Villanova recruit signs USL contract with Seattle Sounders

Villanova University’s loss is the Seattle Sounders gain.

Highly-rated center back Sam Rogers will forgo a partial scholarship to play college soccer at Villanova in order to sign a professional contract with Seattle Sounders FC 2.

"We are very excited to have Sam join us on a professional contract," Sounders FC Director of Player Personnel Kurt Schmid said in a news release. "We're happy to continue his development with S2 on a professional level after being with Sounders FC Academy, and we know exactly the type of player and young man he is. The future is very bright for him in the organization."

Rogers, who turned 18 last month, impressed with the first team in preseason training and has logged 1,080 minutes and scored a goal in 12 starts for Sounders 2 in USL play this season.

Even without Rogers, Villanova head coach Tom Carlin, who led the Wildcats to the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth last season, still has a talented recruiting class coming in.

That includes local standouts Maxwell Zandi and Richie Schlentz, Right to Dream Academy midfielder Theo Quartey, Dallas Texans teammates Carson Williams and Tommy Nealon and Vardar Academy goalkeeper Vince Manzo. The incoming recruits are currently training with the team ahead of a trip later this month to Spain.