Sounders FC U23 News Release -- www.soundersu23.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
TACOMA, Wash. – Three college stars return to Seattle to sign with the Sounders FC U23’s for the 2012 season. Puget Sound area high school alums, Fernando Monge, Chase Hanson, and Doug Herrick add to the Sounders U23 roster for their PDL campaign.
Monge comes to the Sounders U23 after nearly winning the NCAA National Championship with UCLA. The Eastside Catholic High School alum played every minute of the National Semifinal in which UCLA lost in a penalty shootout to North Carolina.
In the 2011 campaign, Monge played in all 24 games for UCLA. He helped the Pac 12 powerhouse to their most wins since 2003. The Bruins went undefeated in Pac-12 play. The redshirt junior played for the Orange County Blue Star in the PDL last summer, finishing with nine goals and five assists in 10 appearances.
“Fernando Monge plays at a perennial powerhouse in college and is a big part of the midfield there," Sounders U23 Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. "We are excited to add another important piece to our midfield.”
Hanson joins the Sounders U23 after his freshman season with NCAA Division II powerhouse, Barry University. Hanson played in 19 matches and helped Barry reach the third round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Miami, Fla.-based university finished 2011 with a 12-3-6 record, without a home loss.
The midfielder graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way, Wash. While at T.J., he earned League MVP, Seattle Times First Team, and Tacoma News Tribune First Team honors in 2010 and 2011.
"I remember Chase when he was a 10-year-old spark plug,” Sawatzky said. “It is great to see him grow into a quality college player and we look forward to him contributing to the group this summer."
Herrick joins the Sounders U23 after being drafted and later released by Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers. Herrick was selected 46th overall in the 2011 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. The St. Mary’s College graduate spent preseason camp with the Timbers.
While at the West Coast Conference champions, St. Mary’s, Herrick recorded a single-season school record of 10 shutouts in 23 games. The Gaels made it all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The O’Dea High School alum was also a NSCAA Collegiate Scholar All-American.
"Doug Herrick had an incredible year last year in the WCC. He is a local goalkeeper and we will look to him for leadership in this young group," Sawatzky said.
The Sounders U23 season and single match tickets are now on sale at SoundersU23.com. The Sounders U23 will play two games this year at historic Cheney Stadium. On May 30, the Sounders Women will be on hand to sign autographs and cheer on the Sounders U23 as they take on the Vancouver Whitecaps U23. On June 15, Cheney Stadium will host the Sounders U23 vs. PDL defending champion, Kitsap Pumas. See SoundersU23.com for details.