Five Sounders Academy and Tacoma Defiance players named to All-American Team by United Soccer Coaches

Five players from Sounders Academy and the Tacoma Defiance – Danny Robles, Sota Kitahara, Eric Kinzner, Bryson Hankins and Ethan Dobbelaere – have been named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-American Team, which honors the 51 top young talents across the United States.

Additionally, U-17 striker Austin Brummett, who has broken onto the U.S. Youth National Team circuit over the last two seasons, was named to the 2019 All-West Team.

All six prospects on the All-American and All-West Teams have been called up to their respective U.S. Youth National Teams in the last 18 months.

“We are thrilled for our players,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director Marc Nicholls. “The boys have been recognized for all their accomplishments this season.”

Robles is the only player from the Sounders on the list that is currently under contract with the club, having signed with the Tacoma Defiance ahead of the 2019 USL Championship season. However, Kitahara, Hankins, Dobbelaere and Brummett combined for 12 appearances with the Defiance in the previous campaign.

The United Soccer Coaches All-American Team inclusions are just the latest example of the Sounders’ blossoming pathway from the youth system to the professional ranks. Only the LA Galaxy (six) had more players to make All-American Team.

The United Soccer Coaches will celebrate the All-American recipients at an event in Baltimore, Maryland on January 18, 2019.

You can find more information on the awards and the event here.