while his 12 game-winners ranks third.

Marshall for Defense

Sounders FC acquired defender Tyrone Marshall from Toronto FC in a trade for an undisclosed amount of allocation money on Tuesday. Marshall, 34, started 39 games at central defender for Toronto since being obtained from the L.A. Galaxy midway through the 2007 Major League Soccer season. He is currently playing with the Jamaican National Team in England. Jamaica plays Nigeria in a friendly on Wednesday night (February 11) in London.

"The addition of Tyrone brings us speed and experience to our back four," said head coach Sigi Schmid. "He's a player I know well from my time in Los Angeles. He has two rings to his name and that championship mentality is something we can always use."

A veteran of 11 MLS seasons, Marshall played five-plus seasons with the L.A. Galaxy (2002-07). He was a two-time MLS All-Star and a member of the Galaxy's MLS Cup-winning teams in 2002 and 2005, and also helped L.A. win the U.S. Open Cup in 2005. Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid was the Galaxy coach from 1999-2004.

Marshall has appeared in 248 career MLS regular-season games, starting 221. He has totaled 13 goals and 17 assists. Marshall was drafted out of Florida International by Colorado in 1998, then traded during that season to Miami, where he played through 2001.

Winning Preseason Opener

Sounders FC came from behind to win its opening preseason match, 3-1, over the host L.A. Galaxy on Monday, February 9. Seattle got second-half goals from Roger Levesque and Sanna Nyassi. Fredy Montero pulled Sounders FC level at 1-1 in the 17th minute on a penalty kick after Steve Zakuani was taken down in the box. Both teams changed their entire lineups at the break. Levesque broke the deadlock in the 80th minute and Nyassi added insurance in added time.

Eddie Lewis had staked the Galaxy to a lead in the opening three minutes. Both teams struggled to gain footing in slippery conditions follow a heavy morning rain at The Home Depot Center.



USL First Division Stories from February 10, 2009


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