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Nothing Can Stop Him: Chris Hegardt battled through cancer to make it back on the pitch

During his first year in Sounders Academy, U-17 midfielder Chris Hegardt has reached milestones on the pitch that most kids can only dream of.

A technical, tenacious box-to-box midfielder, Hegardt was an integral component of the Sounders U-17 team that became the first-ever MLS side to win the prestigious Generation adidas Cup Champions Division. He helped lock down a midfield that defeated international powerhouses like Flamengo, C.F. Valencia, River Plate and West Ham United.

“When I first came to Seattle, it was different because every player is super good,” said Hegardt, who will play with the U-19 Academy team for the 2019-20 season.