With the regular season of the ninth edition of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy all wrapped up, both the U16 and U18 Sounders Academy teams have traveled to Frisco, Texas for the USSDA playoffs. While both squads find themselves in drawn into difficult groups—only the top finisher from each of the eight groups advances—Seattle hopes to continue their massive strides in development into the postseason.
Both Sounders Academy teams will need to overcome some of the best sides in the nation if they hope to advance to the quarterfinals. The U16s have two top-15 nationally ranked teams in the form of Sockers FC of Chicago, as well as FC Golden State from northern California. Meanwhile, the U18s will square off against fifth ranked Houston Dynamo (fans can live stream this match here) and a strong side from the Real Salt Lake residential academy. The considerable growth that both sides have experienced over the course season, as well as some new players joining up with both teams, will leave Seattle in a strong position to advance to the quarterfinals.
The mere fact that both Sounders Academy teams qualified for the playoffs is a testament to their success in both player development and results on the pitch. With over 80 USSDA Academy sides across the nation vying for only 32 slots, Seattle’s ability to qualify for both age groups speaks volumes. Many clubs can qualify one side for the post-season, and as result, they tend to place all of the best players in the club on that one squad. For Seattle, having two teams in the competitions enables the DA staff to give twice as many young players the crucial experience of playing top quality matches on a national stage.
The Academy playoffs will also be the latest medium for Seattle to display the mutually beneficial relationship between the youth Academy and S2. The Sounders second team has certainly benefitted from increased integration of youth team players: U18 starters Lorenzo Ramos and John Magnus have scored the game winning goals in the last two USL matches against Cascadia rivals Portland and Vancouver.
Three players from the Sounders organization will join up with the Academy to aid in their playoff push. First team striker Victor Mansaray, one of five current Homegrown signings, will be joined by 18 year-old Cameroonian international midfielder Mark O’Ojong. O’Ojong, who has been capped by the Cameroon senior team twice and made the 2016 African Cup of Nations squad, signed for S2 back in March of this year. Meanwhile, United States U17 National Team right-back Ben Huynh will join up with the 16s after spending the past year in the Bradenton residency program.
The full schedule can be found below:
June 22
- Sounders FC U-16 vs. Sockers FC U-16 (5:00 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 5—Frisco, TX)
- Sounders FC U-18 vs. Houston Dynamo U-18 (7:30 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 4—Frisco, TX)
June 24
- Sounders FC U-16 vs. FC Golden State U-16 (5:00 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 12—Frisco, TX)
- Sounders FC U-18 vs. Real Salt Lake AZ U-18 (7:30 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 16—Frisco, TX)
June 26
- Sounders FC U-16 vs. BW Gottschee Academy U-16 (5:00 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 11—Frisco, TX)
- Sounders FC U-18 vs. North Carolina Fusion U-18 (7:30 p.m. CT, Toyota Soccer Center Field 11—Frisco, TX)
