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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

September 21, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Hungry for points in an ever-tightening MLS playoff race, the Seattle Sounders FC hopes to satisfy that appetite when it opens a stretch of three consecutive road matches against the New England Revolution on Saturday night. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. PT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Seattle (9-6-11, 38 points) will also be out to avenge its only loss in the last month, a 1-0 decision won by the Revs (9-8-7, 34 points) on August 20 on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

The Sounders FC has gone unbeaten in its last four MLS games and is undefeated (2-0-1) in the last three on the road, scoring seven goals. It is 3-0-1 in the Eastern Time Zone this season, including the U.S. Open Cup Final played September 2 in Washington, D.C.

After winning three in a row, New England is now winless in three (0-2-1), including a draw at New York last week. The Revs, fifth in the Eastern Conference, have two games in hand on Seattle, which is third in the West.

Going into the week the Sounders FC owns the fifth-best point total in MLS, yet six teams are four or fewer points behind. Three of those clubs have played fewer matches.

The Sounders FC settled for a scoreless home draw with Chivas USA last week. This is the club's third of four trips to the Eastern Time Zone over a five-week period. Seattle played in D.C. on September 2 and 12, and it travels to Columbus on October 3.

Saturday's contest will be shown locally on KONG 6/16 and can be heard on News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM with Kevin Calabro and Greg Vanney calling the action. Saturday's game will be available in Spanish on THIS TV (Comcast Channel 114) with play-by-play from Jaime Mendez and Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar providing analysis, and on Ke Buena 1210 AM with Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez calling the action.

To purchase tickets to future home games, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL, visit www.SoundersFC.com, any Ticketmaster outlet or the Qwest Field Box office.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Saturday, September 26, 4:30 p.m. - at New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Saturday, October 3, 4:30 p.m. - at Columbus Crew; Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Saturday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. - at Kansas City Wizards, Community America Ballpark, Kansas City, Kansas

Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. - FC Dallas; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Upcoming Training Schedule, September 22-October 1 (subject to change):

Tuesday, September 22 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, September 23 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, September 24 - Travel to Boston

Friday, September 25 - Training in Foxborough, Massachusetts; tbd

Sunday, September 27 - Travel from Boston

Monday, September 28 - No Training

Tuesday, September 29 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, September 30 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, October 1 - Travel to Columbus

Seattle Holds Its Ground

Fortunately for Seattle, none of those teams closest in the standings were able to gain ground last week. Four of the league's seven matches ended in draws. At the top of the West table, Houston (43 points) and L.A. (41) both won. Columbus (43) and Chicago (40) are 1-2 in the East.

The top two teams in each conference clinch playoff berths, followed by the next four teams with the highest point totals, regardless of division. Colorado (37 and 1 game in hand) and Chivas USA (37 and 2 games in hand) are right behind Seattle. D.C. United (36) currently holds the eighth and final spot. The Sounders FC holds tiebreakers over Houston, L.A., Colorado and D.C. by virtue of winning those season series.

Ninth Clean Sheet

Seattle's shutout of Chivas USA was its third in the last six games and the ninth of the season, tied for second-best in MLS. With the clean sheet, the Sounders FC now leads the league in defensive scoring average (0.92). The defense allowed only four shots (1 on goal) and keeper Kasey Keller was required to make only one save against Chivas USA. While compiling a goals-against average of 0.50 in the last half-dozen outings, Keller has made a total of only 10 saves as his back four have limited the number of clear chances.

At Home on the Road

The recent run of success on the road has boosted Seattle to the fourth-best away record in MLS, at 3-4-5. With home sides proving more adventurous than those visiting Qwest Field, the Sounders FC attack is exploiting the greater space by scoring goals. The offense has generated seven goals in the last three trips and nine in the last four, counting the 2-1 Cup Final victory at D.C. United. Seattle's road run began on August 15 with a 2-0 result at L.A. It tied at Houston, 1-1 and defeated D.C., 2-1, in its last road contest on September 12. In the last three MLS away games the Sounders FC has taken more points (7) than the first nine road matches (0-4-4), combined.

