Sounders Academy and the Tacoma Defiance have entered a new era.
In previous years, a couple of the top prospects – Sounders FC goalkeeper Trey Muse and Defiance defender Sam Rogers, to name a few – were invited to participate in preseason with the First Team. But when the Sounders ventured to Orange County, Calif., for the first phase of preseason, they brought along 13 players from the development arm of the club.
“For the players, it was really, really good,” said Tacoma Defiance Head Coach and Academy Director of Coaching Chris Little.