The past couple of weeks have been very exciting times for Seattle Sounders FC Academy. All four teams went unbeaten, with a combined eight wins and one draw in total.
The youngest Academy squads, the U-14 and U-15 sides, were in particularly fine form as they picked up five wins in five matches with a goal differential of +16. Meanwhile, the oldest members of the Sounders youth system picked up three wins and a draw against their regional rivals, Portland Timbers and Crossfire Premiere.
With the results, both sides now find themselves comfortably in the hunt for a USSDA Academy playoff spot.
Recent Results
U-18
- Sounders FC 4 vs. Crossfire Premiere 2 (3/5/16)
- Sounders FC 1 at Portland Timbers FC 1 (3/12/16)
U-16
- Sounders FC 2 vs. Crossfire Premiere 0 (3/5/16)
- Sounders FC 6 at Portland Timbers FC 0 (3/12/16)
U-15
- Sounders FC 4 at FC Portland U-16 1 (3/5/16)
- Sounders FC 4 at Eastside Timbers U-16 0 (3/6/16)
- Sounders FC 4 vs. Capital FC Timbers U-16 0 (3/12/16)
U-14
- Sounders FC 2 at FC Portland U-15 1 (3/5/16)
- Sounders FC 4 at Academia Leon FC U-15 0 (3/6/16)
Upcoming Matches
March 19
- Sounders FC U-14 at Westside Timbers U-15 Copa (2:00 p.m. PT, Delta Park-Oregon)
- Sounders FC U-15 at Westside Timbers U-16 Copa (4:00 p.m. PT, Delta Park-Oregon)
March 20
- Sounders FC U-15 at Capital FC Timbers U-16 (9:00 a.m. PT, Delta Park-Oregon)
- Sounders FC U-14 at ETFC U-15 (11:00 a.m. PT, Delta Park-Oregon)
U-18 striker Handwalla Bwana followed up his hat trick against Crossfire with another display full of verve and purpose against Portland. Part of an explosive strike partnership with Maliq Cooper, Bwana repeatedly dropped deep against Timbers in order to receive the ball on the half-turn and run at defenders. After entering the interval tied 1-1, Seattle nearly found a winner through Bwana in the second half.
One play in particular, with about a quarter of an hour of the match remaining, stood out. Bwana’s first touch settled an aerial ball into the box, his second flicked the ball over the head of the defender, and his third was a neat lay-off for the onrushing Cooper to hammer home first time—but his thunderous effort was deflected out for a corner by a Timbers defender.
The U-16 side has been in solid form since returning from the second round of qualifying at the Generation Adidas Cup in Los Angeles. Despite a number of impressive individual performances—as well as dominating lengthy spells of each match—Seattle was unable to translate their aesthetically pleasing brand of soccer into meaningful results. However, with the recent wins against a pair of rivals, the group appears to have turned a corner.
With youth player development, there are two important measures of progress: performances and results. For younger players, a high premium is placed on performance rather than results. As the players progress through the youth system, the ability to link performances and results becomes a vital aspect of development. Since the Sounders played well in contested losses against Portland and Crossfire earlier in the season, it is extremely encouraging for the group as their performances on the pitch translated into six crucial points.
There were a number of impressive goals for the U-16s in the past couple of weeks, including a first half brace by recent signing Wilson Harris against Crossfire.
With Seattle looking to keep possession and build attacks out of the back, Crossfire implemented a high-press in an attempt to disrupt the Rave Green’s rhythm. Seattle’s ability to make in-game adjustments on the fly paid off in the 14th minute, when center back Oscar Zepeda noticed the Crossfire backline pushed high up the pitch, and subsequently played a ball into space for Harris to run onto and put in the back of the net.
The next weekend against Portland, it was striker Alex Bradbury who picked up a pair of goals. His first tally was a rasping first-time effort with his weaker right-foot that beat the keeper before striking the crossbar and landing over the line. His second strike was another stunning drive into the top corner, this time with his left-foot. Attacking midfielder Cam Martin added two more goals, while Dylan Teves and Alec Zimmerman rounded out the scoring.
Coach’s Take
“The group has really come together in the second half of the season. Before we were playing well but not necessarily getting the results. Now that we have had more time to work with the group and help each player learn their individual roles, we are starting see more goals and positive results.” – U-16 Head Coach Sean Henderson.
Standout Performers
A pair of young goalkeepers played vital roles in the results against Portland this past weekend. U-16 ‘keeper Trey Muse made a string of point-blank saves for the U-18s in the second-half to keep the score level as Seattle threw numbers forward in chase of a winner. U-15 goalkeeper Sam Fowler acquitted himself well with impressive handling and accurate distribution in the shutout against Timbers.
Looking Forward
The U-16s will look to continue their recent trend of reversing results as they travel to Frisco, Texas for the Premier Division of the Generation Adidas Cup. Despite strong overall performances at the Florida Winter Showcase, Seattle fell to both Chicago (1-0) and Orlando City (2-1) courtesy of late goals. Sounders will get another shot at both teams, as well as Chivas de Guadalajara, in the final round of the GA Cup.