Impact Players

A key figure in the road wins has been Rookie of the Year candidate Steve Zakuani. In each of the three away victories Zakuani has scored a first-half goal. Fredy Montero, one of the frontrunners for Newcomer of the Year, has scored three goals in the last four away matches, including the Cup Final. Montero has four goals on the road in MLS play. Midfielder Peter Vagenas has earned assists in the last two MLS road wins.

The Framing Business

While the ball didn't find the net last week, there were encouraging signs that the twine may soon get a workout. For sure, the club is creating opportunities. Led by Steve Zakuani's four attempts, Seattle peppered Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton with 12 shots, with six on frame that required Thornton saves. In fact, the attack has forced 18 saves from opposing netminders in the last four games, and 14 in the last three on the road. The Sounders FC also earned 10 corner kicks-one shy of the season high-against Chivas USA

Changes in the XI

With the return of Freddie Ljungberg last week, the lineup was adjusted and the speedy Swede started at forward alongside Fredy Montero. It was Ljungberg's second start up front; he had made his first start at Toronto FC on April 4 and scored the opener. Nate Jaqua, who had started the previous 12 matches at striker, came off the bench for the final 14 minutes.

On defense, Tyrone Marshall returned in a central position after seeing limited action in the last two leagues matches because of a hamstring strain.

Keller in New England

While this is the first trip to New England for the Sounders FC, goalkeeper Kasey Keller has played a total of eight times on the Revs' home fields during his international career. This marks his seventh game at Gillette Stadium since it opened in 2002. He earned six caps there for the U.S. National Team, going 4-0-1 in his five starts and posting four shutouts. Keller's last matches at Gillette were in 2005, when he skippered Team USA for Gold Cup wins over Costa Rica and Jamaica.

Keller also played twice in Foxboro Stadium: a 2-2 draw with Mexico in 1997 and a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in 2001. Both were World Cup qualifiers.

Sigi at Gillette

Seattle's Sigi Schmid has won in his last two trips to New England, with Columbus in 2007 and 2008. With 122 victories Schmid is two career wins shy of Bob Bradley's MLS record total of 124. Schmid is the career leader with 282 games coached, surpassing Bradley (272) this season. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches in wins (96) and No. 3 overall. Schmid is 10-9-5 against the New England Revolution (0-1-0 with Seattle; 6-4-2 with L.A; 4-3-3 with Columbus).

Eastern Promises

All three of Seattle's remaining road games occur in either the Central or Eastern Time Zones. The Sounders FC is undefeated (2-0-5) in seven previous trips outside the Pacific Time Zone, including a 2-0-3 road mark against Eastern Conference teams.

Shirt Off Kasey's Back

Two of Kasey Keller's most special game-worn jerseys are being auctioned online to benefit the Life Rolls On Foundation (www.liferollson.org). The auction runs through October 26 on MLSnet.com. The one-of-a-kind jerseys include the shirt worn by Keller in earning his 100th cap for the U.S. National Team and also the one donned for the inaugural Sounders FC match against New York on March 19, 2009. Both jerseys are autographed.

Life Rolls On exists to be a resource that provides hope and advocacy for young people whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injury.

MLS Cup Tickets On Sale

Tickets for MLS Cup 2009 are now on sale to the public. Major League Soccer's premier event, MLS Cup, will be played November 22 on Seattle's Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Fans can purchase tickets www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. MLS Cup tickets are included in the Seattle Sounders FC 18-game season ticket package.

Card Carriers

Three players are carrying four yellow cards into New England, and their next caution would result in a one-game suspension. Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall and Nate Jaqua were each issued a card in last week's draw with Chivas USA. Alonso could have his total reduced if he goes without a card for the next three matches. Jaqua and Marshall have already made use of the one-time, good behavior incentive.

Seattle players have served suspensions in six of the last eight MLS games, and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado missed the Cup Final after receiving a red card in the semifinal win over Houston.

Not Grass? Not a Problem

Gillette Stadium, the team's destination this weekend, features a synthetic surface, and that's not a problem for Seattle. The Sounders FC is 7-2-7 in MLS matches played on turf (1-0-1 on the road), and it finished 5-0-0 in U.S. Open Cup games on artificial surfaces.

