Osvaldo signs with Sounders

As Osvaldo Alonso ran up and down Blackbaud Stadium field on that steamy July night against Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo, Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser turned to assistant coach Mark Watson and wondered out loud, which MLS team his talented midfielder would be playing for in 2009.

As it turned out, it will be the Seattle Sounders.

Alonso, a first team All-USL First Division midfielder and league rookie of the year in 2008, has signed with the Seattle Sounders FC, a long-time member of the USL First Division that moved up to the MLS this season. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This is a bittersweet moment for us," Anhaeuser said. "Obviously, it's very disappointing to lose a player of Osvaldo's ability and character, but at the same time this is a great opportunity for Osvaldo. He's a young player that has aspirations of playing at the highest level, so this is a great chance for him to play on the biggest soccer stage in the United States."

Alonso, who defected from Cuba during the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston, played in 31 games last season for the Battery, recording four goals and two assists. He also had two goals in U.S. Open Cup play.

"It's great to get a player like Alonso," said Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid. "As a technical central midfielder, he's very good with the ball, a clever passer and he's coming off a very successful USL season."

It was Alonso's boundless energy and his defensive ability that made him such a valuable player for the Battery, Anhaeuser said.

Battery's schedule

The Battery opens the season on the road on April 11 against Vancouver, the 2008 league champions. The Battery's home opener is set for the following weekend, April 18, against Montreal.

"I think it's a much more balanced schedule than it has been in the past," Anhaeuser said.

"In the past we've had a front-loaded home schedule with not many home games in August and September. This year, it's much more balanced and I think that's going to help us in the long run."

The USL First Division will have 11 teams, including expansion teams — Austin Aztex and Cleveland City Stars.

April: 11 - at Vancouver Whitecaps; 18 - Montreal Impact; 24 - Minnesota Thunder.

May: 2 - at Miami FC Blues; 9 - at Carolina RailHawks; 15 - at Montreal Impact; 20 - Miami FC Blues; 23 - Rochester Rhinos; 30 - Cleveland City Stars.

June: 5 - at Austin Aztex; 7 - at Austin Aztex; 13 - Portland Timbers; 18 - at Puerto Rico Islanders; 20 - at Puerto Rico Islanders; 25 - Puerto Rico Islanders.

July: 5 - at Montreal Impact; 11 - Carolina RailHawks; 17 - at Cleveland City Stars; 18 - at Rochester Rhinos; 24 - Carolina RailHawks; 30 - Austin Aztex.

August: 7 - at Vancouver Whitecaps; 8 - at Portland Timbers; 11 - Cleveland City Stars; 20 - Vancouver Whitecaps; 28 - Portland Timbers.

September: 6 - Minnesota Thunder; 11 - Miami FC Blues; 18 - at Rochester Rhinos; 20 - at Minnesota Thunder.