Dave Clark / Sounder At Heart 12 hours ago 
Four things we need to learn in preseason for Sounders to compete for Shield
After a fourth-place finish in 2018, this is what needs to go right in 2019 for Seattle to take the regular-season trophy. Over the last five years it’s taken 1.90 points per game (on average) to take the Supporters’ Shield. When the Seattle Sounders last won it, they finished with 1.88 ppg. Last season, despite the horrendous start, they surged in the second half, finishing with 1.74, enough to be one point off of the Shield when FC Dallas won in 2016 and when New York Red Bulls won in 2015 (although quite a bit behind the pace set by the last two winners). The Shield is an attainable...
Sounder At Heart Jan 19, 2019
Nicolas Lodeiro addresses Boca Juniors rumors
He didn’t exactly shoot them down, but it also doesn’t look like a move is anything like in the offing. For large chunks of this offseason, rumors have swirled around the possibility of Nicolás Lodeiro leaving the Seattle Sounders. First it was Cruz Azul — a rumor that appears to have been conjured virtually from thin air. More recently, he’s been linked to a potential move back to Boca Juniors. This has had the air of more plausibility, in part because he seems to constantly be linked to moves there and various club officials have clearly been talking about him to media...
Sounder At Heart Jan 19, 2019
Seattle Reign players enthusiastic about possible Sounders partnership
Reign players responded positively when asked about a potential partnership with the MLS club. While Thursday’s announcement that the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign would share Zulily as a kit sponsor may have been a surface-level partnership, Reign players in attendance were excited about the prospect of a potentially deeper relationship between the organizations. Shea Groom, recently arrived from Sky Blue FC, said the differences between MLS-affiliated clubs and most independent NWSL teams were easily spotted. “I’ve been a part of many clubs now,” Groom said. “It’s been...
Sounder At Heart Jan 18, 2019
Waylon Francis called in to Costa Rica national team
Sounders left back will be on roster when Ticos take on the United States. Waylon Francis’ status with the Seattle Sounders doesn’t quite seem settled, but his reputation is apparently still good enough that he’s getting called in to the Costa Rica national team. The left back was one of 24 players named to Costa Rica’s roster for their upcoming friendly with the United States on Feb. 2. Muy agradecido por este nuevo llamado ala sele a darlo todo por este hermoso país #lloreconmigopapi pic.twitter.com/MY9PXfiuu1— Waylon Francis (@WaylonFrancis90) January 18,...
Dave Clark / Sounder At Heart Jan 18, 2019 
Major Link Soccer: Miguel Almirón transfer saga continues
Also: Precourt has new challenges in Austin, like a stadium being built on top of an old chemical plant Puget Sound soccer Hope Solo to headline Oz football festival - The Women's Game - For the love of the gameThe former Reign/Sounders Women keeper is on the speaking circuit. culture & news Chris Cornell Tribute Concert: Setlist + Video | Music News | Consequence of SoundThe life and legacy of Chris Cornell was celebrated with an all-star tribute taking place at Los Angeles' Forum on Wednesday night. "I Am the Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell" featured nearly five hour's worth of...
Sounder At Heart Jan 17, 2019
Chad Marshall says he’s fully recovered from surgery
Center back tore his meniscus during the playoff series against the Timbers. Perhaps the best news to come out of Thursday’s sponsorship announcement was that Chad Marshall is fully recovered from knee surgery he underwent last November. Marshall tore his meniscus in the first leg of the Sounders’ Western Conference semifinal against the Portland Timbers. “I got the surgery done, and it was a pretty quick recovery after that — like four weeks I was getting back running,” Marshall said at the event. “I’ve been getting after in the gym and the field, I should be good to...
Sounder At Heart Jan 17, 2019
Zulily sponsorship a sign of longstanding collaboration between Seattle Reign, Sounders
And a big commitment from the locally based online retailer. On Thursday afternoon, Zulily announced a new multi-year sponsorship of both Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC, indicating a commitment from the local employer to not only be involved in the Greater Seattle community, but to support both women’s and men’s professional soccer in the region. For Reign FC owner Bill Predmore, the sponsorship from Zulily sends a powerful signal about the employer’s community focus. The online retailer was initially in talks with just the Sounders about a sponsorship. The fact that Zulily...
