The 2014 Seattle Sounders Academy U-18 squad was one of the most prolific in the history of the Rave Green youth system. The trio of Henry Wingo, Seyi Adekoya and David Olsen led the young Sounders to a U.S. Soccer Development Academy national quarterfinal with an exhilarating brand of attacking soccer.
With all three former Academy standouts agreeing to professional terms with the club in the offseason, and with Adekoya and Olsen likely to feature prominently for S2 this season, the goal-scoring prowess of that historic Academy side is returning to Starfire Stadium.
“We’ve been good at producing some attacking players, like Jordan Morris, and I think it speaks well of the [Sounders Academy] teams Olsen and Adekoya were on and their experiences together,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Personnel Kurt Schmid. “Any time a club can bring multiple players from a certain crop or generation through to the professional ranks, and with the first team hopefully, that’s fantastic.
“It speaks well to the development structure at the club,” Schmid continued. “I think good players just like to play with other good players, and they’re good players.”
While there is plenty of debate surrounding the efficacy of player development at the collegiate level, it’s impossible to argue that Adekoya and Olsen did not benefit from plying their trade in the NCAA.
Olsen, 21, led San Diego State University in scoring as a freshman and developed into a lethal finisher after transferring to Seattle University. He finished his college career with 27 goals. Adekoya also enjoyed a breakthrough second season, recording 14 tallies for the UCLA Bruins. And after three years of squaring off against each other for their collegiate sides, the pair are set to reignite their lethal strike partnership for S2.
“It’s been so much fun to see Seyi and Henry doing really well,” Olsen said of his former Academy teammates. “It just makes you want to go out and work hard to get to their level.
“Signing with the Sounders has always been a dream of mine,” he added. “Being able to come through the Academy, and every time the club let us [Academy players] train with the first team it was like a dream come true.”
Olsen has impressed in his two appearances for S2 in USL play this season. An incredibly cerebral striker, most of his work comes in the form of constant movement away from the ball, pulling defenders out of position and opening pockets of space for teammates. So when Adekoya came on for Olsen in the 62nd minute of Sunday’s 2-1 win over Portland Timbers 2, he faced a back line that had been run ragged by Olsen — and it showed immediately.
Adekoya, also 21, scored his first professional goal with just his third touch of the match after speeding past his tired marker and finding the bottom corner. And while Adekoya replaced Olsen in that match, he’s understandably excited about linking up with his former strike partner from his Academy days.
“I’m really excited to be playing with David again,” Adekoya said of Olsen. “We’ve been playing together since before U-11 [select soccer], he’s such a good player.”
The last time Adekoya and Olsen played together, the pair combined for eight goals from just three matches in the USSDA Academy playoffs. With both prospects continuing their development with S2 and the first team, their prolific strike partnership will make for some exciting matches this season.
