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September 26, 2007 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


"I hate losing." Those words from Seattle Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer before the start of the 2007 USL First Division season set in motion the development of the Seattle Sounders team that face the Atlanta Silverbacks in the USL First Division Final Saturday night at Starfire Sports Entertainment Complex.

Kickoff is at 7pm and tickets are $25 for reserved grandstand seating and $20 for uncovered bleacher seating. Fans are encouraged to call 206.622.3415 or visit SeattleSounders.net to get their tickets early due to limited availability.

Seattle last hosted the USL First Division Championship in 2005 and over 8,000 people watched the Sounders clinch their third title as an organization on penalty kicks over the Richmond Kickers. In 2006 Seattle not only failed to defend their title, but missed the playoffs altogether, bringing about the ire of their owner and sending 2007 Coach of the Year Nominee Brian Schmetzer out to "scour the globe" in search of the talent needed to return his club to the top of the USL standings and challenge for the organizations fourth title since it's rebirth in 1994.

Schmetzer returned from his search with 2007 USL First Division Co-Leading goal scorer and First Division MVP Nominee, forward Sebastien Le Toux, whose tireless work ethic and relentless pressure on opposing defenses set the tone for the ten players taking the field behind him

2005 USL First Division Assist Leader Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar made the move from Portland to Seattle during the off season with the expectation of joining Schmetzer for a championship. His eight assists, second in the USL First Division, and wizardry on the right side of the offense, along with his veteran leadership and fiery competitiveness have been a constant boost to the squad from week one.

Seattle solidified the left side of the midfield with the addition of Josh Gardner, who spent three years with the LA Galaxy before making the move to the Pacific Northwest. His brilliant left foot and confident runs at opposing defenses have served to open space for the players around him and provide the service needed for them to excel.

The last player signed before the start of the season, Kenji Treschuk, surprised even himself by securing a starting role in the holding midfielder position midway through the season. His consistent play and workman like attitude have made him a strong contender for the USL First Division Rookie of the Year award.

Danny Jackson and Zach Scott have both returned to their dominant roles in the Seattle backline after battling with injuries through much of the 2005 and 2006 seasons. They've been joined by Sounders Iron man Kevin Sakuda who saw his consecutive start team with the club push past 120 matches during the course of this season.

Sakuda's move to the backline, made possible by the emergence of Treschuk in the center midfield, has earned him the respect of several of the Major League Soccer clubs that the Sounders cast onside on their way to the US Open Cup Semifinals and lined up at least one tryout at the next level for the off season.

Second year goal keeper Chris Eylander burst onto the national scene this year catching the attention of coaches and fans nation wide with 14 wins, nine of which were 1-0 results, 13 shutouts and 109 saves. He put together what Schmetzer called "the best goal keeping performance I've seen in 28 years of watching soccer" in the first leg of the semifinal match against Puerto Rico to help the 10 man Sounders bring home a 2-1 advantage in the series.

Veterans Leighton O'Brien and Roger Levesque have both had resurgent second halves of the season. Their presence in the Sounders attack has provided a solid base for Le Toux to work from and exponentially grown the danger faced by opposing defenses when the Sounders take the pitch.

It wasn't until the July 3rd match against the Rochester Raging Rhinos, when 2005 USL First Division Defender of the Year, Taylor Graham returned to the lineup after a year and a half with Red Bull New York of MLS, that Hanauer believed he had a championship club. The match was the second of a 15 match unbeaten streak that lasted until August 31st and propelled Seattle to the top of the Standings where they would finish the regular season and win the USL First Division Commissioner's Cup.

The regular season title was the second trophy the Sounders claimed on the year. They had all ready defended their 2006 Cascadia Cup, the trophy given to the winner of the Vancouver, Portland and Seattle fan based competition.

There is only one match left together for this year's addition of the Seattle Sounders, and it's the most important match they've faced yet, for the USL First Division Title against the Atlanta Silverbacks Saturday night.



USL First Division Stories from September 26, 2007


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