First-Year Clubs to Win Cup Finals

Seattle is the third first-year franchise in the modern era to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and prior to last week's match the trophy was presented by ownership to the fans and the championship banner was unfurled from the roof of Qwest Field.

Owners Joe Roth, Adrian Hanauer and Drew Carey handed off the trophy to supporters group leaders at the March to the Match. At the stadium, the trophy was held aloft as the Open Cup appeared over the west stand.

Seattle's achievement of claiming the Open Cup in its first season equaled that of D.C. United in 1996 and Chicago, an expansion MLS team in 1998.

Sigi Targets 45

Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid has set a target of 45 points for his club to make the playoffs. In the league's 13 seasons to date, only twice has a club with 40 or more points missed the cut (41 by Miami in 2000 and 45 by Kansas City in 2005).

A minimum of 39 points was required to reach the postseason over the last four seasons, with a maximum of 45 needed by Los Angeles in 2005. In 2008, New York earned the eighth and final slot with 39 points, and the Red Bulls went on to reach the MLS Cup Final.

Awards Candidates Galore

Several members of Sounders FC are figuring to be contenders for the top MLS postseason awards. Sigi Schmid is a two-time past Coach of the Year winner, and he has quickly fashioned Seattle into a playoff contender, already winning more games than any expansion team in the last 10 years.

All-Star selections Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Kasey Keller, Fredy Montero and Freddie Ljungberg are in the running for various player awards. Steve Zakuani, the No. 1 selection in the MLS SuperDraft, is a candidate for Rookie of the Year with four goals and four assists.

Leaders of the Pack

Kasey Keller is No. 2 among MLS goalkeepers with a GAA of 0.86. Keller is tied for second in shutouts (9) and tied for 4th in wins (9). Forward Fredy Montero is 4th in goals (11), 2nd in game-winning goals (4). Montero leads MLS in shots (73) and fouls suffered (57). He is tied for 10th in shots on goal (26). Nate Jaqua is tied for 6th in assists (7). He is 5th in fouls committed (43). Freddie Ljungberg is 2nd in fouls suffered (54) and is tied for 2nd in game-winning assists (3).

The Sounders FC ranks 1st in goals allowed per game (0.92) and fouls suffered (331). It is 2nd in corner kicks (148) and assists (40). The offensive scoring average (1.19) ranks 12th. Seattle is 5th in fouls committed (314) and the 54 cautions ranks 3rd.

Still Shuffling the Back Four

Seattle's back four has been constantly shuffled since late June. In the past 16 MLS games, due to injuries, suspensions, and the unexpected, Seattle has been forced to shuffle its back four each time. The duo of Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, after starting and playing the entire 90 minutes of the first 11 games, has played together only six times in the 15 games since. Right back James Riley has the most starts (24), followed by Hurtado (22). Leo Gonzalez has started the last seven on the left. Patrick Ianni has appeared in 15 of the last 16 games, starting 10.

Soldiering On

Seattle is off to the second-best start in MLS expansion history, and has done so while facing its fair share of adversity. The Sounders FC has stayed above .500 since the outset despite finishing seven games shorthanded, going 0-3-4 in those contests. Resulting suspensions, injuries, national team call-ins and the unexpected have allowed Sigi Schmid to pick his starting lineup from his top players on only six occasions to date.

It's All About Goals

It's simple: When Sounders FC scores, points in the standings have followed. And when Seattle scores first, so much the better. It is 8-0-3 when striking first and 9-0-7 when scoring at least one goal. Each of Seattle's six losses has been by shutout.

Chasing History

With a record of 9-6-11 through the first 26 league games, Seattle is off to the best start for an MLS expansion franchise since the Chicago Fire (16-10-0) in 1998. Miami and Chicago are the only expansion teams to reach the playoffs, with the Fire winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in its first season.

