Plenty of Sounders Academy products found themselves at the heart of big results in NCAA soccer matches over the past week. From sprawling saves to decisive goals, numerous Seattle youth team alums continue to make vital contributions at the collegiate level.
Freshman striker Handwalla Bwana maintained his rich form with the opening goal in Washington’s 2-1 win over Seattle University. Bwana handed UW the lead in 28th minute when he fired his shot into an empty net after a frenetic passage of play in the box. With the tally, the local striker now has three goals and four assists in nine appearances for UW.
Seattle University senior defender Kyle Bjornethun nearly recorded an assist on a cross in the 82nd minute, but goalkeeper Auden Schilder came up with a massive save. A total of seven former Sounders Academy standouts garnered minutes in the inaugural Seattle Cup between the Huskies and Redhawks.
Center back Jacob Hauser-Ramsey and Connecticut have won three games on the trot since a 1-0 overtime loss on the road to No. 1 Notre Dame on Sept. 13. After defeating Loyola two weeks ago and Rhode Island 2-1 away last Wednesday, the Huskies returned home in style with a 1-0 win over Temple. Hauser-Ramsey, a sophomore transfer, has started all nine matches in the heart of UConn’s defense, earning three shutouts along the way.
First-year forward Maliq Cooper and UNLV traveled to Spokane, Wash., for a clash with Ben Willis and Davis Behnke of Gonzaga University. The Bulldogs won 2-0 behind an imperious defensive display from Willis and Behnke. With Gonzaga leading 1-0, Willis produced a full extension save in the 63rd minute to push a long distance shot over the bar. The stop by Willis proved vital as the Bulldogs put the match away with a second goal just four minutes later.
MacArthur Clarke and the rest of the San Diego State defense conceded their first goal in 598 minutes of play in a 2-0 loss to University of the Pacific on Friday. The Aztecs bounced back on Sunday with another shutout in their 1-0 overtime victory over University of San Diego. Clarke, a sophomore center back from Puyallup, played all 95 minutes in the win over the Toreros.
Yoshi Chaffin and the Santa Clara Broncos suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in overtime to Tulsa despite carving out a host of chances. Chaffin’s speed and trickery on the wing enabled him to beat his defender at will in the first half. The Puyallup native created three clear-cut chances with excellent service from wide areas during the opening interval.
