Academy squads collect wins against Nor-Cal counterparts

Academy U18 win and draw against San Jose Earthquakes and Cal Odyssey respectively.

The Sounders FC Academy squads were in action this weekend in northern California as they played two games apiece and each picked up a win.

On Saturday November 5, the Sounders took on the San Jose Earthquakes academy teams at Nutrilite Field. Seattle’s U18 team took down the Earthquakes 2-0 with two late-game goals from familiar scorers. A scoreless tie lasted until the 81st minute when Dom Dismuke scored on a perfectly threaded ball from Stefan Bangsund. Ian Lange made it 2-0 in the 93rd on an assist from Jimmy Oganga. Keenan Townsend was credited with the shutout.

The U16’s lost in a close, physical contest that included some late-game theatrics. Sounders FC went up 1-0 in the 25th minute when Duncan McCormick scored on a cross from Kyle Bjornethun. San Jose took the lead 2-1 on goals in the 40th and 50th minutes. In the 60th minute, Rave Green keeper Connor Adkisson was issued a red card and ejected after taking down an Earthquake player in the box. Trevor Larson came off the bench cold to replace Adkisson in goal and saved the ensuing SJ penalty kick to keep the score close. Seattle was unable to come up with an equalizer in the remaining minutes and the 2-1 score would stay final.

On Sunday, the Sounders Academy teams traveled to Fresno, CA, to take on Cal Odyssey. The field was wet, muddy, and messy after Fresno was drenched with rain the night before. The U18’s played to a 0-0 draw in a game filled with poor, sloppy tackling, culminating in a suspect red card issued to Jordan Schweitzer.

The U16 Sounders rebounded well from their loss on Saturday with a dominating 3-0 win over Cal Odyssey on Sunday. Bjornethun led the way with a brace, getting the Sounders on the board in the 23rd on an assist from Ryan Harbor, then making it 2-0 in the 65th when he crushed a shot into the side netting from 25 yards out. Isidro Prado-Huerta got the final goal from McCormick in the 70th minute. After Saturday’s goalkeeping drama, Larson got the start and picked up the shutout.

Pre-Academy Update

TUKWILA, Wash. -- A variety of scorers powered the Sounders FC Pre-Academy past the NW Nationals U18 5-3 Thursday night November 3 at Starfire Sports Complex. Five different players scored for Seattle as they got out to a 5-1 advantage before the NW Nationals netted two goals in the final ten minutes of play.

David Olsen, Garren Economy, and Elliot Havens each had a goal and an assist as the Rave Green Young Guns continued their success against older teams. A week before on October 27, the Pre-Academy Sounders took down the Blackhills U18 squad 11-1 behind six goals from Olsen, as well as two goals and two assists from Jacob Kempf.