TUKWILA — When Seattle Sounders FC begins the defense of its MLS title, the Sounders may be without the player who was most responsible for winning that championship.
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei, the star of Seattle’s shootout victory over Toronto FC in the MLS championship game last month, has an ankle injury that threatens his availability for the start of the 2017 season.
Frei suffered the injury two weeks ago while attending January camp with the U.S. men’s national team in Los Angeles. The injury forced Frei to withdraw from the camp, and although he was present for the Sounders’ first training session Tuesday morning at Starfire Sports, he did not participate.
“It was raining in L.A. and unfortunately we had to go on turf,” explained Frei, a native of Switzerland who’s in the process of becoming an American citizen. “It was a simple one-on-one where I had to make a quick reaction save to the right. You try to move your right leg out of the way so you can get down very quickly, but typical turf injury, my leg just got caught and it wasn’t going anywhere, so it kind of folded over the ankle and injured the ligament there a little bit.
”It feels good,” Frei added. “I’ve always been a glass half full kind of person, I don’t try to dwell on the past. I’m very happy it’s nothing serious, I think I was actually very fortunate, a typical turf injury that could have ended very nasty. I’m glad it’s nothing serious, and I guess if you have a small little nick or bruise to take care of, this is probably the time to have to deal with it.”
Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey said the injury was such that Frei could potentially be back in time for Seattle’s season opener on March 4 at Houston, but that the team will prioritize getting Frei back to 100 percent rather than getting Frei back in time for the opener.
Lodeiro among the absent
Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, who played a central role in Seattle’s surge to the league title, was one of four key players who was not present Tuesday. The Uruguayan playmaker, who had eight goals and eight assists in 19 games (including playoffs) after arriving midseason, was given permission to return late because of his heavy workload the previous 18 months.
The other three players who were absent — forward Jordan Morris, midfielder/defender Brad Evans and defender Chad Marshall — are at the U.S. national team’s January camp.
Mears traded
The Sounders traded the rights to defender Tyrone Mears to Atlanta United FC in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money. Mears was Seattle’s starting right back the previous two seasons, starting 65 MLS games for the Sounders. Seattle chose not to re-sign Mears following last season.
Mears’ departure means the top candidates to play right back this season are Evans and Oniel Fisher.
Snohomish County connections
Defender Kyle Bjornethun, a graduate of Glacier Peak High School, received his first taste of MLS training Tuesday. Bjornethun, Seattle’s fourth-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft out of Seattle University — and the last player selected in the draft — was deployed as a left back.
Meanwhile, midfielder Jordan Schweitzer, a graduate of Jackson High School, is no longer with the organization. Schweitzer, originally signed as a homegrown player last year before spending the season with the Sounders’ S2 team, did not have his contract renewed. Schweitzer has since signed with Orlando of the USL.
Quick kicks
Seattle has just two of its three designated player roster spots filled following the offseason departure of forward Nelson Valdez. Lagerwey said the team is still in the process of determining whether to sign a third DP. Lodeiro and forward Clint Dempsey are Seattle’s current designated players. … The Sounders will spend most of the preseason away from Seattle. They spend 11 days in Tucson, Ariz., for training camp beginning Saturday. Then the Sounders will have another 11-day training camp from Feb. 16-26 in Charleston, S.C.
Seattle Sounders FC’s preseason schedule:
Feb. 4, Seattle vs. Portland in Tucson, Ariz., 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 7, Seattle vs. San Jose in Tucson, Ariz, 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 18, Seattle vs. Charleston (USL) in Charleston, S.C., 4 p.m.
Feb. 22, Seattle vs. Atlanta in Charleston, S.C., 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 25, Seattle vs. Columbus in Charleston, S.C., 1:30 p.m.
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at www.heraldnet.com/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
