TACOMA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance today announced that it has signed defenders Aleks Berkolds and Matt Nance, as well as midfielder Joel Rydstrand. Rydstrand’s signing is pending receipt of his P-1 Visa. Berkolds and Rydstrand were selected by Sounders FC in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft in January, while Nance finished his collegiate career at Xavier University in 2018. The signings bring the Defiance roster to 19 players ahead of Friday’s season opener against Rio Grande Valley FC at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN+).
“We’re very pleased to welcome Aleks, Matt and Joel to our USL club,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development Marc Nicholls.