Press Release

Sounders FC signs two Tacoma Defiance players to short-term loans

villanueva and vargas

SEATTLE, WASH. – After its first home loss of the season last weekend vs. Sporting Kansas City, Sounders FC hosts the San Jose Earthquakes in a Saturday afternoon matchup at Lumen Field (2:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). This marks the second meeting between the two sides this season, following a 1-0 Seattle road win on May 12 in which wingback Alex Roldan closed the match out in goal after a late injury to Stefan Frei.

Tacoma Defiance players Obed Vargas and Alex Villanueva are available for the club's match today vs. San Jose via Short-Term Agreements. International callups and injuries to players on Seattle's roster have made the club eligible for Extreme Hardship. As a result, the Rave Green have signed the two players from the club's USL Championship affiliate to short-term loans, making them available today.

In MLS regular-season play, Seattle is 14-10-8 all-time against San Jose. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, the May 12 win in San Jose tied a club record for the longest unbeaten streak versus a single opponent in Sounders FC history. Seattle has not lost to the Quakes in 14 matches (8-0-6), equaling the 14-match unbeaten run the Rave Green once held against Chivas USA (10-0-4). This current streak against the Quakes is also tied for fourth-longest in MLS history.

With the club’s lone strike in a 3-1 loss to SKC last weekend, Fredy Montero became the first Sounders FC player to score 50 goals in MLS regular-season play. His 63 goals across all competitions are also first in franchise history. Sounders FC forward RaĂºl RuidĂ­az’s 11 goals this season currently rank first in MLS, while JoĂ£o Paulo leads the club with five assists. Defender Yeimar GĂ³mez Andrade leads the league with 48 interceptions, spearheading a defensive effort that ranks first in MLS with seven shutouts.