SEATTLE — The smell of sprayed champagne permeated the air. It surrounded you, stinging your nostrils and reminding you that a rather wild celebration had just occurred here. The carpet was drenched, the lockers still covered in protective plastic.
By the time members of the print media were allowed in, though, the mood had grown more subdued. Former Sounders midfielder Erik Friberg was casually sipping from a Budweiser, congratulating the players he had shared a very similar experience with almost exactly one year ago. Injured Sounders Brad Evans and Callum Mallace were doing some light cardio on exercise bikes.