Ljungberg and Evans Miss Colorado Rapids Trip

Friday, May 22, 2009

Vagenas in 18 Flying to Colorado

May 22

Talisman Brad Evans has lost his battle for fitness. Evans had an MRI on his left knee earlier in the week, having left the FC Dallas game in the 79th minute following a collision with Dallas keeper Ray Burse. He also sustained a mild concussion on the play, but by the middle of the week his ankle was giving him more trouble than either. This is a huge blow to Sounders FC as Evans had started every game.

Peter Vagenas

An even bigger blow is the continued absence of Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg. Freddie missed last week’s trip to Dallas with a migraine. The better news is that Nathan Sturgis has made it through to play left back and that right back and Colorado native James Riley is back after missing the Texas trip through suspension.

With Evans and Ljungberg missing, the stage is set for Peter Vagenas to make his debut. The 31-year-old Californian was acquired in the expansion draft from LA last November, captaining them when they won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double in 2005. He played for Sigi Schmid in three of his four UCLA years, and Schmid describes him as a “steady midfielder who connects the team.” This is roughly the job Brad Evans has been doing, so Vagenas will fit in well.

Ben Dragavon continues to deputise for Chris Eylander, and the other fringe players who may see action off the bench are Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Roger Levesque, Taylor Graham, Sanna Nyassi, and Stephen King. Ianni and Wahl can play right and left back respectively, and along with Taylor Graham can play centre half. Nyassi plays attacking midfield and Stephen King is listed as a midfielder but plays fairly far forward. If Vagenas starts but doesn’t have a full ninety in him, King is a possible backup.

The full 18 making the trip are:

GK: Kasey Keller
GK: Ben Dragavon
D: Patrick Ianni
D: Taylor Graham
D: Tyson Wahl
D: James Riley
D: Tyrone Marshall
D: Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
D: Nathan Sturgis
MF: Osvaldo Alonso
MF: Peter Vagenas
MF: Sanna Nyassi
MF: Stephen King
MF: Sebastien Le Toux
MF: Steve Zakuani
F: Nate Jaqua
F: Fredy Montero
F: Roger Levesque

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Sounder at Heart - Sounder in Sport, Sounder in Life » A few notes - Sounder and otherwise

05/22/2009 at 6:59 pm

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