Don just called me from Sounders practice and wanted to report this bit of news (UPDATED with more information via press release):

The Sounders have traded defender Stephen King to the DC United for a second-round draft pick in next year’s SuperDraft.

Now in his third MLS season and second with Sounders FC, King made 10 appearances, including three starts, in 2009. He also started five U.S. Open Cup matches, scoring three goals-two game-winners-and adding one assist. King has not appeared in a match this season.
 
“Stephen is a wonderful guy and we want to thank …

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The Sounders have final training for Columbus this morning at Starfire. If any news results from that, I’ll pop back in.

Meanwhile, a look ahead to tomorrow’s game:

COLUMBUS CREW (2-0-1; 7 pts.)
AT SOUNDERS FC (2-2-2; 8 pts.)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Qwest Field.
TV: KING 5.
Radio: 97.3 FM (1210 AM in Spanish).
Head-to-head: Seattle is 1-0-1 vs. Columbus. The clubs played to a 1-1 draw in Seattle, but the Sounders snapped the Crew’s MLS-record 22-game home unbeaten run in Columbus, 1-0. This season’s return match is Sept. 18.
Team leaders: For Columbus

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Update: Portland loses a player to a second yellow card to go a man down in like the 84th minute, and about two minutes later scores on a header to beat the Whitecaps, 2-1. (Here’s a game story from the Oregonian.)

The first two goals came early on set pieces. Very entertaining game.

Pregame: There’s a look at the Sounders’ once and future rivals at 7 tonight, when FSN carries the Vancouver Whitecaps’ game against the Timbers at PGE Park in Portland.

Here’s a preview from the Timbers website.

No surprise, but Los Angeles forward Edson Buddle was named today as MLS player of the month for April. How could he not have been, after scoring seven goals in five games for the league-leading side?

(He got my vote, with my No. 2 ballot going to Sebastien Le Toux…)

Buddle will be in Seattle a week from Saturday, when the Galaxy visits the Sounders.

Here’s the release from MLS.

Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) today announced that Los Angeles Galaxy forward Edson Buddle was voted Major League Soccer’s Player of the Month for April.

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Sounders 2 – 1 Seattle Pacific University

“It was excellent. I was impressed how well we looked with such a short preseason so far,” Head Coach, Leighton O’Brien said of his team after the Sounders Women defeated the Seattle Pacific Falcons by a score of 2-1 at Interbay Stadium Wednesday night.

This exhibition was the first test for the Sounders as they search for their roster and combinations of players who will compete for the team during the United Soccer League’s W-League season. The SPU exhibition marks the first of three preseason matches before the team …

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Fredy Montero’s 41-yard free kick at Dallas has been voted the MLS goal of the week.

Here’s a video from MLSsoccer.com.

Naturally, the Sounders’ just-announced friendlies against Boca Juniors and Celtic were the main topic out of Sounders training today.

Here are a few quick items from general manager Adrian Hanauer:

* His overview statement: They’ll be great games. Two fantastic teams, great histories, great fan support, huge important franchises within both countries. Obviously Boca brings something that we haven’t seen here yet: a South American team. Two very storied franchises that will bring a lot of fun to Qwest Field … will be a great challenge for us to test ourselves against some of the best teams internationally.” …

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Sounders FC announced this morning that they will face Argentina’s Boca Juniors, on May 26 and Scotland’s Celtic on July 18 at Qwest Field.

The third match included in the 2010 season ticket package is promised soon.

Here’s the release from SoundersFC.com.

Pretty nice pair for a start. Thoughts? Hopes for No. 3?