Sounders sign S2 midfielder Zach Mathers on short-term loan for Open Cup, again

As they’ve done for their first two U.S. Open Cup matches of the season, the Seattle Sounders have signed midfielder Zach Mathers on a short-term loan from the club’s USL affiliate Seattle Sounders 2 for Wednesday’s match against the LA Galaxy.

Mathers has been a regular in Ezra Hendrickson’s S2 side this season after being drafted 35th overall by the Sounders in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. He’s made 14 appearances for S2, scoring a single goal and notching two assists so far.

The young midfielder out of Duke University was also signed on a short-term loan by the Sounders for the friendly against West Ham United earlier this month. Mathers delivered an excellent free kick in that match, which led to Jordan Morris scoring the second Sounders goal of the night.

Per MLS rules, this is how such short-term loan agreements work:

MLS clubs may sign players from their USL affiliate to short-term agreements (up to four-day contracts) for CONCACAF Champions League, AMWAY Canadian Championship, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and exhibition matches. An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short-term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days).

This is Mathers' 4th short-term loan to the Sounders, so he won't be able to play for the first team for the rest of the season unless he's signed to a permanent deal.

As I understand it, this is the last time Seattle will be able to use the short-term agreement rule to call up Zach Mathers.

— Ari Liljenwall (@AriLiljenwall) July 20, 2016