SPORTING DIRECTOR & HEAD COACH GREGG BERHALTER

On how the team executed the gameplan:

“I think they did a good job. We knew how we could hurt them. We knew there was an opportunity. For us, it was about staying compact, staying organized and taking advantage of them when we had the ball. I think it was pretty good. I think the best part, for me, was the determination by the guys. The will, the will to win, the will to keep going. That was a tough game. Give Atlanta a ton of credit. We didn’t play a perfect game, and they just kept going and battling through any little mistake, any little thing we just kept going through. I’m proud of the guys for that.”

On how the team used composure tonight:

“That’s what it was. We didn’t get flustered. We hung in there. We showed good composure and again, we dealt with adversity. One of the messages before the game was play in the moment. Stick to the moment and we’ll be OK and they certainly did that.”

On GK Zack Steffen’s performance:

“We met with the production crew yesterday and they asked me, ‘What has been the most surprising thing this season so far?’ and I mentioned Zack. Just his poise, his calm and his performance, for being such a young player, is really special to see and today is no exception. I think he played a great game. He stayed calm. He was focused and then in the penalties, what can you say? He saved two. Another one hit the crossbar. It shows that he affected them.”

On the key to the team’s mental strength:

“I think, in the first 10 minutes of the game, I thought we were excellent. I think we controlled the game. That was just the start we needed. Take the crowd out of it a little bit. They are normally a high-flying team that likes to put you under pressure early, and we controlled that first 10 minutes. I think that set the tone for the match.”

On the team fighting through adversity:

“We spoke before earlier in the week about us re-purposing our goals and re-purposing our mission. Now, we want to do something for the fans – the fans of Columbus. Anyone with that emotion involved in soccer, and the history that the club has, we would love to go out and keep winning for the fans.”

GOALKEEPER ZACK STEFFEN

On his preparation for penalty kicks this week:

“I just had a good feeling about kind of where they’re going. Once you pick a side, you’ve just got to go all out. Fortunately, I was able to come up with one or two.”

On being ‘in the zone’ over the last week:

“I mean it’s been a long season. There’s been a lot of games, so each experience you learn and towards the end of the season, you kind of get in your form. Right now, I feel good and the guys in front of me are playing well. So, I’ve got to keep the team in the game.”

On the importance of saving the first penalty kick:

“I had a good feeling. I knew our guys were going to put them away. As long as I make one or two, it’s ours.”

On if his confidence grew with each save in the game:

“Yeah, it did. We wanted to shut that crowd up, and we did, so it felt good.”

MIDFIELDER WIL TRAPP

On if the focus was different at all:

“You know what to expect. It’s going to be raucous and crazy in there and they have an explosive and exciting team. I thought we did a really good job of just maintaining composure for the most part. Whatever was thrown at us, you always say, ‘weathering the storm,’ and I thought we did a great job of weathering every storm that came through. Ultimately, it comes down to a shootout and Zack (Steffen) makes a couple saves and we put a couple away and that’s the difference.”

On how much the team practiced penalties this week and if it was thought of as a possibility:

“It’s always a possibility as soon as the playoffs come around, so I think we had two or three trainings of guys trying it out. It’s always good to get practice, but in front of 67,000 people, it is a little bit different.”

On people counting the team out:

“We relish the idea of knocking people off. If you want to doubt us, if you want to not believe that we can come in and make some noise, then we will see what happens. I think for the most part, it is more of a motivation tactic than anything. Our group did an excellent job of rallying and fighting for each other.”

On GK Zack Steffen’s performance:

“Like I said, weathering the storm, composure, making the right passes out of the back and then obviously making saves. His development this year has been pretty fantastic.”

On playing a home match in the Eastern Conference Semifinals:

“We’re just excited to play in front of our home crowd. They deserve it and we are happy we can give it to them.”