SEATTLE — Ben Somoza realizes how lucky he is. When he was a star soccer player at Edmonds-Woodway High School in the late 1990s, he hoped one day he’d be able to carve out a career in professional soccer, something that in the United States is no easy task.
But not only is Somoza living his dream, he’s doing it in his home town, and he couldn’t feel better about it.
“It’s not a bad life,” said Somoza, a 26-year old midfielder who is in his fourth season with the Seattle Sounders. “It’s great being able to play in my hometown, in an area where I grew up playing youth soccer, high school soccer and at the University of Washington. I’m playing with a great organization in a great stadium, and playing in front of people who know me and care about me. I’m blessed with the lifestyle I’ve been able to have.”
Which isn’t to say that Somoza wouldn’t welcome the right kind of change. To be specific, Somoza would certainly listen if Major League Soccer came calling. The Sounders have sent 25 players on to MLS and two former Sounders — Marcus Hahnemann and Brian Ching — were named to the United States World Cup team. The precedent is there for Somoza to possibly move on, but he says that he’s more than happy with his current situation.
“It would be great if they came knocking,” Somoza said of MLS. “But I’ve enjoyed this league. I’ve got a great group of friends and family here, and this is my hometown long-term. If something came up, I’d definitely talk to them, but I’m happy with where I’m at.”
The Sounders team has a different look than the club that won the United Soccer League title last season. Besides midfielder Brent Whitfield, the Sounders’ second-leading scorer last year, and goalie Preston Burpo, Seattle lost three key defenders to retirement. The team will mix some interesting newcomers with some talented returners. Defender Noah Merl (San Jose) and midfielder Jamal Sutton (Columbus) join the Sounders from the MLS. Veteran defender Danny Jackson, a former league Defender of the Year, returns from injury and Santa Maria Rivera and Cam Weaver were members of Seattle University’s 2004 National Championship team. They’ll join last year’s top scorer, Roger Levesque, two-time all-league player Andrew Gregor and 2005 Rookie of the Year finalist C.J. Klaas. Ready for a full season with Seattle is forward Maykel Galindo, who defected from the Cuban National Team during last year’s Gold Cup and played in five games for Seattle.
And of course, there’s Somoza, one of the Sounders’ top reserves last season.
“Benny is a steady-eddy guy,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “He works hard. He doesn’t complain. He’s versatile, he’s athletic and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. Coaches love guys like that.”
Somoza said he’s beginning to feel like a veteran, especially after helping the team to the championship last year.
“I can’t explain how exciting that was,” Somoza said. “To win it here at home in this atmosphere, it was so exciting. It was just really fun to be a part of it.”
Besides playing for the Sounders, Somoza also works as a coach with the Northwest Nationals Soccer Club and was recently named the head coach for the new boys’ soccer program at King’s. For Somoza, that means it’s all soccer all the time, and that’s fine with him.
Mike Allende writes for the Herald in Everett.
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