Snohomish County sports fans have been able to follow Silvertips players into the NHL and AquaSox players into the Major Leagues. Alex Silva hopes they’ll now be able to follow the next great soccer star into MLS and beyond.
Silva is the owner of the North Sound SeaWolves FC, which begin play in 2011 in the Premier Development League, the top amateur soccer league in the United States. Silva, an Issaquah resident who owns Kirkland’s Pro Roofing Northwest, said the size of Snohomish County, its reputation as an outstanding supporter of minor-league sports and its passion for soccer all appealed to him.
“I wanted to have a location where the community is really involved in soccer,” said Silva, the former coach of the PDL’s Yakima Wolves. “As a business owner, it gives me hope seeing what the AquaSox and Silvertips have done. The community has been very supportive and I found that people are proud to say they are from Snohomish County, not Seattle, and they want to support their local clubs. That’s very exciting for me.”
The SeaWolves will be primarily made up of college players and Silva said an emphasis will be placed on finding local athletes. The PDL is an Under-23 league but allows for eight players on each roster who are over 23, and eight who are international players. The league runs from May to July, with the playoffs in August. The SeaWolves will play at Goddard Stadium on the campus of Mariner High School.
The Premier Development League is a member of the United Soccer Leagues and is regarded as the fourth-highest level of competition in the country. There are 67 teams scattered throughout the United States and Canada, including the defending champion Portland Timbers. Also in the Northwest Division are the Washington Crossfire, Kitsap Pumas as well as teams in Tacoma, Vancouver and Spokane. Teams play 16 regular-season games, including eight at home.
“Seventy percent of the players who have played in the PDL have moved on to the pro level,” said Silva, who will coach the team. “And my passion is to help young talent move on to the next level and that’s what the goal of this team will be.”
Before people dismiss the PDL as a glorified rec league, they should be aware of some of the alumni the league has produced. Current Seattle Sounders Steve Zakuani, Brad Evans, Patrick Ianni and Pat Noonan all played in the league, as did U.S. National Team players Brian Ching, Charlie Davies, Jay DeMerit, Robbie Findley, Heath Pearce, Jonathan Spector and Brad Guzan. Former U.S. National Team star Eric Wynalda played for the Bakersfield Brigade after his international career ended, and former German legend and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann played for the Orange County Blue Star in 2003.
PDL teams also play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the top domestic soccer tournament that has been won by the Sounders the past two years.
“USL is very excited to welcome the North Sound SeaWolves to the PDL,” PDL Senior Director Jeff McRaney said in a press release. “The ownership group is very familiar with the PDL and will do an outstanding job of putting a quality program together.”
Silva said the team will hold an open tryout in March. He said he doesn’t expect to have to compete for fans with the AquaSox or the Sounders.
“A lot of families can’t afford Sounders games when you have two kids and have to get tickets and parking,” Silva said. “We’ll provide an alternative to those families and also give them a chance to watch young players from the community in their back yard. We’ll also schedule games on days the Sounders don’t play for people who want to support both teams.”
Silva, a native of Brazil, said he met with Everett mayor Ray Stephanson last week and said he’s gotten outstanding support from the community.
“We want the support from the community, from the businesses and we want to give them a team they can be proud of,” Silva said. “We’ll have players who will be very involved in the community and will represent Snohomish County very well. I’m excited to have this team in a place where the support is so strong.”
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