Sounders FC 2 right back Denso Ulysse has been named as the 7th best teenage prospect in USL’s annual 20-Under-20 list. Currently in his second season with the club, this accolade is just the latest acknowledgment of the 19-year-old defender’s development under Head Coach John Hutchinson.
“Denso has demonstrated his durability this season, leading the team in starts and minutes,” said S2 Assistant Coach Wade Webber. “He can get up the field really well, his recovery speed is great, his fitness absolutely first class so he can sustain that. His GPS numbers, in terms of meters-per-minute and high-velocity running, are comparable to First Team level. So, he hasn’t had to be as positionally disciplined, but now he’s starting to really understand his role in the collective.”
Blessed with pace and an affinity for bombing forward into the attack, Ulysse has improved markedly on the defensive side of the ball. Hailing from Goncaives, Haiti, S2’s dynamic right back was initially spotted in 2016 with his U-20 national team at the CONCACAF U-20 qualifying tournament, where he was named to the Caribbean Best XI.
After starting 14 matches in his first season, Ulysse has established himself as a consistent contributor in 2018, starting 27 times for 2,376 minutes played in the league. As a consistent presence along S2’s back line, Ulysse has compiled 74 interceptions, 34 successful tackles, 20 key passes and two assists.
“Ezra Hendrickson found him and brought him in and believed in him and we’ve watched him turn from a potentially good player into a really good player,” Hutchinson told USLsoccer.com. “He’s athletic, he’s up-and-down, he’s good in the air for a little guy, his one-v-one defending and his ability to make good forward runs is a highlight for him and the improvement now has to be with the final ball, the final decision when you get around the attacking area. As you can tell, with our First Team under Brian Schmetzer, our fullbacks mean a lot to us and S2’s no different. Our fullbacks have to have an end product, and that’s what we’re working on with Denso now. If he can find that, the next level is really close for him.”
Ulysse is joined in the 2018 edition of USL 20 Under 20 by S2 teammates Rodrigue Ele and Sam Rogers.
