From the starting XI to the players who came off the bench, Sunday’s home opener was a collective team effort. The energy level on the pitch never faltered when subs came on, ultimately guiding the team to a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids.
The competition that lies within the squad is clear. It is “the thing that’s going to help [the team] throughout the course of the year,” according to Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
Whether it be the battle for goalkeeper No. 1 between Stefan Frei and Andrew Thomas or the strong attack of Jesús Ferreira, Danny Musovski, Albert Rusnàk, Osaze De Rosario, Jordan Morris, Pedro de la Vega, Paul Arriola and Paul Rothrock, the position groups from top to bottom have an abundance of talent.
“I’ve talked about competition at different spots, and I'm going to drive that home and just make sure that everybody knows there's competition, because it raises the level of training,” said Schmetzer.
This was evident when Rothrock subbed on early into the first half after forward Jordan Morris dealt with a quad injury. Less than 10 minutes into entering the match, Rothrock provided an assist for the Sounders opening goal, then later scored a golazo of his own in the second 45.
“That kid is always ready,” said Schmetzer. “That could have been a statement to me, like, ‘You know, what Coach? I should be there.’ And I admire that. He had a really, really good performance.”
In addition to Rothrock’s continued efforts to earn minutes, Schmetzer credits the younger players who have risen to the occasion when the opportunity has presented itself.
Second year forward De Rosario made massive strides during preseason, scoring four goals in four scrimmages. He showed spurts of talent in 2025, scoring 4 goals throughout Leagues Cup and tallying another in regular season competition. But it wasn’t until January of this year, where he proved he was deserving of the No. 9 spot in the team’s first match of 2026.
In the midfield group, Snyder Brunell has been an impactful player since joining the First Team in July. The Sounders Academy alum burst onto the scene, scoring two goals in his first six MLS appearances.
In the 2026 Home Opener, Brunell made the most of his 46 minutes of playing time with two passes into the final third, two successful dribbles, three recoveries and one interception.
“When you watch those young guys train, they're hungry. [And] when we put them on the field, that's what you see,” said Schmetzer.
“You're watching a kid in Snyder Brunell and a younger kid in Osaze,” he continued. “Those kids played well, and it bodes well for what I want is competition throughout the squad and then when guys step on the field, guess what? They're prepared and they're going to contribute.”