Sounder At Heart Jan 17, 2019
Zulily unveiled as new sponsor of Sounders, Reign
Deal with locally based company is worth more than Xbox’s sponsorship despite being less extensive. SEATTLE — For the first time since joining MLS in 2009, the Seattle Sounders have a new shirt sponsor. Zulily, a locally-based online retailer that prides itself on machine learning to target a user’s preferences, was announced as the Sounders’ and Seattle Reign’s most prominent sponsors on Thursday during a press conference at the Olympic Sculpture Park. The company’s refreshed logo — which itself was unveiled at the event — will be featured on the First Team and academy...
Sounder At Heart Jan 17, 2019
Yes, the Sounders were among the most-injured teams in 2018
As you could probably guess, Seattle suffered more injuries than normal last year, and the weak spot appears to be attacking mid. I started this search a while ago: is there a good source for data on MLS injuries? It was my white whale. It’s the coming together of my job in data science-y public health stuff and my enthusiasm for the Seattle Sounders. It’s something that I rarely see actual analysis of, but hear a lot of speculation about. It’s information that might actually prove useful to the team (although probably not). But there really isn’t any data, let alone data across...
Sounder At Heart Jan 16, 2019
Trey Muse represents landmark signing for Sounders’ home-stay program
Muse is the first of what could be a long line of Homegrown Players the Sounders find from outside the region. At just 19 years old and standing 6-foot-4 with cat-like reflexes, Trey Muse has the combination of youth, size and skill that coaches drool over. It’s not at all difficult to imagine him turning into an elite goalkeeper, especially after he led his team to the College Cup in each of his two years at Indiana University. But for as good as Muse may turn out to be, his signing may be one of the more important in Sounders history in part because of what he represents. Muse, you see,...
Sounder At Heart Jan 16, 2019
Cristian Roldan praises Gregg Berhalter’s new culture in USMNT camp
Will a new coach, players, tactics and attitude lead to better results? With the first week and a half of the USMNT’s annual January camp in the books, Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan commended the new culture and tactical system of new manager Gregg Berhalter. The camp is Berhalter’s first opportunity to gather national team players since being named the head coach in December. “The first week has been fantastic in terms of our tactics and the energy the guys have brought into the camp, the willingness to learn a new system, to do something that some of us have never seen...
Dave Clark / Sounder At Heart Jan 16, 2019 
Unbreakable gives a new look into Steve Zakuani
The documentary covers his life from Congo to Colorado and the recovery from the incident that could have defined his life. Steve Zakuani has granted Seattle Sounders fans immense access to his life. His book, 500 Days, details his recovery from the injury suffered at the foot of Brian Mullan. In Winging it with Zakuani he talks to former teammates and other Sounders about the game. He’s been at YachtCon, SonarFeed and other fan events. He’s approachable on social media. With all that access there are still stories to tell about Seattle’s first ever MLS draft pick. On February 9 fans...
Sounder At Heart Jan 15, 2019
Trey Muse officially signs as Homegrown Player
The former Hoosier goalkeeper becomes Seattle’s 11th HGP signing. Arguably the best amateur American goalkeeper has agreed to start his professional career with the Seattle Sounders. Trey Muse, who spent two seasons with the Sounders Academy from 2015-2017, has become the club’s 11th Homegrown Player after officially being unveiled on Jan. 15. “It’s always exciting to add an academy product and we’re pleased to sign Trey to the First Team roster,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “We’ve had success at goalkeeper over the years, so...
Sounder At Heart Jan 15, 2019
Sounders will likely open training camp with roster as is
Garth Lagerwey says he doesn’t foresee any moves in the short term. This has always promised to be a relatively quiet offseason, especially after the Seattle Sounders announced that they were bringing back most of their impact players from last year’s roster. Following the now concluded MLS SuperDraft, in which the Sounders selected three players and apparently signed Homegrown Player Trey Muse, don’t expect much else to change before training camp opens a week from today on Jan. 22. “I think you’re going to see us go into camp more-or-less how we are,” Sounders GM Garth...
Sounder At Heart Jan 14, 2019
Sounders pick SDSU defender Aleks Berkolds in third round
Seattle use the 68th overall pick on a former Sounders U-23 player. Seattle Sounders FC selected Aleks Berkolds from San Diego State University with the 68th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft via conference call. Seattle chose a player with at least some local connection in Berkolds. The 22-year-old from Northridge, California played as a midfielder on the Sounders FC U-23s in 2016, though he was used as a defender with SDSU. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound centerback played 1,650 minutes over 18 games with SDSU in his senior season, and will likely compete for playing time in S2’s defense as a...
