MetroFanatic: Luke, interesting style with that sweater.
Luke Sassano: (laughs) I'm just cold...

MF: Cold? It's like 80 degrees here.
LS: Yeah, yeah, yeah...

MF: So, let's talk about the playoff run last year. You came from nowhere to start and excel.
LS: Yeah, the team got hit with injuries. It's just an opportunity for another guy. It just happens and I try to tell myself to get ready for those kinds of opportunities.

MF: You seem to be the jack of all trades. You played... let's count. Right back.
LS: Yep.

MF: Right midfield, central midfield, defensive midfield.
LS: Yep.

MF: And now, in preseason, center back?
LS: Yeah, I played quite a number of positions in the past year. I've never played center back before the last game. It was fun and it's always good to play a new position. You get to see the game from a different angle.

MF: Have you graduated to the senior roster this year?
LS: Ummmm... as of right now, yeah. But the way the roster works in MLS, if you're young, things can happen.

MF: So if those things do happen...
LS: Ummmm... well...

MF: Will you take the paycut?
LS: When that time comes, I'll make a decision about it. But I love being here, and I think it's just the matter of me playing. I didn't want to come to that decision. It's something I'll obviously have to look at. With only 24 roster spots this year, I'm just happy to be on the roster.

MF: Gummy bears. Still a fan?
LS: Still a huge fan. I tried to quit in the offseason, but it wasn't working out. I quit soda for about a month, but picked it up again. All in moderation.

MF: So just gummy bears or maybe gummy worms?
LS: Anything that has sugar, candywise. But definitely gummy bears are my favorite.

MF: Is that because of the Cal Bears thing?
LS: That's just a coincidence... but you can write that.

MF: We're not gonna lie to the fans! The fans want to know the truth.
LS: (laughs) Yeah, OK then. It has nothing to do with that.

MF: What if they were gummy Stanford trees?
LS: Ooooh... I dunno. I might buy them and spit them out.