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At 16 years old, Gabe Threadgold was promoted to the Seattle Sounders Academy U18 team for the playoffs. In just his second year at the Sounders Academy, he was one of the first players from the U16 team to play at the next level.

“He inspired a lot of us by showing how much hard work and working on all aspects of the game can really progress you quickly into the next level,” Sam Fowler, Threadgold’s teammate with the Sounders, said.

In five years at the Sounders Academy, Threadgold displayed versatility playing as a winger and fullback. He later spent five seasons at Washington before joining SU as a graduate transfer in 2024. Now, Threadgold leads Syracuse with nine points. His three goals are tied for first on the Orange.

At first, Threadgold said it took a few practices to adjust to the higher level. Despite the challenge, Threadgold helped lead the Sounders to a 3-2 win over Crossfire Premier in extra time of the Knockout Round of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs.

Threadgold grew up in Bremerton, Washington, a Navy community west of Seattle. He spent two years playing with Seattle United, where he rode a ferry to training. Threadgold and Seattle United won the state championship over Washington Premier Football Club when Threadgold was in seventh grade. Washington Premier Football Club coach Wade Webber quickly saw Threadgold stand out from his teammates.

“(Threadgold) was, for my money, the best player on the field,” Webber said.

Webber wished he could have recruited Threadgold to play for Washington Premier FC. But, Webber didn’t have to convince Threadgold for the two to cross paths. In the summer before Threadgold’s eighth-grade year, he tried out for the Sounders’ Academy. Two years later, Webber became a coach at the academy.

Threadgold learned from the Sounders’ advanced coaching and trained five times a week. In Threadgold’s second year, he was exposed to the talent level of older age groups, playing with the U18 team.

Threadgold was playing with the Sounders 2000 team in 2016 when Webber called him up to join the Sounders’ 2001 team for the Youdan Cup. Threadgold, who has a November 2000 birthday, qualified as one of two over-age players for the tournament in Sheffield, England.

Facing Newcastle United, Threadgold shined using his aggressive play to win 50-50 balls and execute important tackles. The Sounders trailed 1-0 when Threadgold scored an equalizer.

“He has these eyes that are locked in like a shark when he’s on the attack,” Webber said.

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Webber said Threadgold’s goal was key to turning the Sounders around, as they went on to defeat Newcastle 4-1. Behind Threadgold’s play, the Sounders won the Youdan Cup as the only American team in the tournament.

With his success, Threadgold continued to earn promotions within the Sounders Academy. In 2018, he was called up four times to the Seattle Sounders’ Second Team, now known as the Tacoma Defiance, to compete at the United Soccer League Championship level.

At 17, Threadgold was tasked with facing opposing players more than 10 years older than him.

“He’s not a big guy, but he played big,” Webber said. “He didn’t mind a scrap (and) never saw a tackle he didn’t think he could win.”

In his first four appearances, Threadgold logged over 300 minutes. Consistent play drove Threadgold to earn another call-up the following season. Threadgold played his final games with the Sounders Academy in 2019 at a tournament in Tokyo, Japan.

As Threadgold shifted between multiple positions, he was tasked with marking the opponent’s forwards. Fowler saw from his goalkeeping position that Threadgold made it difficult for wingers to attack the net in one-on-one situations. Threadgold shined offensively, too.

“(Threadgold) quickly turned from someone you could count on and just a workhorse to someone who we could count on to score goals (and) create chances,” Fowler said. “He really turned up his technical side of the game.”

Threadgold joined Washington that fall, but did not see the field as a freshman. Returning to campus after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fowler, who was part of four players to join Washington from the Sounders, was surprised by Threadgold’s development. He became the player that teammates wanted on their team for small-sided games and shooting drills.

He earned nine starts across the next two seasons and grew into a full-time starter in 2023 with the Huskies. He finished his career at Washington with one goal and eight assists.

Threadgold’s latest change took him almost 3,000 miles across the country to Syracuse, where he has made a seamless transition. Through 12 games, Threadgold has tallied two three-point performances in wins over Canisius (Sept. 17) and Notre Dame (Oct. 5).

“It’s always been no question of what I’m getting out of (Threadgold) as a player in front of me, defending wise, attacking wise,” Fowler said. “You want that guy on your team no matter what.”

Published on October 8, 2024 at 11:22 pm

Contact Timmy at: tswilcox@syr.edu | @TimmyWilcox32