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While traditional galleries are fun (it’s on the way), we asked our three photographers to share their favorites on the day with us. Let’s get to it!
Action shot
Kayla picked a late-game defensive battle, with Stefan Frei and Kim Kee-Hee going airborne to prevent Omar Gonzales from scoring.
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Max chose the moment where Seattle realized they were winning their second cup. Victor Rodriguez’s shot clears the on-rushing Chris Mavinga and Omar Gonzalez, eventually beating goalkeeper Quentin Westberg and sending the fans into raptures.
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Mike also features Victor Rodriguez, who stretches to bring the ball down while in mid-sprint.
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Goal celebrations
Max zooms in tight on the action, capturing a jubilant Roman Torres, who happens to be looking right at him.
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Same moment in the game, similar angle, but a distinctly different feel. With this particular angle, zooming out also includes the blurred crowd in the photo, helping to shift the focus to include the crowd in the moment. Well done, Mike!
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Meanwhile, Kayla shows excellent discipline in focusing on Stefan Frei right as the goal is scored. There is a tendency for sports photographers to focus on where the action is - to peel away and focus on a closer Frei makes for an excellent shot.
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Post-game celebration
If any moment reinforces Coach Schmetzer’s notion of being a steward of the club, it’s him smiling privately and giving the players the moment of glory as the team celebrates with the cup on the stand. (Photo by Mike)
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Xavier Arreaga celebrates with the cup and salutes the fans as the team makes their way around the stadium. (Photo by Kayla)
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Who doesn’t love Seattle’s best bromance? Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris kiss the cup together on the capo stand with the ECS celebrating in the background. (Photo by Max)
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Bonus favorites
What fun would it be to not include a few bonus action shots? Mike captures the locker room pizza fight (no idea who could have started that), Max documents an early game duel between our favorite “Center Back/Forward” and Michael Bradley, and Kayla freezes a tense defensive moment, where Kim Kee-Hee is sliding in to shut down a Toronto attack.
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Last, but certainly not least, former Sounder at Heart photographer JaneG (now a Sounders FC staff photographer) joined in on the fun for a post-game photo. We got the band back together!
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