Seattle Sounders FC Academy kicked off the 2017-18 season last weekend in barnstorming fashion, winning all four matches to start the campaign. The U-15s and U-16s squared off against a familiar foe in the Portland Timbers Academy, while the U-17s and U-19s squared off against the USSDA’s newest member, Barcelona AZ Academy. And with a combined 12 goals scored across all four squads, the young Sounders are clearly building upon the momentum established in 2016-17, which was the program’s most successful season to date.
RESULTS
U-19: Sounders FC 4 vs. Barca Academy AZ 1 | September 2, 2017
U-17: Sounders FC 5 vs. Barca Academy AZ 4 | September 2, 2017
U-16: Sounders FC 1 vs. Portland Timbers 0 | September 3, 2017
U-15: Sounders FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 1 | September 3, 2017
The U-17s kicked off the weekend with an exciting, end-to-end affair, shipping five goals past Barca AZ, a joint residential program between FC Barcelona of Spain’s La Liga and Grande Sports Academy of Arizona.
After falling behind 1-0 in the 7th minute, the young Sounders drew level four minutes later courtesy of a goal from midfielder Ray Serrano. Winger Marlon Vargas recorded the first of his three assists on the day by picking the pocket of a Barca midfielder and putting Serrano through on goal with a defense-splitting pass. In the 11th minute, Vargas showcased his vision once again with a clever cut-back pass for Danny Robles to hammer home from inside the box. Barca pulled level in the 38th minute, and the Rave Green responded with two goals, scored by Serrano and center back Leo Burney, shortly before halftime to take a 4-2 lead into the interval.
The La Masia spinoff came flying out of the gates in the second period, drawing level once again with two scores in the first 30 minutes. Substitute Enrique Montana earned a PK in the 90th minute, which Serrano calmly dispatched, completing his hat-trick and securing all three points for the young Sounders.
In the second match of the afternoon, the U-19s trotted out a lineup that has combined for 803 minutes of USL action in the 2016-17 season.
After falling behind in the 15th minute, the young Sounders responded well and equalized in the 30th minute. Spokane native RJ Stretch combined well with Gabe Threadgold down the left-hand side, slipping Stretch into the box with time and space, where he served a simple pass for Dylan Teves to dispatch past the goalkeeper. Stretch tallied the eventual game-winner just 10 minutes later when he shrugged off several challenges, drove into the box and scored with a composed, powerful finish. Midfielder Keeton Heggerness added a third on the brink of halftime. Stretch put the match to bed in the 61st minute when substitute Bobby Stoyanov redirected his inch-perfect cross into the back of the net.
The next day, the U-16 squad, featuring several new additions to the program, got their first taste of the Cascadia rivalry in a match against the Portland Timbers. Lined up in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation, the young Sounders dominated proceedings from the opening whistle. Winger Andrew Tran scored the game-winning goal in the 13th minute off a feed from Max Cook.
Finally, the U-15s finished off a perfect opening weekend with a commanding 2-1 win over the Timbers. Center back Eric Kinzer handed Seattle a lead in the 6th minute, scoring a clinical header from Daniel Leyva’s cross. Leyva doubled the Rave Green’s advantage in the 30th minute when he stripped the ball off the Portland goalkeeper and rolled his shot into an empty net.
UPCOMING MATCHES
September 9
Sounders FC U-19 vs. Crossfire Premier U-19 | 1:30 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports
Sounders FC U-17 vs. Crossfire Premier U-17 | 3:30 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports
Sounders FC U-15 vs. Crossfire Premier U-15 | 3:30 p.m. PT, Starfire Sports
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
A long-time target for the Academy, Stretch kicked off his Sounders career in the best way imaginable with a man-of-the-match performance against Barca Academy AZ. Blending size, strength, vision and technical ability, the Spokane native’s first showing in Rave Green was extremely promising.
LOOKING AHEAD
After starting the 2017-18 season on the road, the young Sounders will enjoy two straight weekends at home against a pair of regional rivals, Crossfire Premier and Vancouver Whitecaps. Both matches will be held at Starfire Sports, presenting an excellent opportunity for supporters to get a glimpse of the future.
COACH'S TAKE
“It was your typical first game of the season in many ways, although I was really pleased that our team achieved really good results. The performances were inconsistent -- spotty at times -- but I think our teams showed resilience, especially the older boys playing in the heat of Arizona. Of course, it’s always nice to get a couple of matches and victories against Portland Timbers.” -- Academy Technical Director Marc Nicholls
