The Seattle Sounders FC Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise announced Wednesday that they have signed midfielder Lamar Neagle, who played his high school soccer at Thomas Jefferson High School. He has been added to the official roster as a Senior Developmental player.

Neagle recently graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he was a three-time All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection. Neagle led the Runnin’ Rebels in scoring during his final two years at UNLV. He scored nine goals in during both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior in 2008, he was named second team All-Far-West Region.

“It’s good to sign a local product to our team,” said Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid. “Lamar’s got excellent speed and he’s a player who can play in a number of positions. He’s very comfortable on the flank and has played on the left side as well as the right. He will get a look from us as an outside player, either in midfield or at the back.”

Neagle will now be the second Federal Way school district graduate currently on an MLS roster. Decatur grad Ciaran O’Brien plays for the Colorado Rapids after being selected fifth overall in last year’s MLS Draft.

Neagle was born in Tacoma before becoming a three-year starter at Thomas Jefferson. During his senior season at TJ, Neagle led the Raiders to a 16-2-4 record and the Class 4A state championship in 2005. It was the seventh state title for the TJ boys soccer program, a state record.

Neagle broke a 31-year-old school record by scoring six goals in one game, and was named the Class 4A state player of the year in 2005. He played club soccer for the Norpoint Chivas in Northeast Tacoma. During his senior season, Neagle tallied 27 goals and 11 assists in just 19 matches. His final goal of the year came on a penalty kick that helped TJ to a 2-1 win over Pasco in the state title match.

Neagle was a pre-season trialist earlier this year with the Sounders FC for two weeks in Southern California, where he played in two games and recorded two assists. After completing his studies at UNLV, Neagle returned to train with the team on May 13.

Neagle becomes the fourth local product signed by Sounders FC. Chris Eylander, Kevin Forrest and Kasey Keller also played prep and club soccer in Washington.

Federal Way Mirror Sports editor Casey Olson can be reached at sports@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.