Looks like Sam Rogers is enjoying his time as a Sounder.
On Thursday evening, the 18-year-old defender gave S2 a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute when he scored a header from a Zach Mathers cross. The Rave Green won 2-1 to surge back into postseason position. While the goal was undoubtedly impressive and proved to be a pivotal point in the match, Sounders fans will most enjoy the celebration that came in the moments after the the ball struck the back of the net.
Just like Roger Levesque in 2009, Rogers was "chopped."
The original tree-chop celebration is one of the most memorable moments in club history, with Levesque falling to the pitch at Providence Park just 48 seconds into a Third Round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. Now in his first professional season after signing with S2 in June, Rogers was 10 years old and living in Seattle when Levesque did his infamous move.
"When he did it, it was a statement. I was just having fun," Rogers said. "It's always a great rivalry and to be able to do it felt great."
In the same way the original celebration spawned from playful conversation on a team bus, the S2 players were laughing about the idea on the way to the stadium. When Rogers scored, he had completely forgot about it until Mathers pointed to his feet and said "we are doing it."
"Mine wasn't as good as [Levesque's], but it still felt good," Rogers said.
