SANDY, UTAH – Seattle Sounders FC 2 (7-8-2, 23 points) was defeated 4-1 by first-place RSL Monarchs SLC (14-2-1, 43 points) on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. Monarchs SLC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but the Rave Green pulled one back courtesy of Sounders FC Academy midfielder Paul Rothrock, who netted his first USL goal in the 77th minute. Now in seventh place in the Western Conference, S2 returns to Starfire Stadium next Sunday against Orange County SC (2 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com)
S2 fielded an Academy-heavy squad, with seven of the usual contributors earning short-term loans with the First Team for the club’s international friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon. As a result, five teenagers from Sounders FC Academy made their USL debuts in the Starting XI: Sam Fowler, Khai Brisco, Dylan Teves, Cameron Martin and Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez. Despite the youth-laden lineup, S2 kept Monarchs SLC off the scoresheet for the opening 30 minutes.
The hosts broke through in the 31st minute with an impressive goal by Sebastian Saucedo. The 20-year-old midfielder split through three S2 defenders with back-to-back stutter steps to free himself in the area, where he placed his shot past Fowler. Ten minutes later, Monarchs SLC doubled the lead after S2 was unable to clear the ball on a corner kick and Chandler Hoffman knocked in a goal from close range.
In the final moments of the first half, Max Lachowecki made the score 3-0 on a pass from Hoffman on a powerful volley. Due to lightning, the match delayed in the 67th for nearly an hour. Minutes after action resumed, Monarchs SLC extended its lead to 4-0 with Saucedo’s second goal of the match.
In the 77th minute, S2 earned one back as Rothrock gathered a loose ball in front of the net tucked his shot into the far post. One night after scoring in Sounders FC U-18’s 3-2 win over Crossfire Premier in the USSDA national quarterfinals, the midfielder netted his first USL goal.
After a three-match road swing, S2 hosts Orange County SC next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |1 - 4| Real Monarchs SLC
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Daniel Radford
Assistants: Kali Smith, Kristi Mak
Fourth Official: Jeff Arthurholtz
Attendance: 1,637
Weather: 90 degrees and rain
SCORING SUMMARY
SLC – Sebastian Saucedo (Chandler Hoffman) 31’
SLC – Chandler Hoffman (Reagan Dunk) 40’
SLC – Max Lachowecki (Chandler Hoffman) 45’+2’
SLC – Sebastian Saucedo (Karsten Hanlin) 73’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (David Olsen) 77’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Christian Koontz (caution) 15’
SEA – Kei Tomozawa (caution) 79’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Sam Fowler; Lorenzo Ramos, Riley Grant, Khai Brisco, Christian Koontz; Dylan Teves, Cameron Martin (Jackson Ragen 67’), David Olsen, Charles Renken (Paul Rothrock 67’), Camilo Santiago (Kei Tomozawa 78’); Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Substitutes not used: Trey Muse, Ethan Lotenero, Stirling Russell, Milo Barton
Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 4
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 6
RSL Monarchs SLC – Connor Sparrow; Reagan Dunk, James Moberg, Max Lachowecki, Michael Gallagher; Ricardo Velazco, Sebastian Saucedo, Nick Besler (Taylor Peay HT), Chase Minter (Riggs Lennon 77’), Karsten Hanlin; Chandler Hoffman
Substitutes not used: Andrew Putna, Kyle Curinga, Andrew Brody, Daniel Haber, Skyler Milne
Total shots: 22
Shots on goal: 10
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 3