Previous Expansion Starts

Team 26 Games 27 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago (1998): 16-10-0 17-10-0 Won MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami (1998): 13-13-0 13-14-0 1st round playoffs

Salt Lake (2005): 5-17-4 5-18-4 Finished 5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 3-18-5 3-19-5 Finished 6th, West

Toronto (2007): 5-15-6 6-15-6 Finished 7th, East

San Jose (2008): 7-10-9 7-11-9 Finished 7th, West

Seattle (2009): 9-6-11 Won U.S. Open Cup

Attendance Record

Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at 14 consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first 14 games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field has sold out. With one home game remaining Seattle leads MLS with an average of 30,739. The MLS record for a season attendance average is 28,916, set by the L.A. Galaxy in 1996.

About the Revs

New England is returning home after a loss and draw on the road at Chivas USA and New York, respectively. The Revs return to the road for matches at FC Dallas and Colorado next week. Minus All-Star midfielder Shalrie Joseph, they got an early goal from Sainey Nyassi before a late Red Bulls equalizer at Giants Stadium last week.

New England is 6-3-3 at home with a goal differential of 20-14. Joseph is tied for 3rd in MLS assists with eight. Kheli Dube has four game-winning goals. Matt Reis is 4th in GAA (1.06). An MLS original, Steve Ralston is the league's all-time leader in career assists (135) and appearances (377). Ralston has been with New England since 2002.

The Nyassi Twins

Saturday's match could feature an on-field meeting of the Nyassi twins, New England's Sainey Nyassi and Seattle's Sanna Nyassi. Both brothers played for Gambia's Ports Authority and U-17 and U-20 national teams. Sainey signed with the Revs at age 18 and is now in his third season. Sanna signed with Sounders FC at 19, spending the latter portion of the 2008 season with the USL-1 Sounders. In the first game played between the two clubs, the brothers both played but were not on the pitch at the same time. Sainey started and played 67 minutes before coming off; Sanna entered the match as a Seattle substitute in the 69th minute.

Schmid, Nicol Combine for 200-plus Wins

Together, Seattle's Sigi Schmid (122) and New England's Steve Nicol (96) have combined for more than 200 regular season wins, ranking 1-2 among active head coaches. Both coaches joined the MLS ranks in 1999, Schmid with the L.A. Galaxy and Nicol with New England. Schmid guided that team to the MLS Cup in 2002 (1-0, over New England) and the 2001 U.S. Open Cup (defeating the Revs, 2-1 in overtime in the final). Schmid added another title with Columbus in 2008, and then won the Open Cup with Seattle earlier this month. Nicol's teams have won the Open Cup (2007) and advanced to the MLS Cup Final four times.

Seattle/New England Connections

Right back James Riley played his first three professional seasons for the Revolution. He was drafted by New England in 2005 out of Wake Forest, where he was once a teammate of Wells Thompson and Pat Phelan. While with New England, Riley was a starter for the 2007 Open Cup champions and MLS Cup runners-up in both 2006 and 2007. He scored his only MLS goal against New York at Gillette Stadium in 2005. Darren Sawatzky, the Sounders FC director of youth development, played two seasons (1996-97) in Foxborough.

Up in the Air

Seattle will spend a considerable amount of time in the air during September, flying more than 18,000 miles. The distance to New England will be the greatest at 4,984 miles, round trip.

Two years from now MLS will have three teams in the Pacific Northwest. Portland and Vancouver join the league in 2011. Projected mileage round trip to Portland (290 miles) and Vancouver (238) will level Seattle's average flight travel with the other MLS clubs. But for now, Sounders FC remains the only team, which means inevitably traveling greater distances than the other clubs.

Based on last season, MLS clubs averaged 31,764 miles per team with New England traveling the farthest (44,940) and Kansas City the shortest (26,790). Sounders FC will travel 46,898 miles this season.

Breaking Down Sounders FC Mileage:

Destination Round Trip Miles

4/4 - Toronto FC 4,140

4/18 - Chivas USA 1,918

5/2 - Chicago Fire 3,474

5/16 - FC Dallas 3,362

5/23 - Colorado Rapids 2,072

6/6 - Chivas USA 1,918

6/20 - New York Red Bulls 4,816

8/2 - San Jose Earthquakes 1,418

8/8 - Real Salt Lake 1,402

8/15 - L.A. Galaxy 1,918

8/23 - Houston Dynamo 3,782

9/12 - D.C. United 4,656

9/26 - New England Revolution 4,984

10/3 - Columbus Crew 4,026

10/17 - Kansas City Wizards 3,012

TOTAL 46,898

Re-Establishing the Fortress

With its large, capacity crowds creating the loudest environment in MLS, Seattle quickly broke from the gates and won its first two home matches without allowing a goal. In the first 11 games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, the Sounders FC lost just once.

