Playing a reserve match the morning after an emotional first team match the previous night can be a difficult task. Sounders FC Assistant Coach Ezra Hendrickson, who leads the charge for the Seattle reserves, knew that all too well, but had the theory reinforced earlier this month in a 4-3 loss to the University of Washington.
On Sunday against the University of Portland, Hendrickson made sure that the Seattle reserves didn’t have a let-down and they didn’t disappoint, routing the Pilots 5-0 at Starfire Sports.
“The last time we played a college team, I think we took them for granted and it didn’t fare so well for us. I just urged them to come out from the start and not give them a chance to get any confidence,” Hendrickson said. “That’s what we did and it worked out in our favor today.”
Kevin Parsemain showed from the opening minutes that he got that message loud and clear, having one shot blocked and another saved within the first seven minutes. Eventually, Chad Barrett would put the Sounders on the board in the 12th minute with a goal and Parsemain added two in quick succession in the 20th and 21st minutes and Seattle vaulted to a 3-0 lead.
On his first goal, Parsemain finished a ball from Aaron Kovar, then he chipped the Portland goalkeeper for his second tally.
“This is something he’s been doing since preseason,” Hendrickson said of Parsemain, who signed with Sounders FC this week after joining the team in training during preseason. “He’s a goalscorer. He’s one of those guys who just knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.”
Before the halftime whistle, Marco Pappa added another goal on a long-range blast to make it 4-0.
In the second half, Seattle worked to see the result through while also adding another goal off the boot of Cam Weaver to finish with the 5-0 win after a testy final 45 minutes.
Seattle will face Oregon State University and Seattle University before starting MLS Reserve League matches on April 20 against Chivas USA.
Sounders FC starting lineup: Josh Ford, David Estrada, Zach Scott, Jalil Anibaba, Leo Gonzalez, Sean Okoli, Fabio Pereira, Marco Pappa, Kevin Parsemain, Chad Barrett.
Others who appeared for Seattle: Cam Weaver, Tristan Bowen, Duncan McCormick, Henry Wingo, Cody Crook, Jacob Hauser-Ramsey.
* - Sounders FC Academy players
