When the Seattle Sounders faced off against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, there were some new faces on the bench as the match kicked off.
Tacoma Defiance standouts Shandon Hopeau and Nick Hinds, both of whom are talented prospects from Sounders Academy, were signed to the team the day prior under the Extreme Hardship rule.
In the 58th minute, Hopeau, 20, entered the match as a substitute for Justin Dhillon. It was his MLS debut, and the realization of a goal he had set when he left Hawaii to join the Sounders youth setup when he was just 17 years old.