With the push for the playoffs having begun in earnest, the team now needs to re-establish that dominance and take three points at home for the first time since July 11. Seattle has been blanked in each of its last four home games, settling for scoreless draws with Chicago, Toronto FC and Chivas USA, and losing to New England, 1-0. The Sounders FC has surrendered only nine goals on its turf, third-fewest in MLS.

Crowds Swell

Due to the demand for Sounders FC tickets, stadium capacity has been expanded to 32,400 for the final seven MLS home games. Capacity was 27,700 for home dates between March 28 and June 17. The team utilized the full stadium capacity for Chelsea and FC Barcelona. A record crowd of 66,848 watched the Barcelona friendly and the throng of 65,289 was on hand for Chelsea on July 18. It was the fourth largest attendance ever to watch soccer in Seattle. The highest attendance for a league game this season was the 32,719 for the September 19 Sounders FC draw with Chivas USA.

Records Watch

The crowd of 66,848 for the Sounders FC-FC Barcelona friendly on August 5 was the largest for a soccer match played in Seattle.

The top 10 attendances are as follows:

66,848 August 5, 2009 Qwest Field Seattle v Barcelona (friendly)

66,830 August 9, 2006 Qwest Field Real Madrid v D.C. United (friendly)

66,722 July 22, 2003 Seahawks Stadium Manchester United v Celtic (friendly)

65,289 July 18, 2009 Qwest Field Sounders FC v Chelsea (friendly)

58,218 April 9, 1976 Kingdome Seattle v New York (friendly; Pele 2 goals)

56,416 April 16, 2008 Qwest Field Mexico v China (friendly)

56,256 August 25, 1977 Kingdome Seattle v Los Angeles (NASL playoffs)

49,606 August 9, 1980 Kingdome New York at Seattle (NASL)

47,052 May 31, 2008 Qwest Field Brazil v Canada (friendly)

43,651 January 29, 1994 Kingdome U.S. v Russia (friendly)

First Meeting Recap

Seattle Sounders FC 0, New England Revolution 1 - August 20, 2009

Shalrie Joseph scored the game's only goal as the New England Revolution blanked the Seattle Sounders FC, 1-0, in a nationally televised match on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

The loss broke an eight-game undefeated streak at home. Seattle was 4-0-4 since a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards on April 11th.

In the 21st minute of the match a combination play between New England's Steve Ralston and Edgaras Jankauskas that set up the goal. Joseph fended off Seattle's Peter Vagenas and poked the ball past goalkeeper Kasey Keller from 6 yards.

Seattle finished the match with 11 shots but was unable to get one on goal despite a 9-6 corner kick advantage on New England. Matt Reis was not required to make a save in gettingthe shutout. The Sounders FC have been shut out in four of its last five MLS games.

The best chance to equalize for the Sounders FC came in the 43rd minute. Forward Fredy Montero was fouled by Ralston, then stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick. Montero's shot ricocheted off the crossbar and the rebound was sent out of play for a goal kick.

Nate Jaqua led Seattle with four shots. His closest opportunity came in the 27th minute of the match taking a pass from defender Leo Gonzalez. Jaqua steered his 6-yard shot just wide of the near post.

New England played without head Coach Steve Nicol who was serving the second game of a two-game suspension. First Assistant Paul Mariner was ejected from the match just before halftime in the 48th minute.

Last Game Recap:

Seattle Sounders FC 0, Chivas USA 0 -September 19, 2009

Held scoreless for the fourth consecutive match at home, the Seattle Sounders FC were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with Chivas USA before a crowd of 32,719 at Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

The tie kept Seattle (9-6-11, 38 points) in third place in the Western Conference. Chivas USA (11-9-4, 34 points) did not allow a goal in three meetings with Sounders FC, winning the first two games in Carson, Calif.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton thwarted Seattle, making six saves to earn his 10th shutout.

