5/11/2005
(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Sounders face Real Salt Lake (RSL), first year member of Major League Soccer, tonight at 7pm inside Qwest Field. This is the first ever meeting of the two teams.
Nik Besagno (pictured), the # 1 draft pick of the 2005 MLS Draft is in town with RSL to face the Sounders. For the first time ever, he will square off against his older brother, Sounders rookie and former Seattle University stand-out, Jacob Besagno.
In addition to the Besagno brothers, another local talent rolls back into Seattle. Leighton O'Brien, the 2002 A-League MVP, comes back home to face his old team. After playing a key role in the Sounders 2002 record breaking season, O'Brien left for the Swedish club, Boden. Two years in Sweden proved enough, as O'Brien returned to the Sounders for the 2005 season. However, RSL head coach John Ellinger had his eye and O'Brien, and he was signed prior to the inaugural season in Salt Lake City.
Tickets for the match will be on sale at the gate for $12 or $17. The Qwest Field box office opens at 5:30 pm.
For more information visit www.seattlesounders.net.
5/10/2005
Sounder midfielder CJ Klaas was named to the United Soccer League’s Team of the Week for his solid defense and persistent offense against the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 7th.
Klaas is the first Sounder player to receive league honors here in the third week of the 2005 A-League season. Already in his young professional career, Klaas assisted a goal scored by Welton Melo versus the Portland Timbers on April 30th.
As a Husky, Klaas was named NSCAA/ Adidas All-American first team twice, making him the first player in the UW men’s soccer program to ever be a first-team All-American selection two times. He also became the first player in Pac-10 history to earn for all-conference honors.
5/8/2005
SEATTLE – Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo recorded a shutout in his first start of the season, but the Sounders had to settle for a draw as they failed to get on the scoreboard themselves Saturday night in front of 2,495 fans at Qwest Field. Burpo kept the Sounders in the match with a couple of crucial saves, but the ‘keeper at the other end, Mike Franks, kept a clean sheet as well to keep Seattle winless so far for the 2005 season.
The match marked the second in the Cascadia Cup series for the Sounders, which awards a cup to the three traditional rivals in the Pacific Northwest – Seattle, Portland and Vancouver – for the best regular season record against each other.
An uneventful first half saw precious few goal scoring chances for both sides as the majority of play was clogged up in the midfield. Each team had a number of opportunities from free kicks, but neither squad was able to put a single shot on frame.
Vancouver tried several times to spring forwards Alfredo Valente and Jason Jordan with through balls and lobs over the top, but Burpo and his defense shut down any scoring threats against them.
5/7/2005
SEATTLE)- The Seattle Sounders welcome Major League Soccer’s most recent addition, Real Salt Lake for an exhibition match on Wednesday, May 11 at Qwest Field. Kick off is set for 7pm.
The Real squad features Nik Besagno (pictured), a local talent out of Maple Valley, WA – who was the number one draft pick in 2005. He is the brother of current Sounder Jacob Besagno, who is in his first season with the club. In addition to Nik, ex-Sounder Leighton O’Brien will be in town for the game.
At the age of 16 years, Nik Besagno became the second-youngest player ever drafted in the history of Major League Soccer as he was selected with the No. 1 pick by Real Salt Lake in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.
Besagno, a defensive midfielder for the U.S. Under-20 and Under-17 National Teams, became the second-youngest draftee in MLS SuperDraft history, following Freddy Adu who was selected No. 1 last year by D.C. United at the age of 14.
5/4/2005
Seattle vs. Vancouver Preview:
This Saturday, May 7 the Sounders host another Cascadia Cup member and long time northwest rival the Vancouver Whitecaps, in their second game of the season at Qwest Field. Kick off is set for 7pm.
For the second time this year, the Sounders will face the Whitecaps. The two teams met in the preseason where the Whitecaps beat the Sounders 1-0. This will be the first regular season meeting of the I-5 rivals in the 2005 season. Vancouver travels to Seattle with a 1-0-1 record, - a 1-0 win over the Rochester Raging Rhinos and a 0-0 draw with the Toronto Lynx.
