RENTON, WA – Twelve members of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy Under-18 team have committed their futures to collegiate soccer programs. The National Letter of Intent signing period began on February 5.

Among those that have signed a NLI, Paul Christensen, a goalkeeper who participated in the U.S. Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., has committed to play at Portland. Five players have chosen to stay in state, including Henry Wingo (Washington), Garrett Barber and Marcus Tinsley (Western Washington), and Ben Willis and Fischer Gallinger (Gonzaga). Three players will play collegiately in California while three others will play on the East Coast.

Along with developing talent for the Major League Soccer club’s senior team, the Sounders FC Academy also strives to develop young men to maximize their educational options.

List of Seattle Sounders FC Academy Under-18 Commitments

Seyi Adekoya (Forward, Lakeside): UCLA

Garrett Barber (Defender, Mount Vernon HS): Western Washington

Satoshi Chaffin (Forward, Rogers HS): Santa Clara

Paul Christensen (Goalkeeper, Woodinville HS): Portland

Justin Crichlow (Defender, Meadowdale HS): Harvard

Fischer Gallinger (Defender, Gig Harbor HS): Gonzaga

Duncan McCormick (Midfielder, Seattle Academy): Wake Forest

David Olsen (Forward, Thomas Jefferson HS): San Diego State

Marcus Tinsley (Defender, Todd Beamer HS): Western Washington

Matt Reinikka (Defender, Henry Jackson HS): Davidson

Ben Willis (Goalkeeper, Federal Way HS): Gonzaga

Henry Wingo (Forward, Shorecrest HS): Washington



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