If the addition of Nicolas Lodeiro single-handedly changed the Sounders’ season, then the return of Roman Torres from injury is what led Seattle to the first MLS Cup victory in their history.
Brad Evans held the second center back spot alongside Chad Marshall for much of the last two years. The duo worked together seamlessly, with Marshall dominating the air while Evans covered the ground game, both on offense and defense. For much of their tenure Marshall has been the more traditional of the two center backs. Evans, for his part, was focused on possession and how the Sounders built play out of the back.