TORONTO — Every athlete is a product of his or her upbringing. Few bare their roots quite as nakedly as Nicolas Lodeiro.
A pair of local boys will help lead the Sounders into their first MLS Cup title game on Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field. Coach Brian Schmetzer has Seattle soccer in his blood, going all the way back to his Lake City Hawks days in the 1970s. Equally earnest Jordan Morris is the homegrown product turned MLS Rookie of the Year out of Mercer Island.
Seattle’s 28-man roster includes players from 12 different countries, with all kinds of unique histories and colorful back stories.