RENTON – Events on Monday sent a sobering reminder through the Seattle Sounders FC roster as the first cuts of camp were announced, and a veteran player was brought in by trade.
All of the released players were former members of the USL Seattle Sounders: Nik Besagno, Jason Cascio, Andre Schmid and Craig Tomlinson.
“It kind of makes it a little more real – it wakes you up a little bit,” said defender Adam West of Gig Harbor, also a former USL Sounder. “You look at a locker and it used to have your buddy’s name on it and now it has some guy you’ve never heard of. … It’s a little cut-throat and it kind of wakes you up and you say, ‘OK, you’ve got to come to play.’ ”
No more cuts are expected this week, although more additions are expected.
The first newcomer to arrive is defender Patrick Ianni, 23, acquired by trade from the Houston Dynamo.
If Ianni plays in 20 or more MLS regular season and playoff games in 2009, Houston will receive Seattle’s second-round pick in the 2010 SuperDraft. If he plays in fewer games, Houston will get Seattle’s third-round pick.
“Very happy to be here,” Ianni said Monday after his first training session with his new team. “The facilities are incredible. Just ready to get to work here. … (Houston) was a very good three years for me, but I’m happy with this opportunity and looking forward to this year.”
In his three seasons in Houston, Ianni appeared in 35 regular-season games, started 19 and scored one goal. He was part of the Dynamo’s 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup-winning sides and participated in nine games in SuperLiga, Champions Cup and CONCACAF Champions League play.
He was an All-American at UCLA, started for Sounders coach Sigi Schmid while with the United States’ under-20 national team, and was a member of the 2008 Olympic team.
Houston selected him with the eight overall pick in the 2006 SuperDraft.
“At Houston, he would have probably liked to have played more games,” Schmid said. “I think Patrick is going to have a good run here in Seattle. He gives us a center back who’s got good size, he’s good in the air, he’s got good speed as well. … We wanted to be a little bit deeper there and have maybe a little MLS experience. Ianni has been part of a cup-winning team as well, so I think those are all positives.”
Ianni will compete at the position with Nate Sturgis, Taylor Graham, Zach Scott and Tyson Wahl. The Sounders also have MLS rights to central defender Jeff Parke, who was selected from New York in the expansion draft but has not agreed to a contract.
Extra time
The Sounders practiced indoors and on FieldTurf for the first time Monday at the Seahawks’ training facility. Much of the session was devoted to physical tests to establish baseline training numbers. … Schmid attended the UCLA-Washington basketball game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Saturday and said he was recognized by some fans in the crowd. “A lot of people after the game were saying, ‘Good luck, we’re excited, we’ve got season seats,’ ” Schmid said. “I think the buzz in this city is excellent for this team.”
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808
blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer
Know your sounders
Patrick Ianni, 6-1, 175: A California native, Ianni (pronounced ee-AW-nee) played his college soccer at UCLA. … Nominated his junior season for the Hermann award, given to the nation’s top player. …Defender was chosen by Houston with the eighth overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft in 2006. … Member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
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