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There is certainly a cachet that comes with wearing the MLS brand names of the Sounders and Timbers, as their affiliate under-23 teams do in the USL Premier Development League鈥檚 Northwest Division.
Seattle Sounders U-23, right down to the familiar X-Box logoed lime green and light blue jerseys, visit Centennial Stadium today for a 2 p.m. PDL fixture against the Victoria Highlanders.
鈥淪ounders U-23 have sent 45 players on to pro soccer, from the likes of [Sunderland pro and 2014 U.S. World Cup player] DeAndre Yedlin to others in the MLS and USL,鈥� said Victoria head coach Dave Dew. 鈥淭hey are affiliated to the MLS Sounders and take pride in developing players and moving them on to the next level.鈥�
Among them are Sounders U-23 alumnus and current Sounders MLS midfielder Aaron Kovar.
Victoria (3-4-4) will be trying to avenge a 2-0 loss to Sounders U-23 in Seattle last month.
鈥淲e were punished for a couple of errors by a very good and talent-laden team,鈥� Dew said.
The Victoria bench boss believes home field, one of only two natural grass surfaces in the PDL Northwest Division, will be the equalizer today.
鈥淲e are comfortable at home playing on grass,鈥� Dew said.
So much so, that the Highlanders have scored six goals in their last two home games.
鈥淲e are able to put teams under pressure on our home grass field,鈥� Dew said. To that end, Dew said he will be looking to his quality attacking players today such as Cam Hundal, Chris Rushworth and Ryan Dhillon. 鈥淲e need big games out of our high-end attackers,鈥� Dew said.
Northwest Division co-leading Seattle (7-4) comes to the Island off a 1-0 loss to the Kitsap Pumas on Wednesday.
