Seattle's new Major League Soccer roster gets its first player with the signing of Sounders forward Sebastien Le Toux, 24. In his first season in Seattle, Le Toux had led Seattle to the USL championship and earned league MVP honors after scoring 10 goals. The Frenchman had been courted by other MLS teams.

Seattle Sounders FC and the Tacoma Rainiers announce that they have reached a Memorandum of Understanding, progressing to build a 5,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium on the footprint of Cheney Stadium in central Tacoma. The proposed site is set to be the future home of Sounders FC's rebranded USL franchise, which would be co-managed by the Rainiers.

Michelle Akers easily scores as the USWNT defeats Australia, 4-2, in the U.S. Women's Cup at New Brunswick, N.J. It's Akers's third goal since returning from a concussion sustained at the World Cup. The win set-up a rematch with World Cup winner Norway in the tournament final, which the Americans win, 2-1. Akers finishes the year with 15 goals in 18 appearances.

Hungarians backer Balint Ducz, his side having dominated the state for the past two years, explores a future in the B.C.-based Pacific Coast League. The Magyars give PCL officials an indication of their potential in beating the Vancouver Pilseners, 4-0, in a friendly. Earlier, they won each major cup in Washington, a second straight Northwest championship and routed Vancouver Molson, 5-0.

Stephen Balogh, sponsor of United Milk, is among the hosts of a holiday party for some 200 Hungarian refugees marking their first Christmas in America. Balogh invited every Hungarian he encountered at a recent United Milk match. Members of the Hungarian Resettlement Service and newly-founded Hungarian-American Society baked cake and pastries, Seattle businesses donated food and toys were distributed to the children attending the party at the Eagle s Temple.

Spokane Velocity, once again finding a late winner, defeat the LA Force, 1-0, in a U.S. Open Cup second round match at home. After Andre Lewis sees his drive parried by Force goalkeeper Seth Torman, Luis Gil buries the rebound in the 85th minute before 2,423. Spokane succumbs to the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship, 2-1, on April 17.