Sounders Preseason Schedule

by Dave Clark on Feb 7, 2012 12:07 PM PST in Sounders: News

Now with a stunning 1-1 draw in the books against the Vancouver Whitecaps the Seattle Sounders announced five preseason scrimmages in their "Florida" phase of training. Florida in quotes because the key note match will be against Atlante FC behind closed doors in Cancun, Mexico on February 22nd at 4PM Pacific. Atlante is currently tied for second with a 3-1-1 record and lead the Primera with 9 goals scored.

That match ends that phase of training which also features matches against Orlando City SC (2011 USL Pro regular season and playoff champions) on Feb 13th, the Columbus Crew (47 points, 4th in East in 2011) on Feb 15th, the United States U-17 Residency team (featuring Sounder Academy player Paul Christensen) on Feb 16th and on Feb 19th they face University of Gulf Coast (39th in final NCAA rankings).

There are also indications at the Ticketmaster website that the Community Shield will be on Leap Year Day. An opponent has yet to be announced. If Seattle were to maintain the tradition of the Shield from other countries the opponent would be the LA Galaxy, but the team is also focused on preparing to face Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League Champions Round.

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Pardon my ignorance

but what is the Community Shield?
I saw this listed on the single-game ticket preorder page as well and didn’t understand why there was no opponent listed.

by Traevore on Feb 7, 2012 12:28 PM PST reply actions

Community Shield has been the final pre-season match of the year

It’s at CenturyLink and proceeds go the Sounders FC’s charity partners. Generally the TV packaging for the game is odd as it is people talking about the Sounders with the game in the background.

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by Dave Clark on Feb 7, 2012 12:34 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks

Would you recommend it to attend in person? Is it still reasonably competitive even though it’s preseason?

by Traevore on Feb 7, 2012 12:40 PM PST up reply actions

It was fun enough last year

It rained and the crowd was relatively small, but it was a fairly enjoyable game. If nothing else it’s a good preview of what you can expect for the next season – last year gave a preview of what might have been with OBW and a first sighting of Friberg. Although I think I’m also right in saying it was also N’kufo’s last public appearance as a Sounder, so that’s one aspect we can skip…

Better than watching it on a screen behind someone’s head, anyhow.

by Targaff on Feb 7, 2012 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Sounds worth it for someone who follows the offseason closely,

especially since it looks like tx are only $10. Thanks.

by Traevore on Feb 7, 2012 1:07 PM PST up reply actions

Definitely the price makes this a plus

by chrisso on Feb 7, 2012 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Preseason

It is preseason. We have all been to preseason games in many different sports, no different, if don’t normally get to go to games, it is definitely worth it. If you do, the money goes to charity.

by Charles J on Feb 7, 2012 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

Its a great way to see some of the younger players

In years past its been a great way to see some of the younger players play in person

by Neem on Feb 7, 2012 2:33 PM PST up reply actions

It should also be noted that the "Community Shield"

in England is held to kick-off the year. It’s always the winner of the FA Cup vs the WInner of the Premier League and usually a preview of two of the top contenders. It’s definitely a Sounders thing here, but Open Cup vs MLS Cup winner seems equivalent. The first year was v. PDX, but last year was v. Rapids. If done “right” this would be vs Galaxy.

by sammysounder on Feb 7, 2012 11:19 PM PST up reply actions

I'm sure that the Sounders would call it "Commnunity Shield" even if they had not won a cup in the previous season

The emphasis is on the charity aspect, not on who play.

Of course the English are not the only association that have a super cup type competition to start the season. If there were to be one in the USA, it should not be organized by any one club, but it should be by MLS and USSF.

by AAAA on Feb 8, 2012 6:31 AM PST up reply actions

I told you Atlante fc it's gonna be a good game

by alexyepz on Feb 7, 2012 12:48 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Great to have a game vs solid competition

before the Santos game.

by Traevore on Feb 7, 2012 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

theyre second place in the league and santos is first

by alexyepz on Feb 7, 2012 1:05 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

So not only comparable in quality,

but hopefully comparable in style of play as well, at least in so far as they are in the same league.

by Traevore on Feb 7, 2012 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Florida

I’m assuming they are training at the same place as the US Residencey program while in Bradenton. I was really hoping they’d head to the east coast this year, oh well.
Also, the last oppenent is Florida Gulf Coast University.

by Travis_Mc on Feb 7, 2012 2:16 PM PST reply actions

Florida a part of the east coast.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Feb 7, 2012 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

2 coasts

Florida has an east and a west coast to it, Bradenton is on the west coast of Florida.

by Travis_Mc on Feb 7, 2012 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

Got it,

I just assumed you were talking about the northeast.

Sounders 'til I die

by SounderJunkie on Feb 7, 2012 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

Technically true, but over here

West Virginia is considered East Coast ;)

by sammysounder on Feb 7, 2012 11:22 PM PST up reply actions

Dave/ Jeremiah/ Sidereal,

I know this is a little off topic, but it’s still along the lines of preseason games. But given the history in the USL and player exchanges (Lamar Neagle, Osvaldo Alonso, Alex Caskey, Seedy Bah), do any of you guys think the Sounders will ever come to Charleston and play the Battery in a friendly or preseason warmup ? They did play in the same league from the mid 90’s to 2008 so there is definetly some history there. Just curious, I thought it would be a really cool idea.

by brandinho on Feb 7, 2012 5:14 PM PST reply actions

sure

Not entirely sure why it hasn’t happened yet

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by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 7, 2012 11:56 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions

there is definetly sounder support in charleston.

The battery have never had a problem drawing bigger clubs for friendlies. Bolton came from England to play the Battery in 2010 and a few mls teams come down here every year for the Carolina Cup. Who knows, maybe it will take a clash in the U.S. Open Cup for the two teams to play each other again. but thanks for the response!

by brandinho on Feb 8, 2012 12:40 AM PST up reply actions

I don't think the Sounders can play Charleston in USOC before the final

because of the regional seeding. But a final would really be something!

by AAAA on Feb 8, 2012 6:23 AM PST up reply actions

SSFC are bigger than Bolton :)

But we should still play against Charleston at some point. What’s the Carolina Cup? If it is a trophy, I want SSFC to win it.

by PhootieD on Feb 8, 2012 10:43 AM PST up reply actions

the carolina cup or "Carolina Challenge Cup"

is a preseason cup that is contested every year between 4 clubs. 3 MLS clubs and the Charleston Battery. Since the cup is preseason, the goals don’t technically count. But it’s always an intersting competition. Each time plays each other once. DC United has competed in the cup the last 3 years and Toronto FC has competed in the cup the last 5 years. The other MLS clubs to have competed in the tournament are San Jose, Columbus, Houston, Real Salt Lake, and the NY Red Bulls. But again, it would be awsome if the Sounders came down. I’m not sure if the 2012 tournament is set yet. So there still might be a hint of a chance!

by brandinho on Feb 8, 2012 7:35 PM PST up reply actions

Sounders preseason schedule is already full

And I’m sure no other team would have unplanned preseason schedules just a month before the start of the season.

by AAAA on Feb 8, 2012 7:55 PM PST up reply actions

what's in it for Atlante?

They are 1/3 into their season, so it’s not a tune-up game. The game is closed, so not gate revenue. So this is probably a reserve game for them….which shoots down the ‘good competition’ mantra I’m hearing. An in-season, Mexican reserve team is probably better competition than Whitecaps or Chivas pre-season teams, but not sure it’ll be close to what we see on March 7th. Am I missing something?

by InternetCharlie on Feb 7, 2012 9:15 PM PST reply actions