Among the fans from local supporters’ groups roaming the sideline at the inaugural Sounders workout of 2019 was a couple holding the Cascadia Cup trophy.
The Sounders won that prize last season after posting the best record among the three Pacific Northwest teams in Major League Soccer play. But looking out at the players at Tuesday’s opening session of training camp, Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey and coach Brian Schmetzer undoubtedly envision much bigger hardware to come.
Watching previously injured forward Jordan Morris and left back Brad Smith, who bring a speed element missing much of last season, partaking in full workouts alongside mainstays Nicolas Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz and others had to be whetting the brain trust’s appetite for a second-ever Supporters’ Shield and league championship Anschutz Trophy as well.