Somoza signs with Sounders

By Charlie Laughtland
Enterprise writer

Ben Somoza

Ben Somoza never saw it coming.

Less than two months after signing a two-year contract with the Portland Timbers -- nearly doubling his rookie salary -- the A-League men's soccer franchise unexpectedly let Somoza go.

"They released me and a few other guys," Somoza said. "All I was told is they wanted to go in another direction. I guess that's how it goes in professional sports.

"I know players bounce around a lot."

Still, Somoza was blindsided by the move. The 1998 Edmonds-Woodway High School graduate was coming off a productive rookie season with the Timbers, who selected him in the second round of the 2002 A-League draft.

Somoza's new contract didn't include a buyout clause, so when he was cut free in April he didn't receive any compensation from the club. He wasn't guaranteed a dime until July 1.

And it wasn't just his finances that took a hit. The sting of rejection was even more disheartening for Somoza, a two-time All-Pac-10 midfielder at the University of Washington.

"Getting released is definitely a blow to your confidence," Somoza said. "It's not easy to gather yourself and move on."

But that's just what Somoza did.

He retreated to Edmonds and contacted the Seattle Sounders, who had also shown interest in signing him before he agreed to terms with the Timbers.

Somoza spent the spring and summer training with the Sounders and was finally offered a deal by the reigning Pacific Division champs earlier this month.

It turned out the 23-year-old's abrupt exit from Portland was a blessing in disguise.

"I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason," Somoza said. "You can learn so much through adversity. I'm just thrilled to death to be back home, playing in front of friends and family again. Playing for people who really want me here."

Somoza was determined to continue playing after becoming a free agent, but wasn't looking to leave the area.

"You could say I'm a homebody," he said. "I enjoy playing on the westside. It's where I eventually want to make my home."

Unless Major League Soccer comes calling. A successful career at Washington helped Somoza snag invitations to tryouts with a pair of MLS clubs.

"I haven't been able to stick on a team," Somoza said. "It's really hard to play in the MLS, especially at my position. Hopefully I'll go to a couple more tryouts in the offseason."

Since joining the Sounders, Somoza's new teammates have taught him a great deal in a short amount of time.

"They've got a ton of veterans," said Somoza, who made his first start in a 1-0 win over Milwaukee July 11. "It's a great fit for me because I'm learning a lot. It's a completely different atmosphere than Portland. We were all pretty young there."

With a little more than a month remaining in the regular season, the Sounders boast one of the A-League's top records and own a slight lead over Portland for first place in the Pacific Division.

"I don't think people realize just how good of a team we've got here in Seattle," Somoza said.

The Sounders also have a reputation for moving players up the soccer ladder, which could help Somoza fulfill his ambition of eventually reaching the top rung.

"They've catapulted so many players to the MLS," Somoza said. "It's a good organization to be a part of if you want to make it to the next level."