SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC 2 today announced the signing of 2016 MLS SuperDraft selections Zach Mathers, Emir Alihodzic and Michael Nelson. The club adds three of its 2016 SuperDraft picks to the S2 roster after selecting Mathers in the Second Round before adding Alihodzic and Nelson in the Third Round and Fourth Round of January’s SuperDraft. Per USL and club policy, terms of the agreements are not being disclosed.
"We were very pleased with our SuperDraft selections in January and we think all of them can develop playing for S2 this season,” said S2 General Manager Andrew Opatkiewicz. "Each player has a skillset that can develop them into a First Team prospect and we think all three can help S2 immediately."
The three SuperDraft selections join four other players currently on the S2 roster: midfielder Carlos Patino, forward Myron Samuel, midfielder Amadou Sanyang and midfielder Jordan Schweitzer. Former S2 forward Oalex Anderson was recently signed by the Sounders FC First Team on March 1. The club begins its second season in USL on Friday, March 25 against Sacramento Republic FC at 7:30 p.m. PT at Starfire Sports.
Mathers, 21, was a three-time All-ACC selection at Duke, including a First Team nod as a senior in 2015. The Keller, Texas native led the Blue Devils last season with eight goals, eight assists and 64 shots, completing a collegiate career in which he started 69 of 71 appearances and recorded 14 goals and 18 assists.
Alihodzic, 22, was an NSCAA Third Team All-West Region selection at Nebraska-Omaha after tallying four goals, including two game-winners, and two assists in 16 appearances as a senior. The St. Louis native started 60 of 65 appearances for the Mavericks in his collegiate career, twice receiving All-Summit League Second Team honors, in addition to being a 2014 Academic All-Summit League selection.
A 21-year-old defender, Nelson earned First Team All-Conference USA and NSCAA First Team All-Southwest Region honors in his senior season at Old Dominion in 2015. After playing his freshman season at North Carolina State in 2012, Nelson transferred to Old Dominion, where he registered four goals and four assists in 54 career appearances (53 starts) for the Monarchs from 2013-2015.
S2 season ticket packages are available now, starting as low as at $9 per match via the following link: http://sndrs.com/aju4. For complete information on S2 tickets, including single-match options, group tickets and the S2 Flex Plan, visit SoundersFC.com/S2/Tickets.
Transaction: Seattle Sounders FC 2 signs midfielder Zach Mathers, midfielder Emir Alihodzic and defender Michael Nelson on March 9, 2016.
Name: Zach Mathers
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-11
Weight: 172
Born: April 14, 1994 in Fort Worth, Texas
Hometown: Keller, Texas
College: Duke
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Selected with the 15th pick of the Second Round (35th overall) in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft
Name: Emir Alihodzic
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 170
Born: September 2, 1993
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
College: Nebraska Omaha
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Selected with the 13th pick in the Third Round (54th overall) in 2016 MLS SuperDraft
Name: Michael Nelson
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Born: August 8, 1994
Hometown: Austin, Texas
College: Old Dominion
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Selected with the 16th pick in the Fourth Round (77th overall) in 2016 MLS SuperDraft
