The inaugural S2 match is less than a month away. As the squad gears up for its first USL campaign, Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson is challenging his players by setting up scrimmages with various opponents.
Tuesday night, Hendrickson’s team could be facing its toughest challenge yet.
S2 will square off with the Washington Huskies, a team that was recently labeled by USA Today as one of the top 10 collegiate programs in the country. UW reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2013 and made another run in the tournament this past season. Admission is free for Tuesday’s scrimmage, which is set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. at Husky Soccer Stadium.
“UW is a very good team. We need to be prepared and ready to go,” Hendrickson said on Monday. “It’s not going to be an easy game.”
The Huskies are coached by Jamie Clark, a former MLS player and All-American defender at Stanford University. Six of Clark’s returning players have spent time in the Sounders Academy, and four more Academy products are joining his squad next year.
UW lost many of its stars from last year that are now in MLS – including Sounders FC rookies Darwin Jones and Cristian Roldan – but it still features a bevy of talented players.
Here are details regarding some of those who will suit up against S2 on Tuesday:
Mason Robertson, forward: Former English Premier League club Reading F.C. offered Robertson a contract when he was 15. The 6-foot-2 forward has 13 goals through two seasons at UW and was named second-team All-Pac-12 last year.
Ryan Herman, goalkeeper: A Sounders FC Academy product, Herman was UW’s starter during the team’s memorable 2013 campaign while Spencer Richey sat out with an injury. Herman is a former All-American at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie.
Ian Lange, midfielder: Also a product of the Sounders Academy, Lange played alongside Roldan in the midfield during the last two years. Lange started all 19 of his appearances last season and received All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors.
James Moberg, midfielder: Moberg tied with Roldan for a team-high six assists last season. With one season still to play, he is already in the UW all-time top 10 with 21 assists.
