Ray Saari is loving life in the Pacific Northwest.

The Sounders FC 2 midfielder enters his second year in Seattle on the back of a breakout rookie season for the USL side. But after a dominant inaugural campaign — he tallied four assists, 33 key passes, two goals, 24 interceptions and 46 tackles won — he’s eager to continue his development with the club and work his way up the pipeline by capitalizing on each chance to impress the First Team staff.

“I’m so thankful that I’m in a club that gives me opportunities to do things like go to preseason [with the First Team],” said Saari. “We scrimmage against the First Team once a week and I get to play with the First Team once or twice a week, with coaches like [S2 Head Coach John] Hutchinson who talk me through so many situations.”

For Saari, the club’s vertical integration exposes prospects to a higher level of play and new tactical ideologies. it also fosters an environment in which veterans of MLS and the international game, guys like Clint Dempsey, Chad Marshall, Osvaldo Alonso and Nicolás Lodeiro, can mentor the younger players, further supplementing their development.

“Being able to watch those guys, and being able to talk to them about different situations, it’s priceless, really,” added Saari. “You can’t put a value on that and just being able to be around them 24/7, seeing how Ozzie handles himself day-in and day-out, whether on the field or off the field, he’s a pro.

“They’re all very good pros, and not only good players but good people and great examples to follow,” he continued. “Being able to learn from them is something I can take with me the rest of my career.”

Though Saari is loving his time with the Sounders, it’s a reality he never expected after going undrafted in 2017, despite a stellar career at the University of Tulsa. But after accepting an invitation to participate in S2’s preseason last year, he’s spent the past year thriving in the Rave Green’s system and grasping every chance to learn and continue his development.

“I went from thinking my career was over after the draft to all of a sudden, two weeks later, being in talks with [former S2 Head Coach] Ezra [Hendrickson] and [former S2 General Manager] Kurt [Schmid] about contracts,” said Saari. “It just happened so quick, and I’m just extremely thankful to be in an organization that takes care of me. I try not to take anything for granted and just soak up all these opportunities.”

On the field, he feels that his unique skill-set dovetails perfectly with the organization’s preferred playing style.

“It’s probably the best system for me to fit into, especially as a double-pivot,” said Saari. “The club wants those two players to be as versatile and exact to each other so it can be very mobile, so it fits my game well.

“There’s a couple of things that Gonzalo [Pineda] and Hutch have adjusted with my positioning, but I think it’s a system that I fit pretty well, and we as a club play very well.”

In addition to traveling to Chula Vista, Calif., and Tucson, Ariz., for preseason, the dynamic midfielder has made three appearances for the First Team in the U.S. Open Cup and a friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt. The past year in Seattle has been the realization of a dream he’s had since he was a soccer-loving kid growing up in Kansas City, Mo.

“When I was 12 years old, I would lose sleep at night just thinking about how badly I wanted to play professionally,” said Saari. “I would stay up until two or three in the morning just laying in bed thinking about how bad I wanted it.”

But now that the dream has come true, Saari says he isn’t resting on his laurels. He’s ready to work hard, continue his development and make the most of every First Team opportunity he’s presented.

“Now that I’ve gotten a little taste of what it’s like, I want it even more.”