1. No MLS team is giving work to more academy players in preseason than Seattle. The Sounders used 10 academy players -- eight signed to USL contracts with the Tacoma Defiance -- in their 7-1 loss to Atlanta United. Danny Leyva and Azriel Gonzalez both started, while Defiance teammates Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Danny Robles, Josh Atencio, Marlon Vargas, Alec Diaz and goalscorer Ray Serrano entered later in the 120-minute scrimmage. Blake Malone and Connor Draught came on in the beginning of the last period.
2. Philadelphia United academy player Cole Turner got a chance for lots of playing time in the 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls in Clearwater, Florida. Starting center backs Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie were with the U.S. national team. Turner, who is expected to enter the Naval Academy, was one of three high school seniors to play against the Red Bulls. Brenden Aaronson has signed with the first team last year, while Ben Ofeimu recently signed with Bethlehem Steel FC but could make the jump to the first team.
3. FC Dallas is high on 18-year-old defensive midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, who has seen action in both preseason scrimmages, scoring in the opening win over NTX Rayados. Cerrillo, who hails from Waco, Texas, is listed on the North Texas SC preseason roster but could sign an MLS Homegrown Player contract. Other current academy players getting playing time for MLS teams in recent days include Kendall Edwards (Atlanta United) and Veljko Petvokic and Nico Benalcazar (NYCFC).