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Former Seattle Sounders and Academy product Sean Okoli was announced as the 2016 USL MVP today. The Federal Way native is in his first year with FC Cincinnati after spending 2015 with the New England Revolution, following a trade that netted the Sounders goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
Okoli had a breakout year for FC Cincinnati, who is in their inaugural season. In 29 league appearances he scored 16 goals, earning him the USL Golden Boot as well. He even made it on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Ten with a scissor-kick goal that he scored in Cincinnati’s first ever home game.
“It was a very fun season for me, especially coming from where I was the last two years,” Okoli said. “I wasn’t getting much playing time, and to have the situation at Cincinnati, playing in front of all the fans and playing attacking soccer, I couldn’t ask for more.”
Okoli only made three appearances for the Sounders in 2014. He was a second half stoppage time substitute in the season-opening 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. If you remember, Okoli sent in the cross that lead to the game-winning goal for Chad Barrett.
The Sounders eventually traded his rights to the Revolution in order to trade up in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft to select Miller from Northwestern.
The Federal Way native played his college soccer at Wake Forest University from 2011-2013. He earned All-ACC honor in all three seasons playing in Winston-Salem, NC and scored 24 goals and added nine assists. During this time, he was also part of the Sounders U23 squad from 2012-2013. He scored six goals in 14 appearances for the U23 squad.
In case you missed it, Okoli also gave us some insight into his experiences on a recent episode of Nos Audietis.