It was a bit of a mixed weekend for Sounders FC Academy as all four squads were in action, with only the U-17s getting in the win column. The results, however, don’t tell the full story in what was an overall informative and productive weekend for the young Sounders.
Recent Results
U-19:
Sounders FC 0 at Strikers FC 1 | September 23, 2017
Sounders FC 0 at Pateadores 1 | September 24, 2017
U-17:
Sounders FC 3 at Strikers FC 0 | September 23, 2017
Sounders FC 3 at Pateadores 1 | September 24, 2017
U-16:
Sounders FC 1 vs. Washington Premier FC (U-17) 1 | September 22, 2017
U-15:
Sounders FC 1 vs. Greater Seattle Surf Soccer (U-16) 4 | September 23, 2017
Although the older squad were unable to find the back of the net, there were a few encouraging performances for the U-19s. New signing Gio Migletti was incredibly effective as a No. 6, disrupting the opponent’s attack while efficiently linking defense and attack when in possession. Center back Khai Brisco, who started five matches for Sounders FC 2 over the summer, has clearly benefitted from his time in a pro environment, putting in a composed, no-nonsense display against Strikers FC.
The U-17s continued their unbeaten start to the 2017-18 USSDA season, taking their win-streak to four matches after the recent slate of games. The young Sounders dominated the first match from the opening whistle, going 2-0 up inside 12 minutes. Winger Marlon Vargas scored the first off a clever, slide-rule pass from Danny Robles in the 6th minute. Vargas completed his brace a few minutes later when he received a pass from Ray Serrano, slalomed through four defenders and rifled a shot past the goalkeeper. Striker Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez came off the bench and wrapped up the scoring with a header in the 88th minute, assisted by Elias Katsaros.
It was a similar story the next day, with Vargas again collecting a brace. After going behind in the 15th minute, center back Blake Malone pulled the Rave Green level with a headed effort from a corner kick in the 26th minute, which sparked a dominant, two-way performance on the day for the young defender. Vargas scored the go-ahead goal six-minutes later when Serrano went coast-to-coast, dribbling past five defenders along the way, and squared a pass to the danger-man for a tap-in. The final tally come from an intricate passing exchange between Vargas and Connor Drought inside the box, which ended with the latter back-heeling a pass for the former to tap into an open net.
Upcoming Matches
September 30
Sounders FC U-15 vs. Portland Timbers U-15 | 11:00 a.m. PT, Timbers Training Facility
Sounders FC U-17 vs. Portland Timbers U-17 | 1:30 p.m. PT, Timbers Training Facility
Sounders FC U-19 vs. Portland Timbers U-19 | 4:00 p.m. PT, Timbers Training Facility
Standout Performers
While the U-17s certainly put in a fantastic attacking display over the weekend, it was built largely on the stable defensive work of Sota Kitahara in midfield. Kitahara, 13, lined-up as the No. 6 in both games and showcased positional awareness and an understanding of space that belied his youthful age. The U.S. Youth National Team prospect set the tempo of both matches with his excellent passing and linked play effectively throughout.
Moving on Up
Despite the U-15s falling 4-1 over the weekend, there were several encouraging performances. Playing against an older opponent, the young Sounders controlled most of the match, but were ultimately undone by a few second-half mistakes. One of the most impressive performances came from young defender Angel Martinez, who is technically still eligible for Sounders Discovery Program. Martinez, 12, played at center back in the first half and was dominant, despite playing against High School Sophomores. In the second period, he moved into central midfield and showcased his range of passing and ability to keep the ball.
Looking Ahead
The young Sounders will travel down I-5 this weekend for the first round of Cascadia matches against Portland Timbers. For some players, especially in the younger squads, this will be their first time experiencing the long-standing rivalry. And as a youth system with the goal of developing players for the First Team, it’s important to expose the boys to this meaningful rivalry, instilling a deep understanding of the Sounders-Timbers rivalry.
