RENTON – Sunday won't be the first time that Andrew Thomas starts a season opener for the Seattle Sounders. Back in 2024, Thomas got the nod to start in goal when the Sounders kicked off on the road against LAFC with Stefan Frei out due to injury. It was his first start, but it wasn’t just that: it was his first appearance for the first team in any competition, let alone in league play.
Fast forward to today and Thomas has significantly more experience, having since made 31 appearances across all competitions for the Sounders, including a starring role along the way to winning Leagues Cup last season and claiming the award for Goalkeeper of the Year in that tournament. Unlike his debut in 2024, this year Thomas has earned the opportunity to start through his own work rather than through any bad luck or injury to Frei, as head coach Brian Schmetzer has named Thomas as the starter, at least for this game.
Speaking to media at the club’s season kick-off press conference, Albert Rusnák remarked that, “[Thomas] made it hard for the coaches to pick a starting goalkeeper.” Through strong showings during last season and a good preseason, Thomas forced his way into the opportunity to make the #1 spot his own. “I just have to say credit to both of them,” Rusnák continued. “They have both been really good and really professional."
“That was the hardest decision for me to make,” explained Schmetzer on the choice of starting GK. “For me and Tommy [Dutra, goalkeeper coach] and the rest of the coaching staff to make, because the way I said it in the presser the other day: I have two starting goalkeepers, and I had to make a decision."
The decision wasn’t an easy one. Frei has been Seattle’s starting keeper for over a decade, amassing a trophy collection that’s the envy of most players and climbing the ranks for appearances with the club and in the league, as well as working his way up the table for league saves and clean sheets. As Schmetzer put it, “Stef is not completely 100% happy with that decision, but he is of absolute top character. He’s gonna do whatever it takes to support Andrew, just as for those years when Andrew was probably ready to be a starter, but Stef was still here, Andrew did everything that he could to support Stef."
The shift in starting GK also means a change to the team captain to start the season. While Frei has been a near constant between the goal posts for Seattle, he’s also been the club’s long-time captain. With him shifted to the bench, Cristian Roldan will wear the armband. “I’ll go on record now, saying Cristian will be the captain for the beginning of the year,” Schmetzer announced. “I’ll expect Albert, Yeimar and Jackson, everybody – Jordan, he’s been here a long time – I’ll expect everybody to pitch in as far as that leadership void.” In Frei’s absence, while Roldan will likely set the tone on the field, it will fall to multiple people to help pick up any slack with their vocal leadership, including Thomas helping to organize in the back.
One other change going into at least the first game of the season will be Osaze De Rosario starting at the #9 position. Following a very strong preseason after a breakout year in 2025, he’ll get an opportunity to show that he’s ready for a bigger role. “He’s gonna have to prove himself,” cautioned Schmetzer, “and I think he’s ready for that challenge."
