Over the past few years, the Seattle Sounders organization has taken trophies at nearly every level of play. The first team won the Concacaf Champions League and two MLS Cups. The Academy took two GA Cups and several other smaller trophies. Notably absent were trophies at the second-team level. Tacoma Defiance’s primary role is to develop talent. At that, they’ve been extraordinary. But there’s a gap in the trophy case.
Just three games away from their first trophy, Defiance’s leaders are ready to take on this next challenge. Making the playoffs was a huge motivation for frequent captain Randy Mendoza.