After squeaking through the group stage and the quarterfinals with extra-time winners, the Sounders Academy U17s soared through the GA Cup Champions Division semifinals with a resounding 4-0 win over West Ham United on Thursday at Toyota Stadium. Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez took a stranglehold on the Golden Boot race with a hat trick — putting his total at six goals — and the elimination of his closest competition in West Ham’s Kai Corbett. Academy centerback Elias Katsaros also turned in a star-making performance with a goal, an assist and excellent defense throughout the match.
West Ham started on the front foot, with the Sounders struggling to get out of their own half thanks to some uncharacteristically bad touches from Danny Leyva.