Several Sounders FC Academy alums find themselves in a rich vein of form as the NCAA college soccer season rolls along. With former youth team standouts scoring goals, contributing assists and recording shutouts, a number of potential Homegrown players are making a name for themselves all over the pitch.
Freshman forward Handwalla Bwana continues to turn heads with his impressive performances for Washington. In fact, the Ballard High School grad played a crucial role in all three goals in the Huskies’ 3-2 double overtime win over Davidson College on Friday. The Starting XI for the Huskies against the Wildcats featured three former SSFC Academy standouts in Bwana, Henry Wingo and freshman midfielder John Magnus.
After falling behind 1-0 in the 8th minute, Magnus and Bwana linked up to level the score in the 10th minute. A perfectly weighted pass from Magnus found his former U-18 teammate Bwana in space outside the box. The crafty forward took his defender one on one shifted the ball to his right foot and struck a venomous shot that arrowed into the top corner.
Watch: Handwalla Bwana scores his second goal of the season to help UW tie it up, 1-1. #NewHeightshttps://t.co/GMcCseGKni
— UW Men's Soccer (@UW_MSoccer) September 17, 2016
Bwana helped the Huskies level the score again in the 73rd minute when he assisted on Kyle Coffee’s goal. In the 107th minute Bwana’s well-struck corner kick landed square on the head of David Coly for the golden goal victory.
In the next match against College of Charleston on Sunday, Bwana’s deadly set-piece delivery once again provided the winner. After coming on as a substitute in the 30th minute, his corner kick eight minutes later fell straight to Joey Parish who volleyed home. Central midfielder Henry Wingo started the match against Charleston, and was only denied a goal by two spectacular saves from the opposition goalkeeper.
For the third match running junior forward Yoshi Chaffin grabbed the headlines for Santa Clara, with his dribbling abilities on the wing. The tricky winger’s performance Friday against Southern Methodist University left head coach Cam Rast waxing lyrical about Chaffin’s ability in one on one situations. The former Academy star’s whipped cross in the 40th minute found a wide-open teammate inside the box, but the ensuing volley crashed back off of the crossbar. Chaffin’s world-class pace and skill with the ball at his feet enabled him to beat his defenders at will to create scoring opportunities.
After a slow start to the season by his own standards, Seattle University striker David Olsen stole the show in a 4-0 over Davidson on Sunday with his second goal of the campaign. His deflected shot in the 34th minute fell right to the feet of Julio Rubio who duly slotted home to make it 2-0. Olsen found the back of the net himself in the 77th minute after a darting run into the box. The Auburn native ghosted past a pair of defenders and drove toward the goal box, where his first time shot flew past the Wildcats’ goalkeeper.
Former Academy defenders Kyle Bjornethun and Sam Langston were imperious in the win, restricting the Wildcats to zero shots on target.
In SU’s match against the College of Charleston on Sunday, Alex Roldan scored the game-winner winner in overtime with a pile driver of a free kick. Roldan - who is the younger brother of Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan - now has three goals and an assist for the Redhawks this season.
Center back MacArthur Clarke went all 110 minutes in San Diego State’s 0-0 draw with Cal Poly on Saturday. The second-year defender has played a vital role in the Aztecs’ five consecutive clean sheets.
Clarke and No. 11 SDSU’s stingy defense haven’t conceded a goal 567 minutes of action during this streak.
