Back to school for Sounders and trialists

The Seattle Sounders went back to school this week on back-to-back days. The idea was to keep fit and learn more about some guest players while at the same time giving local college clubs a chance to go up against 'the big guys.'

On Tuesday afternoon the Sounders played a scrimmage match with the Seattle University Redhawks. The venue had switched at the last minute from Championship Field on the SU campus to Starfire to give the Redhawks' grass field a chance to rest.

The Sounders took the SU match 3-0 on goals by Sounder Kevin Forrest and two by trialist Chris Sanders. Sanders is a Federal Way native who went to the University of Portland. In his youth soccer days he was coached by Sounders' Youth Development Director Darren Sawatzky.

Sanders is a 6-3, 190-pound forward who skipped his senior year of eligibility to sign with Nurnberg FC of the German Bundesliga. Sanders spent last year with the Nurnberg reserves but apparently his second-year option with them was not picked up.

Trialist Sanna Nyassi suited up for the Sounders against UW.
(Rick Morrison)

On Wednesday night at Husky Soccer Field the Sounders nipped UW 1-0 on a 62nd-minute goal by Sebastien Le Toux. (Read UW match report) Two Seattle trialists of note in the match were Sanna Nyassi, brother of New England Revolution player Sainey Nyassi, and Junior Garcia, Yakima Reds forward who was recently named Most Valuable player in the 70-team national USL PDL.

The Sounders are on a 13-day break between league matches. They will fill the void once more next Tuesday when they travel to San Jose to take on the Major League Soccer Earthquakes.