On March 21, 2015, Sounders FC 2 embarked on a new chapter of the Sounders FC story in dramatic fashion. The club entered its inaugural USL season with no intention of opening a new door, but of kicking it down as it dominated the reigning league champion Sacramento Republic FC by a final score of 4-2.
The victory sparked a three-match win streak and an immediate confidence. The burgeoning club was then immediately tested as the team embarked on its first road trip where it managed to secure only a point.
Following another win at home and its first win on the road, a 2-0 shutout against rival Portland Timbers 2, S2 travelled to Sacramento on May 9 with the intention of solidifying the statement made in the opener.
However, things didn’t go quite as planned for the young side.
With captain Amadou Sanyang off due to injury in the first 15 minutes, the team gave up a goal 14 minutes after the substitution and played on its back foot for the rest of the half. After conceding again in the 62nd minute, Giuliano Frano was sent off for his second yellow of the night, leaving the club down a man for the final 25 where it would concede one more goal before exiting Bonney Field with a lingering, bitter taste.
Ezra Hendrickson’s side isn’t one to make excuses for a bad result, though.
“This team doesn’t get too high after a win, and it doesn’t get too low after a loss,” said Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson. “Yeah, Sacramento was a tough result for us to swallow, but these guys have grown a lot since then and we will be prepared to face them again this weekend.”
Hendrickson’s side currently leads the USL Western Conference, and has an opportunity to strengthen its grip with three points against a Sacramento club that is vying for its own push to the top of the table.
With new boss Paul Buckle at the helm following the departure of Head Coach, MLS legend and former Hendrickson teammate, Preki, Sacramento hosts S2 having not played a league match in 21 days. It has, however, hosted two English Premier League friendlies in which it defeated Sunderland AFC 1-0 and lost 1-0 to Newcastle United. In its last week of USL play on July 11, Preki’s farewell, Republic FC was defeated at home 4-0 by LA Galaxy II, who is tied with S2 atop the conference.
Well-rested and resilient, Sacramento will lean on top-scorer and 2014 MVP Finalist Rodrigo Lopez, who has nine goals this season. Lopez scored once in the 3-0 victory over S2 in the last meeting, and assisted the opening goal of the contest.
S2 has its own secret weapon that becomes less of a secret each time he steps on the pitch. Oalex Anderson is averaging a goal every 93 minutes played, including three scores in S2’s last three matches.
“Oalex is a very special player, and I think people are starting to see that,” said Hendrickson. “He has a bright future with this club and with the whole Sounders organization.”
Anderson will be up to a tough task against Republic goalkeeper Patrick McLain, who has five shutouts to his name this season. S2’s own goalkeeping situation is up in the air, as usual starter Charlie Lyon has been filling the backup role on the First Team while Troy Perkins serves as the starter during Stefan Frei’s rehabilitation. Replacement Tyler Miller is also out following recent thumb surgery. S2 can lean on Academy product Saif Kerawala, who earned his first professional shutout in the club’s 2-0 victory over T2 on July 24.
The final contest between the defending champs and the budding S2 will be live-streamed on SoundersFC.com, with kickoff from Bonney Field set for 8:00 p.m. PT.
