The Seattle Sounders made a bit of history on Saturday afternoon, adding Sounders 2 forward Andy Craven to the club's MLS roster ahead of Sunday's match against the Portland Timbers (7:00 pm ET, FOX Sports 1).
Seattle's third-round pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, Craven is tied for the S2 scoring lead with five goals in USL play while also being tied for third in league action with five assists. He's also scored twice in US Open Cup play in 2015.
The Georgia native is the first player in MLS to be promoted directly from a USL affiliate team to sign with the first team. Craven, 23, could still play for S2 via loan.
"Andy has done a great job for S2 this season and we thought the time was right for him to get a shot with the First Team," said Sounders FC president and GM Garth Lagerwey in a statement. "One of the reasons S2 was created was to develop talent and reward players for their hard work and standout play, and Andy is a true example of that concept."
Craven has started 12 of his 14 appearances in USL regular-season action this season, ranking second among S2 field players with 1,088 minutes. He recorded his team-leading fifth assist of the season on Pablo Rossi's game-winner in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Real Monarchs SLC.
The University of North Carolina product was a finalist for the 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy after scoring 15 goals, tied for the national lead.
Craven could step straight on to the gameday roster as he joins a badly shorthanded Sounders attack missing Designated Players Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins due to suspension and injury, respectively.
