(Seattle, WA) The Seattle Sounders today introduced their 2002 team. Included are a dozen from the 2001 roster, two from MLS teams (Andrew Gregor and Brian Ching), two from A-League teams (Darren Sawatzky and Nate Daligcon), and eight rookies. Sawatzky and Gregor were major contributors to the Sounders' successful season in 2000, and Daligcon played for the Sounders back in 1997. One of the young rookies, David Hernandez, had a recent stint with the UNAM Pumas in Mexico after playing for the D3 Utah Blitzz.
Compared to 2001, this year's squad is rich in proven goal scorers.
Rookies include Sounders draft picks Zach Kingsley and Greg Foisie, both from the University of Washington, both impressing with the Sounders Select PDL squad last summer. The Sounders Select saw three other players make pro squads. Benjamin Somoza and Jake Sagare elected to join the Portland Timbers, and were seen with that side in last Sunday's Seattle-Portland preseason tune-up. Billy Sleeth earned a spot with the MLS Chicago Fire.
Spokane, in eastern Washington, contributed plenty to the roster: Chad Brown, Rich Cullen and Kingsley. In addition, the two Hawaiians (Ching and Zach Scott) attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, as did Danny Huet from Colorado.
The 2002 roster, as announced by the Sounders, ages as of 2002 May 1:
# Name Pos Age Ht Wt Hometown Last Club
-- ------------- --- --- ---- --- -------- ---------
1 Carlos Castellanos G 27 6-1 195 Mission Hills, CA Sounders
2 Scott Jenkins D/M 28 6-2 170 Redmond, WA Sounders
3 Kieran Barton D 31 5-10 165 Seattle, WA Sounders
4 Andrew Gregor M 26 5-11 165 Portland, OR KC Wizards
5 Danny Huet D 22 5-10 170 Aurora, CO Gonzaga U
6 Ryan Edwards D 26 6-1 195 Fremont, CA Sounders
7 Leighton O'Brien M 26 5-10 160 Seattle, WA Sounders
8 Brian Ching F 24 6-0 190 Haleiwa, HI LA Galaxy
9 Craig Tomlinson F 26 5-9 160 Kingston, Jamaica Sounders
10 Jason Farrell F/M 31 5-10 170 Seattle, WA Sounders
11 Kyle Smith F 23 6-0 180 San Jose, CA Sounders
12 Viet Nguyen M 25 5-7 145 Federal Way, WA Sounders
13 Darren Sawatzky F/M 29 5-10 165 Seattle, WA Portland Timbers
14 Nate Daligcon M 27 5-9 155 Seattle, WA Rochester Rhinos
15 David Hernandez F 20 5-10 167 Garden Grove, CA Pumas de UNAM (Mex)
16 Chad Brown M 26 5-9 160 Spokane, WA Sounders
17 Zach Scott D 21 5-11 175 Haiku, HI Gonzaga U
18 Zach Kingsley F 22 5-11 160 Spokane, WA U Washington
19 Alex Mendez M 23 5-8 155 Santiago, Chile Audax Italiano (Chile)
20 Alex Chirinos M 27 5-10 160 Miami, FL Barry U
21 Greg Foisie F 22 5-9 165 Clovis, NM U Washington
22 Rich Cullen G 23 6-1 190 Spokane, WA Sounders
23 Preston Burpo G 29 6-3 195 Seattle, WA Sounders
24 Willy Cardenas M 19 5-7 155 Lima, Peru Jalisco (Liga Hispana)
Head Coach: Brian Schmetzer
Assistant Coaches: Chance Fry, Dick McCormick, Bernardo Ruiz
A few others may join the team. The top Sounders rookie from last year, defender Mike Casale, is still recovering from an injury and may join the team later. Greg Howes, A-League Rookie of the Year in 2000 with the Sounders, may return when done with his indoor season. Howes played last season for the Portland Timbers. Other trialists include Danny Ferris, a forward from Yakima, now finishing classes at Seattle University.
