The Sounders Academy U-16 and U-18 teams will kick off their first home matches of 2017 this weekend at Starfire Sports against Portland Timbers Academy. Supporters are encouraged to attend the match and cheer on the young Sounders as both squads look to extend their unbeaten run against Timbers.

Both matches will be played at Starfire Sports located in Tukwila, Washington, on Field 11 on Saturday, January 21. The U-18s will kick-off at 1:00 p.m. PT, while the U-16s will take the field at 3:30 p.m. PT.

After a lengthy winter break, the oldest members of the youth system will look to kick off the first home stand of 2017 with a pair of wins over their local rivals.

The U-18s toppled the Timbers by a score of 2-1 in an exciting end-to-end affair back in October. Both teams carved out a number of goal-scoring opportunities, only to be denied by individual heroics from their respective goalkeepers. Sounders winger Shandon Hopeau secured the victory over Portland with a pair of long-range efforts that flew into the bottom corner.

Later that day, the U-16s completed the sweep with an exciting 3-2 win over Portland. Goals from Azriel Gonzalez, Dylan Tevez and Keeton Heggerness allowed the the young Sounders to complete the sweep.

Nine days later, the U-16s faced Portland once more in the first round of Generation adidas Cup Qualifying. Seattle opted for a young squad and started four standouts from the U-14s against Timbers. The kids stepped up and showcased the team's offensive fire power with a 4-0 victory. In just his third start for the U-16s, striker Alfonso Ocampo Chavez (U-14) tallied a hat trick in his first match against Portland.

Three of the four U-14 players that started in the 4-0 win over Timbers -- Danny Robles, Josh Atencio and Alfonso Ocampo Chavez -- earned their first United States U-15 Youth National Team invites within a month of their impressive displays at GA Cup.

If you just can’t wait for the 2016-17 MLS season to watch the Sounders, come out and support the future of the club as they take on their Cascadia rivals!