Minors: Sounders carry on...

[sounderfan]

Seattle pro soccer's life in the "minors" began another preseason over the weekend...

http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/2005-Fan-Pics-1/1stcowbellof2005.jpg
Cowbell! You KNOW you want some!

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Youth soccer flexes its muscles: Almost 3,000 fans attended the Sounders-Gonzaga match in Bothell (North of Seattle). The match was a fundraiser for Northsore Youth Soccer.

http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/2005-Fan-Pics-1/SoundersBoothApril2.jpg
Higher hopes: The USL-1 Seattle Sounders 2005 preseason is sponsored by US Bank. The club have ticket-sellers and promo people coming out to all matches before the regular season.

Coverage of the preseason opener:
http://soundercentral.com/museum/2005/April%202/trialists_and_errors.htm

[Stan Collins]

Omigosh. . . I'm starting to get a fever. . . and the only cure. . .

<well, you know how it goes>

http://www.soylentred.net/assets/cowbell_sam.jpg

[sounderfan]

The Sounders and the University of Washington held a scrimmage for 80 minutes on April 6 at Husky Soccer Field. It ended in a 1-1 draw.

It was another chance for rookies and trialists to impress the coach, and for regulars to get back in shape.

Gallery:
http://soundercentral.com/gallery/April-2005-UW-Scrimmage

http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/April-2005-UW-Scrimmage/Dance.sized.jpg

[sounderfan]

MLS players headed Seattle's way...

Taylor Graham and Roger Levesque, perhaps a couple more...

http://soundercentral.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2257

[sounderfan]

http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/2005-Fan-Pics-1/somozasmile.sized.jpg

Sounders hang out in the Seattle SUN April 20 before playing Seattle Pacific at nifty Interbay Soccer Stadium in Seattle.

More pics:
http://soundercentral.com/gallery/2005-Fan-Pics-1?page=5

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[ossieend]

You're all doing a great job of helping grow the sport in the north west. Keep it up.

[sounderfan]

Seattle takes another one from the local Spanish league all stars, but this time around it was much closer. After losing 7-1 in 2003 and 4-0 in 2004, Liga Hispana Selects lost only 3-1 to the Sounders in Kent in April 24th.

The Sounders play the USA Under 20 National Team April 25 before opening the USL-1 season in Qwest Field on April 30.

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Sounders' goalkeeper James Ward warms up before the Liga Hispana match at Kent's French Field, which features astroturf and blue endzones. :(

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Midfielder Ben Somoza, injured starting 'keeper Preston Burpo and defender Skylar Nelson (putting on shoe) have a Sunday talk in the park before the Seattle-Liga Hispana match.

http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/2005-Fan-Pics-1/Kent_Crowd.jpg
The Sounders always seem to draw decent preseason crowds. Perhaps it is the heavy youth soccer involvement and fundraising efforts. Eventually this French Field crowd would swell to 2,000 fans.

Match report from the Seattle Pitch:
http://seattlepitch.tripod.com/matches/2005/apr24.html

[sounderfan]

2005 Media Day Gallery:
http://soundercentral.com/gallery/2005MediaDay

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CJ Klaas is interviewed.

[sounderfan]

Smoke on the Water : Fire at Qwest!

New computer desktop wallpapers have been added to the SounderCentral.com Wallpapers Page. (http://soundercentral.com/seattle_sounders_sounder_central_008.htm)

They feature six new 2005 Seattle players, and come in 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 sizes.

http://soundercentral.com/seattle_sounders_sounder_central008002.jpg

http://soundercentral.com/seattle_sounders_sounder_central008001.jpg

[sounderfan]

The annual Seattle Sounders season preview articles are coming out, and this SounderCentral.com thread is posting them as they arrive:

http://soundercentral.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=14362#14362

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2005/04/28/2002256670.jpg
CJ Klaas photo in Seattle Times preview feature.