Seattle rookie of the year candidate Steve Zakuani figured in two of the closest chances. In the 15th minute, he nodded down a Freddie Ljungberg cross which Sebastien Le Toux volleyed for a Thornton save.

Early in the second half, a header by Zakuani was stopped by a leaping Thornton.

In the 83rd minute of the match Fredy Montero was denied by Thornton from six yards.

Zakuani fired four shots as Seattle outshot Chivas USA 12-4. The Sounders also finished with a 10-3 advantage in corner kicks.

In the three-game series with Chivas USA, the Sounders FC finished 34-16 advantage in shots (11-7 on goal) and 20-7 in corners.

In the last four MLS home games, the Sounders FC has had three scoreless draws and one loss. The club was coming off two road wins over D.C. United, one in league play and another in the U.S. Open Cup Final.

It was a physical match with eight card issued, including a red card to Chivas USA's Marcelona Saragosa in the 71st minute of the match.

Before the match the Sounders FC honored the NASL Sounders and the Golden Scarf went to 1980 coach of the year Alan Hinton.

The attendance was the largest for a Seattle home MLS match this season. The final home regular season game is October 24 versus FC Dallas.

Trends to Date

Of Seattle's 31 goals in the first 26 games, 19 have come in the first half and 24 in the first 60 minutes. Five have come from set pieces, all from corner kicks; four by Freddie Ljungberg and one by Peter Vagenas. A goal has yet to be scored from either the penalty spot or free kick. Of the 11 games in which Sounders FC has scored multiple goals, seven have been at home. The defense has not allowed more than one goal in 13 of 14 home games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Seven of the nine shutouts have been at home.

Youth Development RTC's Now Open

Regional Training Centers across Washington opened on September 15. The Sounders FC Youth System incorporates Washington Youth Soccer ODP in four age groups for the boys and all five age groups for the girls. The new relationship unites the very best avenues to high level soccer through a Regional Training Center (RTC) model incorporating the top youth clubs across Washington State and upper age group Academy teams that will be formed in the spring of 2010.

The seven RTCs are located in Everett, Puyallup, Snohomish, Spokane, Tukwila, Vancouver and Yakima.

Youth Club soccer in Washington state will be unaffected by the inception of the RTC's outside of offering a player centric training day each week The RTC's will bring the very best players together once per week to train with the top coaches in the state in each of the 5 locations. These players will train, be evaluated, and develop with the ultimate goal of achieving the state pool of players for each of the age groups designated. The pool that is designated in each age group will become the ODP/Sounders FC youth team pool and the very top players will travel as the ODP/Sounders FC youth teams to competitions commensurate with ability level. There will also be an open tryout for the RTC's to make sure that no player is excluded or missed within this opportunity.

Sounders FC will be fielding U15/U16 and U17/U18 boys Academy teams starting the spring of 2010. These teams will apply to the USSF Academy League following the other MLS youth teams that participate in this league. Per the MLS Youth Initiative, players may be signed to a professional contract out of this programming for the full professional team for Sounders FC. The girl's older Washington State ODP teams will serve as the top teams for this program.

Throw-Ins

Tyrone Marshall has scored four goals and three assists in 28 career appearances versus New England...Peter Vagenas, who appeared in his 195th career regular season league game last week, has a chance to reach the 200 plateau by season's end...Seattle did not make a move prior to the September 15 roster freeze date...Seattle finished 3-2-5 in nationally televised regular season games (1-1-2 ESPN; 2-0-2 FSC; 0-1-1 TeleFutura) to date...Fifteen former members of the NASL Sounders players, coaches and ownership were honored in pregame festivities last week. Alan Hinton was chosen by a vote of Alliance members to receive the Golden Scarf. Hinton coached the original Sounders from 1980-82, taking the team to the championship game in his final season. He later re-started the Sounders tradition in 1994, founding a club in the A-League and won the 1995 title.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (4): Terry Boss, Ben Dragavon*, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller; Defenders (10): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl; Midfielders (9): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Michael Fucito, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Lamar Neagle, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (4): Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Steve Zakuani.

*invitee

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from September 21, 2009


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