There’s a unique vibe surrounding a team who has been there before.
For a club that has played a postseason match every year of its existence, the Sounders carry a tangible air of confidence heading into Sunday’s first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place (5:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, listen on SoundersFC.com).
Whether it’s a first-year Sounder or seasoned veteran, the entire squad is zeroed in and expectant of what’s ahead, especially in a postseason series that is amplified as a rivalry.
“It’s the same as every other game – we came up here to win,” Head Coach Brian Schmetzer said following Saturday’s training session at BC Place. “The tactics on how you win certainly change [in the postseason], but the objective is still the same. The objective is to try and score.”
The Rave Green took a team bus from Starfire on Saturday morning, arriving in British Columbia in the early afternoon. About 24 hours before the club’s first-ever MLS postseason match against Vancouver, the Sounders trained at BC Place. According to midfielder Harry Shipp, the team’s mentality has been “ramped up.”
“It’s why you play the game, it’s why you do it,” said Shipp, who was acquired by Seattle in December. “[Playing in the MLS Cup Playoffs] was why I was so excited about the prospects of coming here.”
With a bye through this week’s Knockout Round, the Sounders look to continue the form that has seen the club outscore opponents 7-0 over the final two matches of the league campaign. The MLS Cup Playoffs presents itself as an entirely different beast, though, and the Sounders are ready for it.
“It still feels like the playoffs, it still is a must-win game for us,” said Schmetzer, regarding the club's Knockout Round bye. “Last year Ozzie would say, ‘We are not finished yet.’ I don’t think this team feels like we are finished yet.”