Seattle vs. Portland Review:
In last Saturday’s match, the Seattle Sounders (0-1-0) and Portland Timbers (2-1-1) battled at Qwest Field in front of 6,351 fans. The fans witnessed a fierce battle between the two northwest rivals as they laid down the gauntlet for the 2005 season in a fast-paced, intense match that featured six cautions and an ejection between the two sides. The Sounders dominated the offensive state of the game leading 16-4 in shots. However, they struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.
In the 51st minute, the Timbers took control of the scoreboard breaking the deadlock by taking their second shot of the match resulting in the team’s first goal. In the 54th minute the Timbers put their third shot on goal past the Sounders diving Robbie Fulton.
4/30/2005
SEATTLE – Byron Alvarez had a goal and an assist as the Portland Timbers counterattacked their way to victory over the Seattle Sounders Saturday night at Qwest Field in the Sounders’ home opener. A crowd of 6,351 fans witnessed a fierce battle between the two northwest rivals as they laid down the gauntlet for the 2005 season in a fast-paced, intense match that featured six cautions and an ejection between the two sides.
Portland asked several questions of the Seattle defense inside the game’s first 30 minutes but never tested Seattle goalkeeper Robbie Fulton, who played this match on loan from Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes. While Fulton had a relatively uneventful first half, his counterpart, Josh Saunders, was much busier as Seattle peppered him with eight shots. Saunders was equal to the task, however, as he denied the Sounders with several timely saves.
The first significant scoring threat came from the Sounders in the fifth minute. Defender Ryan Edwards sped down the left side and hit a driving cross to an unmarked Welton Melo ten yards from the front of the goal. Welton took a touch before smacking a half volley on frame, but it was straight at Saunders, who did well to parry the shot away before his defense cleared it to safety.
4/29/2005
(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Sounders open the 2005 season tonight at 7pm when the Portland Timbers roll into Qwest Field.
The Sounders open the season devastated by injuries and looking to find a smart combination of veterans and newcomers to fill a side.
Portland played to a 2-2 draw last evening against the Minnesota Thunder. The Timbers currently sit at 1-0-1 early in the 2005 campaign. Tonight's match will be the Sounders first of '05.
4/29/2005
(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Sounders today announced the addition of goalkeeper Robby Fulton to the lineup for tomorrow night's season opening match against the Portland Timbers (7pm, Qwest Field).
On loan from the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, Fulton stands at
6-3 and weighs 195 pounds.
A recent Stanford University graduate, Fulton was team captain in 2004, starting 11 matches. Named to Pac-10 All-Academic First Team while earning All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors, the West Linn, OR native will wear # 1 tomorrow evening against Portland.
A Preston Burpo hamstring injury necessitated the roster move. Burpo is day-to-day and may be the Sounders back-up keeper for tomorrow's match.
In addition to Fulton, the Sounders have come to terms with James Ward, who will back up Burpo on a regular basis.
4/28/2005
SEATTLE, WA - The Seattle Sounders have announced their 2005 roster in preparation of the season opener this Saturday, April 30th against the Portland Timbers at Qwest Field.
The Sounders, who will look to build on last year's regular season record of 13-11-4, return 11 players from the 2004 roster that won the Western Conference Championship and have added seven newcomers to the mix for the 2005 campaign.
SOUNDERS/ TIMBERS PREVIEW
Last year the Sounders faced the Timbers four times in regular season recording 1-3-0 record. The rivals faced off again in the first round of playoffs were the Sounders knocked the Timbers out in a 3-2 overtime victory on two goals from returning forward Welton Melo (pictured). Sounders are 5-3-1 all-time against the Timbers at home. Portland played Toronto Lynx last Saturday, won 3-0.
WELCOME BACK
With a core 11 players returning to the squad this season, Seattle is looking to repeat some of last year's successes. Two players (Scott Jenkins and Preston Burpo) are entering their ninth season with the club and have been with the team since 1996. Other veteran players include Ryan Edwards and Chad Brown, who have been with the Sounders for six year. The remaining seven returnees have been with the team for five years or less, Craig Tomlinson (5), Zach Scott (4), Danny Jackson (3), Kevin Sakuda (3), Ben Somoza (3), Billy Sleeth (2) and Welton Melo (2)
SEATTLE SOUNDERS - 2007 USL FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS
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