After a couple trips back east and a bus ride to BC, the Sounders get to make themselves at home for the rest of May.

A three-match home stand featuring visits by Sporting KC, Colorado and the Red Bulls presents no rollovers as they are a combined 3-3-9 on the road. The low-riding Rapids are actually unbeaten (1-0-4) and miserly (2 GA) away. Go figure.

Of course fans will settle for nothing less than nine points, preferably with two of the games lighting the flames on multiple occasions. Historically, that’s not too much to ask.

Each of the past two seasons Seattle has taken all the points from three-match stands, scoring eight times a year ago against Colorado, Philly and Dallas. That started a string of six straight home wins and set the Rave on a course for the Supporters’ Shield.

Thirty-five years ago, Alan Hinton’s lads made similar break, reeling off three wins while scoring 11 goals during eight days in June 1980. That sure beats the alternative: watching your side flounder.

Only once since 1974 has Seattle hosted three consecutive matches and then hit the road with nothing to show for it; in 1983 the Sounders scored just once in three games as Kingdome crowds dwindled.

In 1997 there was a lengthy unbeaten run at home, but something of an all-or-nothing offense. The first two games, including a San Jose Clash friendly, ended scoreless. In the next four, Seattle erupted for 21 goals–10 coming in a Champions Cup rout of Suriname’s Transvaal.

Nowadays it’s rare for a CLink stand stretching beyond 10 days. But in simpler times, Seattle teams stayed put for a month at a time, 25 years ago enabling the longest, most excellent home stand ever.

In 1990, FC Seattle bivouacked at Memorial Stadium for six games over 34 days, and never got stale. The Storm won all six, scoring 26 goals. Chance Fry and Scott Benedetti each made a meal of it, netting nine apiece.

In 2002, Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders played seven in a row at home, commencing with the inaugural event at then-Seahawks Stadium. They won six and allowed just five moments of joy to the tourists.

Really, that’s whole point: Give the visitors some sunshine, take their money and send them home in silence.