Tacoma, WA. –The Sounders U-23 team will hold tryouts on March 10 and March 11, 2012 at The University of Puget Sound at 1500 N. Warner Street Tacoma, WA 98416. The U-23 team represents the intermediate team for the Sounders development system.
The tryouts will be monitored by head coach Darren Sawatzky and his staff. All participants must register online here. There is a $45 fee to participate. Players must be 18 years old or older as the Premier Development League allows eight over age players to play on the U-23 teams. No walk ups will be allowed to tryout.
“We will fill our roster with players from the local community along with players returning from college programs across the country,” stated Darren Sawatzky, Sounders U-23 head coach. “Finding quality local players is an excellent way to connect the club and the community.”
Former SounderAcademy product Darwin Jones, who scored 15 goals in addition to 10 assists at HighlineCommunity College this fall, has signed to play with the Sounders U-23 team this summer. Darwin just completed pre-season training with the Sounders FC and will attend the University of Washington this fall.
DeAndre Yedlin, a member of the West Conference starting XI all-star team while playing for the Sounders U17/U18 Academy team last year, has also signed to participate with the Sounder U-23 team. Yedlin, a starter this fall at AkronUniversity, was named a College Soccer News Freshman All-American.
Troy Peterson, SoundersAcademy central midfielder, played this fall at The College of Charleston where he was an all-freshman team selection in the All-Southern Conference.
“We expect these three players to build on the successful college seasons they had this year and we look forward to getting them back in Sounders rave green for the summer,” said Sawatzky.
Sounders U-23 is operated by PierceCounty business leaders Lane Smith and Cliff McElroy, who purchased the former Tacoma Tide FC and Sounders Women franchises last November. The Tide, who will now be known as Sounders FC U-23, has been a member of the PDL’s Northwest Division since 2006.
