Sounders FC News & Notes - January 11, 2011

SuperDraft: Seattle to Take Five Thursday
While the 2011 MLS SuperDraft has been condensed the number of picks has been expanded for Sounders FC. Due to trades last year, Seattle has a total of five selections in the three-round draft set for Thursday at the Baltimore Convention Center. ESPN2 coverage of the first round begins at 9.a.m. PT. MLSsoccer.com will live stream the final two rounds.

In addition to its 11th overall selection in the first round, Sounders FC acquired two additional second-round picks via trades last season. It obtained D.C. United's pick (21st overall) in the Stephen King trade and Chicago's choice (27th overall) in the Freddie Ljungberg deal. Sounders FC also has its own pick at Number 29, plus a third-round choice (47th overall).

Expansion teams Vancouver and Portland, respectively, hold the first two selections in the 2011 SuperDraft. Eighteen picks will be made in each round. A supplemental three-round draft will be held on Tuesday, January 18.

The Sounders FC representatives on the SuperDraft floor will be general manager Adrian Hanauer, head coach Sigi Schmid, technical director Chris Henderson, assistant coach Brian Schmetzer and assistant coach/scout Kurt Schmid.

Sounders FC Draft History
2009
Rnd/Overall
1/1 Steve Zakuani FWD Akron
2/16 Evan Brown DEF Wake Forest
3/31 Jared Karkas DEF Azusa Pacific
4/46 Mike Fucito MID/FWD Harvard

2010
1/11 David Estrada FWD UCLA
2/27 Michael Seamon MID Villanova
3/43 traded to HOU
4/59 Jamel Wallace DEF San Diego State
Full Team to Begin Preseason Training on January 25
Preparations for the 2011 MLS season will begin on Tuesday, January 25 for Sounders FC. The teams will train at Starfire Sports Complex and conduct tests and meetings at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center before departing January 30 for Casa Grande, Arizona and more training and training games. Seattle players will return to Starfire from February 15-17. Another camp will be held in Bradenton, Florida from February 18-27.

Academy Teams Resume League Play
Both the Sounders FC Academy U16 and U18 teams resume play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy this Sunday. Seattle travels to Sacramento to play California Development Academy (CDA) at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT.

Six of the next eight matches are on the road. On January 23 Sounders FC visits Lake Washington High School to play Crossfire Premier.

Last weekend the Sounders FC U18s dropped a friendly with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U18 Residency team, 2-0, on Saturday in Bellingham, Washington. Vancouver scored both goals just after Seattle brought in five new players in the 65th minute. For Sounders FC, Rodney Greilling made several tough saves in goal and Darwin Jones twice hit the post with shots. Among those seeing action was Michael Steele, a member of the U16s.

Upcoming Key Dates (times are Pacific & subject to change)
Thursday, January 13, 9 a.m. - 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Baltimore
Sunday, January 16, 1/3:30 p.m. - Sounders FC Academy at California Development Academy, Loomis, Calif.
Tuesday, January 25 - Training begins at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.
Saturday, January 29, 9 a.m.-Sunday, January 30 - Sounders FC Open Tryouts, Stafire Sports Complex, Tukwila, Wash.
Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. - MLS First Kick 2011, Sounders FC vs. L.A. Galaxy, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field
Saturday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. - Sounders FC at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

New 2011/2012 Jerseys on Sale
Later this week the new Sounders FC jerseys arrive at the two Pro Shop locations. The jerseys, including the new shale away shirt, will be available beginning Thursday at Qwest Field and Pacific Place in downtown Seattle.

Camps: Finishing School
Online registration is now open for the Sounders FC Finishing School and Boys High School Prep Camp. The five-week Finishing School course begins January 28 at the Starfire Sports Complex and is designed for youth players (ages 8-14) that want, need and have a passion for finishing the ball in the final third.

The High School Prep Camp will be held the week of February 21 through February 25 at Starfire. The sessions are designed to physically and mentally prepare players for their high school tryouts and spring seasons.

Registration for either the Finishing School or High School Prep Camp is $200 and available at SoundersFC.com.

Give Us Your Full 90 Again in 2011!
Sounders FC is accepting deposits for 2011 season tickets. To join, please visit SoundersFC.com or call 877-MLS-GOAL. Seattle's schedule begins with First Kick on March 15 versus the L.A. Galaxy. The rest of the slate will include matches with MLS newcomers Portland and Vancouver, plus an international friendly against a soon-to-be-announced opponent. Sounders FC had 32,000 season ticket holders in 2010.

Voting Deadline Nears for Seattle Sports Star of the Year
There's just over a week remaining to cast votes online for Seattle Sports Star of the Year. Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero is one of five finalists selected by the Seattle Sports Commission for Sports Star of the Year. Fans can vote for their favorite nominee by visiting SeattleSports.org. Voting runs through January 21, and individuals can vote up to once a day. Winners will be announced during the show on January 26, at Benaroya Hall.

Open Tryout Registration
Registration for the Sounders FC Open Tryouts are being accepted online. Tryouts will be conducted on January 29-30 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. Open tryouts are open to male soccer players ages 18 years and older, and will feature small-sided as well as 11v11 games.Players will be assessed by members of the Sounders FC technical and coaching staffs.

The registration cost for each player is $125. To register, visit www.SoundersFC.com/opentryouts.Space is limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Registration fees will go directly to the Sounders FC Youth Academy program.

Throw-ins
Sounders FC players will take part in the America SCORES Seattle fundraising event on Tuesday, January 18, at The Great Nabob, from 6-9 p.m...Steve Zakuani's Birthday Bash to benefit Kingdom Hope is January 21, from 8-11:30 p.m. at the Vera Project (corner of W. Republican Street and Warren Ave. N.) in Seattle...Midfielder Michael Tetteh, a junior from UC Santa Barbara, became the 10th player signed to the Generation adidas Class of 2011...January 15 marks the 22nd anniversary of the United States finishing third in the 1989 FIFA Futsal World Championships in The Netherlands. Tacoma's Brent Goulet was a member of the U.S. team and contributed two goals during the tournament...Defender Julien Baudet turns 32 on Thursday, January 13, and assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson celebrates his 39th birthday on Sunday, January 16.