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Sounders FC Signs Six Tacoma Defiance Players to Short-Term Agreements

June 12, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release

SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC today announced the signing of six Tacoma Defiance players to short-term agreements ahead of Wednesday's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round match against the Portland Timbers at Cheney Stadium (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN+). Defiance players Josh Atencio, Alec Diaz, Azriel Gonzalez, Shandon Hopeau, Danny Robles and Ray Serrano are all eligible for selection by Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer for this evening's match.

Shandon Hopeau leads all Defiance field players in minutes played in 2019 (Charis Wilson / Seattle Sounders FC).

MLS clubs may sign players from their USL affiliate to short-term agreements (up to four-day contracts) for CONCACAF Champions League, AMWAY Canadian Championship, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and exhibition matches. An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short-term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days). Sounders FC utilized this mechanism to add USL players for each of the last three season's U.S. Open Cup fixtures.

Sounders FC has over three weeks off from MLS action before hosting Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, June 29 (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM), with further U.S. Open Cup fixtures this month should Seattle advance past Portland on Wednesday.

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Sounders FC Signs Six Tacoma Defiance Players to Short-Term Agreements

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