“Now about what we should have done … “

The speaker was Seattle Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid at the postgame press conference following his team’s impressive 3-0 shutout victory Saturday night over the New England Revolution at the Xbox pitch of Qwest Field.

Schmid stopped himself and smiled, having played his little joke on the media.

“Oh, I was so used to talking about what we should have done right,” he smiled, prompting laughter from the group.

How much easier to laugh, how far more delightful things are after you have scored an impressive win with a superb balance of offense and defense as the home team unveiled Saturday.

Schmid was jokingly referring to those moments following good efforts with solid defense and decent ball possession when the kicks did not fall into the net and a 270 minute MLS home scoreless streak resulted.

The Sounders coach was plainly delighted with Saturday’s effort and was delighted over the productive three goal output in the first half and a 19-2 goal edge over the course of 90 minutes against an Eastern Conference foe that had tasted victory twice against the Emerald City crew last season.

“We created opportunities and were in a good opportunity to strike,” Schmid said.  “I was pleased with our effort.”

Did he do anything differently in preparing for this game considering the scoring difficulties that had plagued the team?

“No, except that we put the 4-4-2 into effect,” he replied.

Schmid paid tribute to recently deceased basketball coaching giant John Wooden, someone he knew personally and admired.

“I was a student at UCLA when John Wooden was winning championships and I got to meet him,” Schmid, who became UCLA soccer coach at 27, recalled. 

“I was a friend of one of Wooden’s top players, Sidney Wicks.  It was such a pleasure to speak to Coach Wooden since he was such a great motivator and had so many encouraging things to say.  After his death I have been getting all kinds of e-mails from people I knew at UCLA who also knew Coach Wooden and were so inspired by him.”

Captain Kasey Keller in speaking to the media following Thursday’s workout on the Xbox pitch expressed satisfaction with the way that the Sounders defense had performed thus far in the season.

Keller added on that occasion that while the team had given up few goals during the campaign that it would be nice to see a shutout.  His wish was fulfilled two days later with the 3-0 blanking of Eastern Conference rival New England.

“I was really happy with the team’s effort,” an elated Keller noted after the game.  “You know, New England is a very dangerous team.  New England is excellent at achieving goals from set pieces.  You have to try to prevent a team from being able to capitalize on its strengths.”

As one looking toward the future, Keller believes that this is a victory to savor but that there is another important game next week.

“This was a good win and it is something for the players and fans to celebrate,” Keller acknowledged, “but we also have to remember that there is another game coming up next Thursday night against D.C. United.  We want to be in the best position possible heading into the World Cup break.”

The key win over New England pushed the Sounders just one win from the .500 mark.  They stand at 4-5-3 with 15 points while New England has amassed a record of 3-7-2 with 11 points.

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