TACOMA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance today announced that it has signed midfielders Juan Alvarez and Obed Vargas. The Sounders FC Academy products officially join the club before the team opens the 2021 season on the road at Los Angeles Galaxy II (5:00 p.m. PT / ESPN+, ESPN Deportes). The pair of signings bring Defiance to 19 players with USL Championship contracts ahead of 2021 campaign.
“We’ve been excited with Juan’s progression during preseason. After Head Coach Brian Schmetzer observed him in Academy sessions, the decision was made to integrate him into First Team training for 2021 preseason as he’s adapted very well to the environment, improving every day with the guidance and coaching from the staff,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development Henry Brauner. “Obed has exceeded expectations since joining the Academy from his home club in Alaska a couple years ago, and we’re looking forward to seeing his development on and off the field as he evolves into the
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The spotlight tends to follow
Trinity Rodman. With her famous last name and skills on the soccer field, the 18-year-old Washington Spirit rookie receives outsized attention compared to most players her age. After the Spirit’s 3-2 loss to the North Carolina Courage on Saturday in the NWSL Challenge Cup, the focus on Rodman will only grow.
Just five minutes into her debut as a professional, Rodman scored a goal against one of the best teams in the league. Even publications that don’t cover sports regularly wrote about Rodman’s accomplishment. Many of the headlines referenced her famous, Basketball Hall of Famer father.
Colorado Rapids Homegrown Sam Vines’ ascent to the national stage
“. through the opportunity that he was given with the Rapids, he’s shown that he was quite a capable player, beyond his years, really, as an outside back in MLS.” - USMNT U-23 head coach Jason Kreis
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Sam Vines has been chasing after soccer balls since he was in kindergarten. He is also chasing after a dream that many rising athletes can only imagine playing their favorite sport while representing their nation on the world’s stage. And right now, the Colorado Spring native/Colorado Rapids homegrown has the world on a string.