TUKWILA, Wash. – It’s match number two of Seattle Sounders FC 2’s four-match road stand to close out the 2016 regular season. Last Monday, the team earned a tough draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 despite going down a goal and a man in the second half. After Thursday's training session, head coach Ezra Hendrickson spoke to media about what that result says about his team.
“It shows that the guys really want to put in the effort and be in the playoffs,” he said. “Most people would have given up; not these guys.”
Next, S2 will have the task of traveling to Oklahoma City Energy FC and must claim an even better result to keep their playoffs hopes alive. Even though OKC will be coming off of a devastating 4-0 defeat in Portland last Sunday, Hendrickson isn’t letting that impact the way he prepares his team for this match.
“Every team has an off game; for us it was down in Rio Grande Valley and I think for them it was Portland,” he said. “I don’t think a 4-0 defeat in Portland speaks about Oklahoma as a team. I think they’re a much better team than that and we’re going to expect a much better performance from them than what they did last game.”
An interesting subplot to this match will be the appearance of forward Andy Craven who was released from the Sounders in early August and almost immediately joined OKC. Craven has played 307 minutes in his new uniform and is still searching for his first goal for Energy FC.
S2 faces off against OKC Energy on Sunday, Sept. 11 (4 p.m. PT, livestream on SoundersFC.com) and will look to continue their push to the playoffs with a win.
“Everyone is working hard, and I just think everyone mentally is there,” said defender Tony Alfaro. “We know what’s on the line and we know we have to push it a little harder now to make it above that line.”
