July 20, 2006

SEATTLE, Wash. - The Seattle Sounders announced today the club added former Western Washington University goalkeeper Ben Dragavon to the roster to assist in the back up goalkeeper role. The first-year pro will fill in for James Ward as the back up this weekend against Portland and on the up coming road trip to Montreal, Rochester and Toronto next week.

A native of Monroe, Wash., Dragavon finished his collegiate career as one of the top net minders in Viking history. Dragavon is WWU's all-time leader in career shutouts with 18 and is ranked second in games played (76). His career 1.38 goals against average is third best in school history.

Dragavon earned Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) all-league honors in each of his collegiate seasons and was selected as the GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2002. In 2002 and 2003 he was selected to the GNAC All-League First Team, and was a member of the GNAC All-League Second Team his junior year in 2004.

Joining his new teammates, Dragavon and the Sounders head south to start a home and home series with the Portland Timbers on July 21st and host their arch rivals on Saturday, July 22nd at Qwest Field at 7pm. The Sounders' match in Portland will be televised on Fox Soccer Channel, kick off is set for 8pm. Tickets are available for the match in Seattle by calling (206) 622-3415 or online.